Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-03
AN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF
BUENA VISTA.

oiotIiSi OOiutIdi. anu tlC Cllllui Gil Vi lSu-
mael, known as the Mexicans, was prosecu-
ted with rigor.
2 With the object of conquering piece
of Mexico.
3 That the armies of the Mexicans cross
ed over the wilderness which stretches
from Matehuala TO Aqua Nueva, some forty
leagues, headed by their chief captain An
tonic, whose surname was Lopez dc Santa
Anna.
4 And Zachary, one Of the mighticst of
brother Jonathan, was the chief captain Of
the host Of the Americans at Aqua Nueva,
or the New Water, in the heart of the enc
my's country.
5 Howbeit, the chiefcaptain over all the
American armies in Mexico was Winfield.
a mighty man Of valor, who stood like
Saul the first king of Israel, a head and
shoulders above his peers.
6 Who after supping a "hasty plate of
SOUP" in the chief city of Washington.
put on all the panopy Of war, and with
ships, and transports, large fleet and
huge engines, and twelve thousand men of
War set sail to Vera Cruz, the chief sea.
port of the Moxicans.
7 Where, also, there was a prodirous
castle, black as thunder, and grim as death,
setting out like huge prison in the midst
of the sea.
8 And Antonio, the chief captain of the
Mexicans, had a wooden leg.
8 For the Gauls had bombardod the cas-
tie, once upon time, when Antonio was
its defender, and a stray shot from the ene-
my had wounded him sore.
10 And Winfield, when he repaired to
Vera Cruz with his mighty host, hearing
that Antonio was at San Luis Potosi, mid
way between Vera Cruz and Aqua Nueva.
IL And hearing that the Mexican armies
were fast for provisions, and could not
bulge peg from the want thereof.
IL And thinking that Antonio would be
utterly unable to cross the desert to the
discontinue of Zachary.
13 Called upon Zachary. and took from
him the main body of his regular soldiers,
and told him to "lay low and keep dark"
and in order to be perfectly safe, to fall into
Monterey, under the shadow of the noun
tains, where the enemy could not reach
him. if peradventure they should cross the
desert
ii But Zachary was exceedingly wro,h,
and determined to have a crack at 'em any
how.
Is Moreover the water at Aqua Nue.
va was wholesome to the men, and as
it was on the edge of the desert, he could
see further than under the mountains at
Monterey.
lG And though left with but 5000 young
men he resolved to stand the racket.
II And hearing from the spies which
were sent out to scour the country that
Antonio was approaching with a mighty
host of cannoniers, rancheros, lancers,
horse, foot and Dragons.
IS And furthermore that the chief cap
tain of the Mexicans was anxious to i'm
mortaizc himself in great battle with the
Americans.
10 Old Zachary put both hands into his
pockets and said he would give him a
chance.
20 And Santa Anna, which is Antonio.
drew nigh unto Aqua Nueva, with 1900
men.
81 And Zachary fell back to the hacienda
of Buena Vista, or Good Prospect, where
he could have good prospect of the enc
my.
% Where he planted his men by roei-
ments. battaIions. squadrons, and compa-
mics, among the bills and rayines, flanked by
the barren and sunburnt mountains.
% And in the second month and on the
22d day of the month, and on the eleventh
hour Of the day, the two armies were
pitched for the battle.
81 And the MeXicans were spread a.
round like a great host Of starving wolves.
while the army of Brother Jonathan mus
tered like a small herd Of tigers among
hills.
% And Antonio sent to Zachary a mes
senger asking him respectfully to surrender
as il would be n great accommodation.
26 And Zachary respectfully declined.
81 And the battle began with some
heavy cannonading in the afternoon Of the
day on which the great Washington was
born.
IS So that the Mexicans unwttngly
Joined the Americans in the celebration.
20 And again on the next day, the battle
was renewed and sustained all the day with
great slaughter on both sides.
so And the enemy being starved, fought
over the dead bodies of the Americans for
the meat and drink which was in their
knapsacks.
81 And Antonio had to drive others al
the point of the lance into battle, so excee-
ding hot was the fire of the American vol
unteers.
80 And there fell of the enemy near two
thousand men.
33 And at night the chief captain of
the Mexicans, with his shattered army, fell
back upon Aqua Nueva.
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