The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-18

CANP SAS Jaw ~ BE>N NTsrA,
Fe5rHuJy 20, 1917.


the several cou panies of the LIST Illinois
Volunteers, buring the battle Of Bnena
Vista, fought on The 22d aud 23d of Feb.
ruarv. have the honor to report:
Capt Norgan', comply a. and Capt.
Prenliss' company ~ had been detached,
forming a part of the garrison Of SaIuIlo,
under the command Of Major Warren,
and were in that place during the engage
ment. The remaining elgh, companies
encamped in the rear Of the pass on the
evening OF the 2l>t; and during that
night they threw up an emhankment on
The right Of the road at the pass. On the
morning Of ibe 22I, Capt. Crows com
pany (F) and Capt. Wyau's company,
under tie command of 1t. Cot. Wealth
erford, were ordered 10 occupy and com
pIete the ditch in the valleys and tie re
naming six companies, under the com
maud Of Col. Hardin. erected a slight
hreastwork on the hill. The regiment
remained in this position during the day
and night of The 22l. On the morning
of the 23l, Immediately after the first
charge Of infantry, Col. Hardin led four
companies from the hill on TO the plateau
Capt Montgomery. company (H,
Capt Zabriskie's company (D), Captain
Richardson's company (El, and Captain
Smiths compan, (B). With these he
moved up and supported the Kentucky
infantry. on the right. As he advanced.
tIe enemy opened FIRE upon our right
flank. from the second ravine beyond the
pass. Cot. Hardin wheeled his com
mand 10 the right, and ordered a "chdrgs
b0youeis." and routed the enemy from
his position, and drove him across the
ravne snd the next hill, killing and
wounding large number. After passing
the last mentioned rsgine, Col. Hardin
found his command detached from the
other regiments engaged ; and turning.
he passed across the raviue on the left Of
Bragg's battery, and was ordered to sup
port it. lie remained in this position for
near two hours; during which time the
Colonel ordered up Cap, Mowers CON.
pany Ik), who, with Capt. Fry's com
pany (C). had been left in position al the
breaslwork. About three o'clock, 7. m
as Bragg's and part Of Washington's
batteries were moving up the ridge to.
wards the mountain, Capt. Chiffon rode
MP and told Col. Hardin that he was or
dercd TO tie RICH, To make a charge &c
hurry, or he would be too late that tbs
| Dragons were then moving up FOR ;
charge. Gel. Ilardin's C, mnand fet
right by the heads Of companies passe,
through the batteries, and came into lin,
on the right. At tina: momen, the hea,
If heavy column Of Mexican infan,r,
appeared, and opened a tremendous fire
Col. u. took shelter under the bank O
the rayine on tho right, and moved up {,
the head Of the ravine, and opened fir
on the Mexican column. Up 10 this tim
he had no, los, single man killed. Tn
result of thai last unfortunate charge, tn
General already knows. When that pal
Of tie command again reached the breas
work on the top of the Hill, companie
f. G. and G., were led by Lieut., Co
Weatherford to the head Of the ravine, o
the left Of the hr, In conjunction wit
one If the Indiana regiments. they occr
pied tina, ground during the remainder {
the day and night. Companies A and
came from Sahilo during the night Of III
23d. and were posted near com panies I
G., and G..
DuriHR the whole time engaged, bot
officers and men behaved in the most ga
liant manner. Col. Hardin dislingnishe
himself during the day, for his feares
and eager hearing. Capt. Zabri.ke ais
behaved and died like soldier; and l.
Hough,on defended himself to the la.
against The crowd of lancers around hin
These three officers all fell in the la
charge of the day. For the names of III
officers who distinguished themselves, ii
general is referred to the roster.
would beg leave further to repor, ii
operations of Capt, Washing,on's ba,I'
ry, so far as i. acted in conjunction wit
the Is, Illinois Volunteers:
Cn The evening Of the 22d, an embsn
meni was thrown up between the ditC
dug by the ii, Illinois Volunteers and Il
hill, aud five pieces Of Capt. Washin
tons were placed behind it, so as to cor
mand the Soad, supported on the right /
companies + and G., occupying the dilc
, On the morning Of the 23d, heavy c,
umn presented itself, moving from Il
Mexican lines, and making demons,r
ton towards The battery. When II hi
Q cleared The point of hill and come wit
i IN range. Capt. Washington opened up
i, with his whole battery The eire
, was tremendous sho, opening VII
! gaps in The heavy ranks Of the advancil
, foe. The column was broken, and mo
ed quickly to The right, aud gained GOV