The Arkansas banner., 1847-07-26

Ntl FAtAt1AtHANcS nHs htANAes
 The various publications, independeatcf the ofR- cal reports of the battle of Haena Vista have tsn- ded toward making perfect picture ef that esle- bratcd field. a field that wiiI be famous whIe time enauf-s, and sorever b. regarded by Americans as one of the prOuies; monuments of theiG military prowess Of lhese various publications, we g1ve below ons of the most interesting of all we have met--;he response of Col. Humphrey Marshall to the supplementary report of Brig Gen Lane. oi Indiana The most authentic testimony bears wit ness to Col. Ms conspicuous skill and military bearing, from the morning of the aist Of February up to the laoraing of the 2iih. which dawneA on the utter discoulEture of the Mexican hor,Ies and those who have made themselves familiar with the subject of dispute will feet while reading this re. sponsc that Col Marshall writes as veil as he fights All mast adaire the calm, disFlssionate, and con clasiye lesic displayed Ei this response and we shall be greatly mistaken fl its literary merits and miliay criticism do Dol add to the solid reputation of the writer. The portion of troops whose good conduct. dafing the battle of BueBa Vista. Colonel Marshall defends to day, was not the Kentucky ca valfY, but part of Colonel Yelfs regiment, with which Col. Marshall connected at the time, and he feels II dae to their bravery, well act of justice 10 the memory of Col Yell, to show how anfouhded the aspersions thrown epoa them iA Gen. Laue's supplementary report. The quotation made by Col. Marshall rom Maj: tsorrnzn's rerost seems to as perfectly conclusive in sustaining Col MarshaIi's statement of facts and We may ada that, upon the visit of the brave Maj. German to Louisville, he bore cheerful testimony to the skill the bravery. tbe judgment, and indeed the entire soidership of Col. Marshall during the eventful struggle at Eucaa Vista. We now give way to Col Marshall to speak for himself and his brothers in arms: TLon. Jour. To he Editors of Ike Louisville Journal:
 GENTLEMEN Since my return 10 the city of Louisville have read, with much surprise, in your columns, paper parporting to be the s'sspplenen- tary report of Brig Gen. Lane," C. ntaining quite new version of part of tlie scene at Buena Vista.
 Though that publication seems to be dedieates! to the purpose of excalpa1ing the 2i Indiana infantry from the censare of their eoaBtrymen, the author has chosen to rest portion of his deieace upon statement which ineupates the cavalry who were ipmediatey under my eye ahd command owe il to the men whs served with me--to the dead who cannot now speak-and to myseif--to correct the statement made by Gen. Lane. have desire to engage in any controversy with the author of that
 
 fpaie which has arisen between himself and the Ed i1diana rt giment the one side and Col, Bowes on he other side. l shall proceed, therefore, to quote al once that part of the supplemental report to which{ have occasion tp refer, and then shall make my reply to 1t briefly as tae nature of the wili admit.
 Gen. Lane says: '. The cavalry which had been posted distance in my and out of range of inc enemy's battery, 10 act circumstances might require, either to advance upon the enemy and cut them of in they would retreat, to saecor my small force if they should fall back, instead of af lording the least assistsnee left their position without receiving enc frefrom the enemy and made
 precipitate retreat to their along the foot of the mountain pursued by large body of lancers who succeeded in eatigg off and sanghtcTing quite number of our forces, most oi them rihemen If they had made bold stand and allowed the rife men and the 2i Indiana regiment to rely on tbem. altogether they would have been sufficient 10 check the enemy before he had gained any considerable advantage"
 IT understand tfe import of this language, the author assertsiirst, that the cavalry had been pos ted by design, oat oi the range of the cnepys bat tery that they might serve certain purpose se- cond, that this purpose vas to advance on the enc nay and cut of should he retreat before Gen fane or 10 Gen. Lane should he he compelled to fall back third that notwithstanding these orders this force made prccipitatc retreat and not only failed to extend the plated assistance to tien Lane bat also failed 10 afford even point of support to the rctreatihg force under his command upon which il might have 5ees rallied. as also 10 ihe rilenen who were engaged in the mountains.
 have 10 say, In reply, that the cavalry was not posted by Gen. Lane but by myself; that, so far from being posted desgnediy out of the range of the eneiays battery, did not know hat the enemy had ! battery al the point from which it subsequently opened on the lndanians or in that part o the field aad cannot suppose Gen. Lane kaew such fact 10 exsst when he advanced the 2d regiment of h. , nnaa h. A 4 la. A absurd that Genera! ever was guilty of.
 2d. Gen. Lane never gave me an order on the held of bhena Vista Tor any purpose or ahoat any thing. Moreover. the cavalry to which be aliud.s slate, were not postet with the view to General Lane movement, and never were directed to ad- vance and cut oil the enemy should he retreat or 10 sHccer Gen. Lane should ke be conpelled to fall back" So far lroia this being the ease, Gen Lane Hiid not communicate 10 me hss design in moving the 2d indiana regiment from its position CT whc- thcr he intended to carry it, or where he expected to engage with 1t. Had he toid me anything ne movement 100 yards 10 tte font of our position with I00 men, should have strongly urged him to desst because, ttSm the nature of the gtonnd immediately In our front, should have known the movement to be a,false one and that the obstacles whleb in froat, were deienceS. when hlown in reuy were many adv anages io the foe and hineraeces to our own troops, shonIl they be compelled to re- treat. The light troops had been engaged the pre-. vioas evening, and we all knew that the enemy had  strongly reinioFcesl his column of attack upon our leil Hank for the encounter pt that laornins He ] outnambered us far, Then l should have proposed
 b maintain ground and keep oar smalI forces in supporting distance of each other at ouf chosen po ttea. rather than, by adyahcng so as to cut of his line, 10 have leoparded the small force ander ottr command aad to have brought 1t into contae, with masses where they would be in supporting distance ot other heavy columns ol their oWu army. I do not propose to do more than to show the abs.rAity ol Gen. Lanes supplementary position so tar as 1t relates 10 the allegation he has made When Gen ! eral moves column of attack upon position of hls adversary, he should at least know the weight o' 'hat adversary II IS pIesanAbie Gen. Lane did know the we,ght of his foe. He says ..is should be borne in nind that ,ny whole force vas the eight bal'a'ioa companies of the 2d Indiana regiment anu, Capt 0 'Brien's battery of three gansta ali about i99 Rcn-"l
 He adds: ''l found the Mexican infantry, from 1 to 5000 strong. supported by body of lancers s- The parties occupied the same the distance