Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-23

formed a CROCHET perpendicular 10 the first line
| oil battle. Atsthe same time Lieut.. Kilbura, with
piece Of Captain Bragg's battery, was directed
to support The infantry there engaged. The ac-
ton was for long lime warmly sustained at
that point-the enemy making several efforts
both with infantry and cavalry against our line,
aud being always repused with heavy loss.
had placed all the regular cavalry and Captain
Pixies squadron of Arkansas horse under the Or
| ders OF Brevet Lieut.. Col. May with directions
to hold in check the enemY's column, still adj
vancing to the rear along the base OF the noun
tain, which was done in conjunction with The
Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Coils.
Marshall and Yell. In the meantime our Left
which was still strongly threatened by superior
force, was further strengthened by the detach-
ment OF OF Capt. Braggs, and portion Of Capt.
| Sherman's batteries, 10 that quarter. The con-
cenlraton OF artillery fire upon the masses OF the
enemy along the base OF the mountain, and the de-
termined resistance offered by the two regiments
opposed to them, had created confusion in their
ranks, and some of the corps attempted 10 effect
retreat upon their main line OF battle. The squad
ron The Isl dragons under Ii. Ruckcr, was now
ordered up the deep ravine which these relreatng
corps endeavoring TO cross, in order 10 charge
| and disperse them. The squadron proceeded TO
the point indicated, but could not accomplish The
object, being exposed 10 heavy fire from bate
ry established 10 cover the retreat Of those corps
While the squadron was detached on this service,
large body of the enemy was observed 10 con-
| centrate on our extreme lef, apparently with the
view of making descent upon the hacienda Of
Buena Vista, where our train and baggage were
| deposited. Lieut.. Col. May was ordered 10 the
| support OF that point, with two pieces OF Capt
| Sherman's battery under Lieut.. Reynolds In the
meantime The scattered forces near the hacienda,
composed in part OF Majors Trail and Gorman's
commands, had been 10 some extent organized
under the advice OF Major Monroe, chief of ar
| ll'lery, with The assistance OF Major Morrison,
volunteer staff, and were posted 10 defend the po-
stion. Before our cavalry had reached the ha-
| cienda, that Of the enemy had made its attack,
having been handsomely met by The Kentucky
and Arkansas cavalry under Coils. Marshall and
| Yell. The Mexican column Immediately dvid-
ed, one portion sweeping by The depot, where il re-
| ceived destructive fire from the force which had
collected there, and then gaining The mountain
opposite, under a FIRE from Lieut. Reynolds sec
lion, the remaining portion regauing The base Of
the mountain on our left In the charge al Buena
Vista, COL Yell fell galaully at the head OF his
regiment; we also lost Adjt Vaughan, Of the Ken
lucky cavalIy-a young officer Of much promise.
Lieut.. Col. May, who had been rejoined by The
| squadron of the LIST dragons and by portions of
the Arkansas and Indiana troops under Lieut. Col.
Roane and Major German, now approached The
base Of the mountain, holding in check the right
flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowd.
ed in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artie-
ry was doing fearful execution.
The position of that portion OF the Mexican
army which had gained our rear was now very
critical, and it seemed doubtful whether il could
regain the main body. AT this moment receiv-
ed from Gen. Santa Anna message by staff
officer, desiring 10 know what wanled4 i'm
mediately despatched Brig. Gen. Wool 10 The
Mexican geperal-in chief and sent orders to cease
firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines, Gen.
Wool could not cause the enemy 10 cease their
fire, and accordingly returned without having an
interview. The extreme right of the enemy con.
lnued its retreat along the base OF the mountain,
and finally, in spite o. all our efforts, effected
junction with the remainder of the army.
During The day, the cavalry OF Gen. Minon
had assembled the elevated plain above SalIillo,
and occupied the road from The city TO The field Of
battle, where they intercepted several of our men.
he Ja hsx sEsc ea g9Sp lis
company, and then moved OF towards the eastern
side of The valley, and obliquely towards Buena
Vista At this time, Capt. Shower moved rapid
" forward with his piece, supported by ms,
cellaneous command ot mounted volunteers, and
fred several shots at the cavalry with great effect
They were driven into the ravines which lead 10
the lower valley, closely pursued by Capt. Sho.
yer, who was further supported by piece of Capt..
