The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-21

battcrv their pursuers became EXPOSED to his
re which soon checked and drove Their, back with loss
In the mean time the rest of our artillery had taken
position on the plateau covered by the Mississippi and
al Indiana rcpments the former of which had reach ed
the round in time TO pour fire into the right flank of
tie efemv and thus contribute to his repulse In this
last conflict We had the misfortune to sustain very
heavy loss Colonel Hardin LIST Illinois and Colonel
Mckee and Lieutenant Colonel Clay, I'd Kentucky
cments fell at this time while CALAMITY heading their
Commands
No further attempt was made by the enemy to force
our position and the approach of night gave oppor
tntv To nav attention to the wounded and also
to refresh the soldiers who had exhausted by nces
SAINT watchfnlness and combat Though the night was
severely cold the troops were compelled for the Most to
biyouack without fires expecting that morning would
renew the conflict During the light the wounded
removed TO Saltilo and every preparation made to
.eve tho epemv sboud he again attack our position
Seven .resb companies were drawn from the town and
Bri0adier (;eue-a, Marshall who had made n forced
is e., ~ p;.nnaasn ,rti, :, rsinforccmcnt of
Kentnctv cavaIrv and fonr beayv rnns under CAPTAIN
Prentjss LIST artillery was near at hand VIXEN dis
covered that the enemy had abandoned his position du
r;no the night soon that he had
faien hack upon Aqua Nueya The great disparity Of
numbers and the exhaustion of our troops 1t
ono ar was desnatchsd 70 General santa Anna TO nego-
tiate an exchange OF prisoners which was satisfactorily
conpleted on the following day Our own dead were
collected and buried and the Mexican wounded OF
which large number had been left upon the eid We're
removed to Satlo, and rendered as comortapio az c
cumstances would permit
On the evening Of the Doth close reconnaissance
made of the position which was found be
cuped only by small body Of cavalry the infantry and
artill n direction
Potos On the nth our troops resumed their former
camp at Agua Nueya the enemys rear guard evacua-
ting the place as approached leaving considerable
n,,mbor Of wounded IL WAS nv purpose beat up his
quarter, at Encarpacion early the next morning but
upon examination the weak condition of the cavalry
horses rendered it unadysable to attempt 10 long
march without,water A command was finally despatched
to on the LIST of March, under Col Belknap
sor, two hnndred sounded and about sixty Mex lean
ao,ers were found there the army having passed on in
tho direction of atehuala with greatly reduced
bers and suffering much from hunger. The dead and
buildings Of the hacienda
The American force engaged in the action OF Buenn
have been 334 officers and 1876 men, exclusive Of the
small command left in and Saltillo OF this
Der two squadrons Of cavalry and three batteries Of
light artillery making not than A53 men, composed
the only force of regular troops The strength of tho
Mexican army is stated by Gen. Santa Anna, in his
summons to Be 20 900 and that estimate is confirmed
by all the information since obtained Our loss Is 267
killed 1856 wounded, and % missing. or the numerous
wounded many did not require removal to the hospital
and it IL hoped that comparatively small number VIII
be permanently disabled The Mexican loss In Killed
and wounded may be fairly estimated at 800 ana Will
probably reach 1000 At least 500 OF their killed were
left upon the field Of battle We have no means OF as
certainng the number OF doserters ana asperseu en
from their ranks, but 1t is known to be very great
our lossbos been cspecolv severe in officers. twenty
eight having been killed upon the field We have to la
ment the death of Capt George Lincoln assistant adju
tant general serving the staff of Gen Wooa young
officer of high bearing and approved gaantry who fell
early In the action No loss falls heavily upon the
army in the field than that of Coils Hardin and Mckee,
V.
gree tho confidence of their commands and the
having enjoyed the advantage of military education,
had looked icularly to them for support in
met the enemy | need not say that their zeal in n
gagng the enemy and the cool and stsadfast courage
with which they maintained their positions during the
day fully realized my hopes and caused me to feel yet
more sensibly their untimey loss.
perform grateful duty in bringing to the notice OF
the the general good conduct Of the troops
Exposed for successive nights without fires to the seyc
ry of the weather they prompt and cheerful
in tho discharge Of every duty and finally displayed
conspicuous steadiness and gaantry In repusing Mt
great odds disciplined foo. While the brilliant sue.
cess achieved by their releases from the painful
necessity Of specifying many cases bad conduct before
the enemy, feel an increased obligation to mention par
antry In trying situations and under a continued and
heavy FIRE seem to merit particular notice.
To Brigadier General Wool my obligations ospe
ciay due The high state OF discipline and instruction
of several Of the volunteer regiments attained
der his command and to his vigilance and arduous
vices before the action and his galantry and activity
on the field large share Of our may justly be
attributed During most of the engagement he was in