Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-05-06


their ranks, and some of the corps attempt
ed to effect retreat upon their main line of
battle
The squadron of the LIST Dragons, under
Lieut.. Rucket, was now ordered up the deep
ravine which these retreating corps were en-
deavoring to cross in order to charge and
dispense them. The squadron proceeded to
the point indicated, but could not accom-
plish the object, being exposed to a heavy
fire from the battery established to cover the
retreat of those corps. While the squadron
was detached on this service, a large body
of the enemy was observed to concentrate
on our extreme left, apparently with the view
of making a descent upon the hacienda of
Buena Vista, where our train and baggage
were deposited. Lieut.. Col. May was ord
cred to the support of that point, with two
pieces of Capt. Sherman's battery under
Lieut.. Reynolds In the meantime the scat
tered forces near the hacienda, composed in
part of Majors Trail and Germans COM
mands, had been to some extent organized
under the advice Of Major Munroe, chief of
artillery, with the assistance of Major Nor
rison volunteer staff, and were posted to de-
fend the position. Before our cavalry had
reached the hacienda, that ofthe enemy had
made its attack, having been handsomely
met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry
under Coils Marshall and Yell. The Mex
lean column Immediately divided, one por-
ton sweeping by the depot, where it receiv-
ed destructive fire from the force which
had collected there, and then gaining the
mountain opposite, under fire from Lieut..
Reynolds section, the remaining portion re-
gaining the base of the mountain on our
left In the charge at Buena Vista, Col.
Yell fell CALAMITY at the head of his regi-
ment; we also lost Adj't Vaughan, of the
Kentucky cavalry--a young officer ofmuch
promise. Lieut.. Col. May, who had been
reioined by the squadron ofthe LIST dragons
and by portions of the Arkansas and India
ma troops under Lieut.. Col. Roane and Maj.
German, now approached the base of the
mountain, holding in check the right flank
of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded
in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artil-
lery was doing fearful execution.
The position of that portion of the Mex
lean army which had gained our rear was
now very critical, and it seemed doubtful
whether it could regain the main body. At
this moment received from Gen. Santa An
ma a message by staff officer, desiring to
know what | wanted! | Immediately de-
spatched Brig. Gen. Wool to the Mexican
general in chief, and sent orders to cease
firing Upon reaching the Mexican lines,
Gen. Wool could not cause the enemy to
cease their fire, and accordingly returned
without having an interview. The extreme
right of the enemy continued its retreat a.
long the base of the mountain, and finally,
in spite of all our efforts, effected junction
with the remainder of the army.
During the day, the cavalry of General
Minon had assembled the elevated plain a.
bove .Saltillo, and occupied the road from
the city to the field of battle, where they in
tercepted several of our men. Approach
ing the town, they were fred upon by Capt
Webster from the redoubt occupied by his
company, and then moved off towards the
eastern side of the valley, and obliquely to-
wards Buena Vista At this time Capt.
Shower moved rapidly forward with his piece,
supported by miscellaneous command OF
mounted volunteers, and fired several shots
at the cavalry with great effect. They were
driven into the ravines which lead to the
lower valley, closely pursued by Capt Shov-
er, who was further supported by piece OF
Capt. Webster's battery, under LIT. Donald
son, which had advanced from the redoubt,
supported by Capt. Wheeler's company OF
Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one
or two efforts to charge the artillery, but
was finally driven back in confused mass,
and did not again appear upon the plain.
In the meantime, the firing had partially
ceased upon the principal field. The enc
my seemed to confne his efforts to the pro-
lection of his artillery, and | had left the
plateau for a moment, when | was recalled
thither by very heavy musketry fire. On
regaining that position, discovered that
our infantry illinois and I'd Kentucky had
engaged a greatly superior force of the enc
my-evidently his reserves-and that they
had been overwhelmed by numbers The
moment was most critical. Capt OBrien
with two pieces, had sustained this heavy
charge to the last, and was finally obliged tc
leave his guns on the field-his infantry sup.
port being entirely routed. Capt. Bragg
who had just arrived from the left, was or.
dered at once into battery. Without any
infantry to support him, and at the immin
ent risk of losing his guns, this officer came
rapidly into action, the Mexican line being
but few yards from the muzzle of his pie
ces. The first discharge of canister caused
the enemy to hesitate, the second and thirt
drove him back in disorder and saved the
day The 2nd Kentucky regiment, which
had advanced beyond supporting distance il
this affair, was driven back and closely pres
sed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking "A ra
vine which led in the direction of Capt
Washington's battery, theirpursuers became
exposed to his fire, which soon checked ano
drove them back with loss. In the mean
time the rest of our artillery had taken pc
stion on the plateau, covered by the Missis
sippi and Sd Indiana regiments, the former
of which had reached the ground in time t.
pour fire into the right flank of the enc
my, and thus contribute to his repulse. Ii
!, this last conflict we had the misfortune t.
} sustain very heavy loss. Col. Hardin, Is
, Illinois, and Col Mckee and Lieut. Col
Clay, I'd Kentucky regiments, fell at thi
time, while gallantly leading their com
mands.
No further attempt was made by the enc
my to force our position, and the approach
of night gave an opportunity to pay prope
attention to the wounded, and also to refresl
the soldiers who had been exhausted by in
cessant watchluness and combat Thougl