Webstel's batterey, under Lieut.. Donaldson,
which had advanced from the redoubt, supported
by Capt. Wheeler's company Illinois volunteers.
The enemy made one or two efforts 10 charge the
artillery, but was finally driven back in confus-
ed mass, and did not again appear upon the plain
In the meantime, the firing had partially ceased
upon the principal field. The enemy seemed to
con6ne his efforts TO the protection oil his ar'le-
nv. and had LEFT the plateau fer moment,
when was recalled lhi,her BY very heavy mus
kerry FIRE. On resaining that position, disco
vered that our infantry Qllinois and "a Hen
tucxy) had engaged greatly superior lorce Oh
the enemy-evidently his reserves-and that they
had been overwhelmed by numbers. The mo
men, was most critical. Capt. O'Brien, with two
pieces, had sustained this heavy charge 10 the
last, ana was finally obliged to leave his guns on
| the ield-hs infantry support being entirely
routed. Captain Bragg who had Just arrived
from the LETT, was ordered at once into battery
Without any infantry 10 support him, and al the
imminen, risk OF losing his guns, this officer
| came rapidly into action, the Mexican line being
| but a few yards from the muzzle OF his pieces
| The first discharge OF canister caused The enemy
| 10 hesitate the second and third drove him back
| in disorder, and saved The day. The I'd Ken
lucky regiment, which had advanced beyond sup
porting distance in this affair, was driven back
and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry
| Taking ravine which led in the direction OF
| Captain Washingon's battery, their pursuers
became exposed 10 his fire, which soon checked
and drove them back with loss. In The mean
time, the rest of our artillery had taken position
on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and
Sd Indiana regiments The former OF which had
reached The ground in time to pour fire into the
right flank Of the enemy, and thus contribute 10
his repulse. In this last conflict we had the mis-
fortune to sustain very heavy loss Col. Har-
din, LIST Illinois, and COL Mckee and Lieut.. Col.
| Clay, I'd Kentucky regiments, fell al this time,
while gaanlly heading their commands.
No further attempt was made by the enemy TO
force our position, and the approach OF night gave
an opportunity 10 pay proper attention 10 the
wounded and also TO refresh the soldiers, who had
beep exhausted by incessant watchtulness and
combat. Though the night was severely cold,
the troops were compelled for the most TO bi-
youack without fires, expecting that morning
| would renew The conflict. During The night The
wounded were removed 10 Sallillo, and every
preparation made 10 receive the enemy should ne
| again attack our position. Seven fresh compa-
| MES were drawn from the town, and brlgauler
General Marshall, who had made forced march
from The Rinconada, with reinforcement OF Ken
lucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under Capt.
Prentiss LIST artillery, was near al hand, when II
wa. discovered iha! the enemy had abandoned bis
position during the night. Our scouts soon ascer.
!ained that he had fallen back upon Aqua Nueva.
The great disparity Of numbers, and the e1haus-
lion Of our troops, rendered it inexpedient and ha-
zardous to attempt pursuit. A staff officer was
despatched 10 General Santa Anna 10 negoiate
an exchange of prisoners, which was SATISFACTORY
IL completed on The following day. Our own
dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican
wounded Of which large number had been lett
upon the field, were removed 10 Sallio, and rem
dered as comfortable as circumstances would per-
NIT.
On the evening of the 26th, a close reconno's-
sance was made Of the enemy's position, which
was found 10 be occupied only BY a small body oil
cavalry, The infantry and artillery having retreat
ed in The direction OF San Luis Potosi. On the
27,h, our troops resumed their former camp at
Aqua Nueva, the enemy's rear-euard evacual'
ing The place as we approached, leaving con.
siderable number of wounded. II was my pur-
pose TO beat up his quarters at Encarnacloh early
| The neYt morn;no Int upon examination, the