Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-07-08
From The Louisville Journal, June %
COiOncI Humphrey H7arshaII's Reply 10
f.pIlnrsal Lime


reports OF the battle Of Buena Vista have tended
toward making perfect picture of that celebrated
held, held that viii be famous while time endures,
aud forever be regarded by americans as one Of the
proudest monuments Of their military proves. OF
these various publications, give below of the
most interesting of all we have met-the response of
Col Humphrey Marshall to the supplementary report
OF Brig. Gen. Lane of Indiana. The most authentiA
testimony bears witness Col NJ IS conspicuous skill
and military bearing from the morning of the 2lst Feb
up to the morning of the 9th which dawned the
utter discontinue of the Mexican hOrdes and those
who have made themselves familiar with the subject
of dispute, will feel, while reading this response
that Colonel Marshall writes well as he fights.
All must admire the calm, dispassiOnae, and conclu-
sye logic displayed in this response and shall be
greatly mistaken if its literary merits and military
criticisms do not add to the solid reputation of the
writer. The portion of troops whose good conduct,
during the battle of Buena Vista, Colonel Marshall
detends to-day was not the Kentucky cavalry, but
part Of Colonel Yell's regiment with which Colonel
Marshall connected at the time, and he feels it
due to their bravery, well as an act Of justice TO
the memory of Colonel YELL to show how unfoundcd
are the aspersions thrown upon them in Gen. Lanes
supplementary report. The quotation made by Col.
Marshall from Major Germans report seems to us
perfectly conclusive in sustaining Colonel Marshas
statement Of facts and we may add, that, upon the
visit Of the brave Major German to Louisville, he
bore cheerful testimony the skill, the bravery, the
Judgment and indeed, the entire soldiersip of Col.
Marshall during the eventfu struggle at Butna Vista
We give way Colonel Marshall to speak for
himself and his brothers in arms
To the Editors Of the Louisville Journal
GENTLEAEN Since my return to the city Of Louisville
have read, with much SURPRISE in your columns paper
purPorng be the supplementary report of Brigader
General Lane, containing quite version Of part Of
the Buena Vista
Though that publication seems to be dedicated the pu
pose Of excupsng the I'd Indiana infantry from the
Of their eOuntymeD the author has chosen portion
Of his defence upon statement which incupates the
airy who were immediately under my eye and command
il men who served with me-to the dead who
sPeak-snd mysef-o the statement
made by General Lane. have desire to engage in any
controversy with the author Of that supplement- and GER
tanly into the dispute which has arisen
between himself and the ID Indiana regiment the one
side and Colonel BOwlcS the other side shall proceed
therefore, to quote at that Of the supplemental
ms reply briefly of the will admit
General Lane says The cavalry which had been posted
distance my and Of range of the enemy
battery, to act circumstances misht require either to
advance upon the enemy aud cut them off in they should
retreat or to suecor my small force they should be
PEELED TO fall back instead of aoTding the least assist
left their position without receiving fire from the
enemy and made prccptae retreat the along the
foot Of the mountain pursued by large body Of lance
who succeeded cutting off and slaughterng quite
Der of our forces most of them aemen If they had made
bold stand and allowed the raemen and the 2d Indiana
rally them altogether they would have been
sufficient check the before he had gained any
considerable advantage"
If understand the import Of this language the author
asseItrst that the cavalry had posted by design
OF the battery, that they
certain purposes second that this purpose was u advance
the enemy off should before Gen.
Lane or o General Lane should he be compelled to
la Dack tnud, tha Notwithstanding theSe Oidels hs
force made preeipitae retreat and not only failed TO
tend the contemplated General Lane but also
Jailed 10 Afford point OF support TO the TetTeatng
fOIce under his command upon which il might have been
rallied also to the rhemen who were engaged in the
mountains.
have say in reply that the cavalry not posted by
General Lane but by MYSELF that far from being posted
desgHedy out Of the Of the enemys battery did not
know that the enemy had battery at the point from which
it subsequently opened the lndanans in that part Of
the field; and cannot suppose General Lane knew such
fact to exist when he advanced the % regiment of Indian
Ians, for he did, his movement the most absurd that
General guilty of.
ID General Lane gave order on the Held OF
Buena Vista for purpose about anything Moreover
the cavalry which he aludes state not posted with
the view to Gen. Lanes movement and directed
O advance and off the enemy should he retreat to
General Lane should he be compelled fall back Sc
far from this being the General Lane did not
ncae to me his design in moving the Cd Indiana regiment
from its position whittier he intended cary it, where
he expected TO engage with it. Had he told me anything Of
four hundred yards the front of OUT position
with four hundred men, should have strongly urged him to
dess; because from the nature of the ground Immediately
font should have known the movement to be
false and that the obstacles which, ia 'front.' de-
enees when thrown an rear were so many advantages TO the
foe and hindFances troops should they be
PEELED to retreat The light troops bad been engaged the
previous evening and all knew that the enemy had
strongly reinforced his column of attack upon left flank
for the Of that morning He OunumbeTed far
Then should have proposed maintain ground, and
Keep small forces in supporting distance Of each other
chosen position, rather than by advancing 10
his line, e0parded the small force under
mand and to have brought it into contact with his masses
where they would be in supporting distance Of other heavy
columns Of their army. do not propose to do more
than to show the absurdy Of General Lanes supplementary
position far relates the allegation he has made
When a General a column of attack upon position
Of his adversary should least know the weight of that
adversary. IL pTesumable General Lane did know the
weight of his foe. He says it should be borne in mind
that my whole force the eight battalion companies Of
the ID Indiana regiment and Capt OBien battery Of three
guns-tR dH about four hundred men.
lie adds {" found the Mexican infantry from four TO
six thousand strong supported by body Of lancers The
parties occupied the the distance between
100 yards The General adds: About the time
the action commenced the enemy opened tremendous hIe
from their battery of three heavy gC posted my tt
and Title 10 the rear, ichich nearly eItaded my line
should justified
immediate withdrawal of the American force the main
line Of battle; and if General Lane knew the weight Of
the he had gone forth engage before he
tered it, metbink the world will rather stand amazement
his TaShneSS than be lost admiration oil wisdom
But did he know beforehand that the enemy had battery
posted there Surely not he would not have placed his
--itie rUmraad have passed that battery and
leave enddHg his line. The discovery Of battery
made only when opened its grape aud shot
from The side upon the left flank Of the uufou
sfc Onmzn which had been led too far to the front well
Jecolet all The ground. If the column Of General Lane
formed line the front facing towards the SaO road and
the right flank towards line Of battle, thanking
thus pos0n be necessarily left its exposed the
brgades which had during the morning been
engaged the mountains its left flank the eDladng fire
Il the Mexican battery, and its front the fire OF four
ous1nd infantry If the line parallel TO the line Of
battle heo the left flank cut the Mexican line Of battle
while he" little command was beyond the reach Of sup
Tpzt iron lines, and its overthrow perfectly
ttts ~ perfectly inevitable before gun fired
Tar ttnefals confidence must have been overweenDg
as hs conduct brilliant, it, before he commenced this
kph eranty 400 against 600 to 6O0O sustained by
cvaiy and artillery, be thought Of giving order
advance cut them off in case then should