The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-04-16

and Col. Wasl irgton lie, them have
few shells that did terrible execution; bu
they soon backed on, rf the way, and al
ter that always kept at n respectful dis
lance Of this battery. They reached III
mountain and wound along It's base
opening as they approached upon GU
sairmishers, who left ihe mountain in
pretty considerable hurry. The Secon,
! Illinois regiment now moved up 10 siol
! their further advance, and aided only by
. S-poundcrs managed BY cannonlcrs Ia
ken from the volunteers, stood for nearl,
two hours under the fire Of tia, stupcu
dous MeXran column, keeplrg it com
pIetely at bay, until finally they were or
dercd to withdraw to a deep gully son,
800 yards in lhCir rear. The Mexican
column again moved on, and were uow
also supported by heavy battery of Is
and 2i-round morlars. by the and OF which
they took our two pieces of cannon. BY
this time, Eragg's battery co, on the
ground, and Col, Clay's regiment OF
kenIucki7ns, who charged upon the en-
envy and kept them ut bay half m hour
longer. Ia, the column again moved on,
the Kentucky regiment was ordered to
retire, and the 81 Indiana md Arkansas
regiment mex! charged upon them, but
stood their ground but short time, and
then sraucrcd,-two cf the Arkansas
companies and most Of the Indiana reci-
menl running as far as to the rancho a,
Buena Vista, three miles Of, and inanv
not stopping until 'hcy got into town.
carrying 10 our boys there the terrible
news that We were all cut TO pieces and
reircaIing towards town rs fast as our
legs could carry W.. The Arkansas re.
gimeni lost their Colonel, lYrll) and
Capt. Porter in the beginning Of the en-.
gagement They charged heavy force
of lancers, and breaking into disorder
part broke for life, and thought everybo-
dy else would naturally DO the same
and as the lIoosiers closely lolIowed
them. they concluded our whole army
was coming. The Mexlcans row felt
bold, and charged upon our forces down
a mile from the mountain; but they met
a warm reception from tie % Illinois
and Kentucky regiments. and at this lime
permission was gwen TO Col. Hardin tn
leave the height at the pass with four
companies Of the lst regiment, and they
were on the ground as fast as their legs
could carry them. Their arrival scatter
ed the Mexlcans in that part Of The field,
and they broke for their camp-llardin
after them afooi, abou' | o rods ahead Of
his men, whooping and yelling. and drove
or 600 Mexicans into a ravine, hy chang.
ing bayoneis upon them, and not half of
them ever 60. ont Of it again. The ,Iaugh.
te, was terrible on the side Of the enemy.
and over fifty prisoners were taken.
while Hardin had but four or Eve men
wounded. Hardin was now ordered to
take the gully to tho left of Bragg, bate.
~. 10 support ii, with tie Kentucky reg.
imen,, while The 81 Illinois regiment was
ordered 10 tie rancho al Buena Vista, to
protect our train. Rul notwithstanding
his reverse, tie Mexican column stllI
moved along a, the foot Of The mountain.
their cavalry and lanccrs ahead. backed
up by miles of inian,y. So the 81 lndi.
ana foot regiment and the Kentucky
mounted gave them terrible charge Of
an hour. and although they were sill I'm.
able to turn the current. they drove them
a good way up he mountain. BY dis
time. the column had 60, TO deep ra.
vine that runs down the mountain To Blu.
ena Vista, which they were unable 10
cross, and .hey turned down tie edge OF
it, until they cot within half mile Of
the rancho and our train with all onr pro-
visions and most of the ammunition. 1t
was here that Col. May gave them a
charge with his Dragons, and so effect
i've was it thai the column was divided.
1000 or 1900 OF the cavalry and Ian
cers dashing for the rancho and the road
to town, intending 10 take our hain which
was now movng in tina. direction. while
the rest turned back, holly pursued by
May aud all the infantry moving up
behind their cavalry, seeing them turning
bacE .lsn 'hnut- ,coJ mil a., , f,,,, =,
ues the curren, was turned and the whole
Mexican force were backing out, except
the 1900 lha, were cut of. These were
met as they reached The rancho by the I'd
Illinois regiment, and pr, OF tie Ar
kansas and 3d Indiana regiment, and so
holly were they dealt with tina, they lief,
the road towards town, and took down
across the valley to the mountains on the
other side, crossing The frs, and taking
up the small valley hey it. But nearly
opposite the Mexican camp there is
wide gap in the mountain, and as they
passed this, the Mexican battery 0p~acL
upon them, killing their own men W 1t
beautifully" Thus our train was v y
cafe at this end bu, abou, this time au.
other Mexican force Of abou, 1000 Ian.
GERS, tha. hat entered the valley y. the
Palomas pass northeast of SnliIlo, and
had kept on the plain ,',ree to five miles
east and north of the town all The morn.
ing, advanced towards The other end Of