The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-01

iery. Having made these dispositions Tor lle
protection of the rear, | proceeded on the
g3d 10 Buenn Vista, ordering forward all the
other Available troops. The action had com
mcnced before my arrival on the field.
During the evening ana night otthe 22d the
enemy had thrown body otlight troops on
abe mountain side, with purpose Of outllank-
rug our LEFT: and it was here that the action OF
lhG 23d commenced at an early hour. Our
rillcmen under Colonel Marshall, who had
been reinforced by three companies under
Major Trail, I'd Illinois Volunteers, maintain
ed their ground handsomely against greatly
superior force, holding themselves under COW
rr,lnd using their weapons with deadly effect
About O'clock II strong demonstration was
1uade against the centre of our position,
heavy column moving along the road. This
force was soon dispersed bya few rapid and
well directed shots from Captain Washing
toms buttcrV. In the meantime the enemy
was concentrating large force of infantry &
cavalry under cover of the ridges with the
obvious intention oftorcng our left, which
was posted on un extensive plateau. The I'd
Indiana and the I'd Illinois regiments formed
this part Of onr line. the former covering 3
pieces Of light artillery, under the orders of
Captain O'i}rieu-Brig. Gen. Lane being in
the immediate command. In order 10 bring
his men within effective range, Gen. Lime or
forward, The artillery advanced within
musEet range ola heavy body of Mexican i'll
fnntrv and was served against it with great
effect, but without being able to check its adj
vance. The infantry ordered to its support
had fallen back in disorder, being exposed as
well as the battery, not only to II severe fire
Ofsmnll arms from the front, but also To
niurderous cross-6re of grape and canister
from Mexican battery on the LETT. Captain
O'Brien found il Impossible To retain his po-
sitioN without support, bur was only able to
Withdraw two ofhis pieces,ail the horses and
camnoneers ofthe third piece being killed or
disabled. The I'd Indana regiment, which
Ind fallen bnck ms stated could not he rallied
and took no farther part in the action. except
- handful ofmen, who under its gallant Col.
Bowles, Joined the Mississippi regiment, aud
did good service, and those tugltives who, ut
a later period in the day, assisted in defend
ing the train aud depot at Buena Vista. This
portion ofour line having given way, aud the
enemy appearing in overwhelming force a.
gainst orr left flank the light troops which
had rendered such good service on the noun
tain, were compelled to withdraw, which
they did, for the most part, in good ORDER
Macy, however, were not rallied until they
reached the depot AT BueEa Vista, TO the de-
fence of which they afterward contributed.
Colonel BisseI's regiment, I'D Illinois,
which had been joined with section ofCapt.
Shermnn's battery, had become completely
out1anked and WAS compelled to fall back
being entirely unsupported. The enemy
was now pouring masses oiintantry and cnY-
nlrv along the h1sc O! the mountain on our
left, and was gaining our rear in great force.
At this moment arrived upon the field. The
Mississippi regiment had been directed to the
left before reaching the position, and immed-
ately came into action against the Mexican
infantry which had turned our flank. The
Cd Kentucky regiment and n section of uril-
lerv under Capt. Bragg had previously been
ordered from !he right to reinforce our left,
and arrived AT IL most oppnrtune moment
That regiment and portion ofthe LIST Hi
nois, under Col. Hardin, calamity drove the
enemy, and recovered portion otthe ground
we had lest The batteries OF Capt. Sherman
and Rragg were in position on the plateau,
and did much execution.not only in front, but
particularly upon the masses which had gain
ed our rear. Discovering that the enemy
was heavily pressing upon the Mississippi
regiment, the third Indiana regiment, under
Col. Lane, was despatched to strengthen that
part of our line, which formed IA CROCHET
Perpendicular to the first line Of battle. At
the same time Lieutenant Kilburn. with
piece of Captain Brnggs battery. was direct
ed to support the infantry there engaged
The action was for a long lime warmly sus-
tanned at that point--the enemy making sew
ora! efforts both with infantry and cavalry a.
gainst our line, and being always repulsed
with heavy loss. | had placed MI the regu-
lar cavalry and Capt. Pixies squadron of Ar
kansas horse under the orders of Brevet Lieu
tenant Colonel May, with directions TO hold
in check the enemy's column, still advancing
the rear along the base ofthe mountain, which
was done in conjunction with the Kentucky
and Arkansas cavalry under Coils. Marshall
nnd Yell In the meantime orr left, which
was still rongly threatened by Il superior
force, was farther strengthened by detach-
ment of Captain Bragg's, and portion of
Captain Shcrman's batteries TO that quarter.
The concentration of artillery fire upon the
masses of the enemy along the base of the
mountain, and the determined resistance of.
fered by the two regiments opposed TO them,
had created confusion in their rank and some
ofthe corps attempted to effect retreat upon
their main line ofbatte. The squadron of
the first dragons, under Lieutenant Rucker
was now ordered up the deep ravine which
these retreating corps were endeavoring TO
cross in order to charge and dispense them.
The squadron proceeded 10 the point indicat-
ed, but could not accomplish the object be-
ing exposed to heavy fire from battery
established to cover the retreat of those corps.
While the squadron was detached OH this
service,a large body ofthe enemy was observ-
ed to concentrate on our extreme left, appar-
entity with the view ofmaEing descent upon
Ihe hacienda of Buena VISTA where our train
and baggage were deposited. Lieutenant
Gel. May was ordered to the support of that
point with wo pieces of Captain Sherman's
battery under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the
mean time, the scattered forces near the ba-
.ciends, composed in part of Majors Trail and
nGorman's commands, had been to some eX-