Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-24

that morning the hacienda had been wholly abandon
ed by the Of small detachment which escorted large
quantity Of munitions BY this movement my first plans and
dispositions founded expected resistance, rendered
abortve but still did not despair OF successful result for
had in anticipation directed Gen Minon, with his cavalry
Brigade 1900 strong, TO occupy on The morning OF the I'D
the hacienda of Buena VISTA distant three short leagues from
Salto This force might arrest the enemys march, at
least make diversion that would give time for the army to
come up therefore continued my march, without losing
time than would allow the soldiers 10 drink water on the
road The light brigade came within sight Of the enemy
guard and ordered them charge IN conjunction with
the hussar regiment had reason to believe the enemy
making precptate retreat they left several articles the
road such CARTS forge implements, extra wheels and other
things which we gathered while marching. In consequence
Of the different reports received, ordered the cavalry to ad
thought we would be able to reach their guard
| and placed myself at the head of those troops
On arriving place called Angostura found the main
body Of the enemy awaiting in position The road from
the pass of Phones Salo between two chains OF
mountains which form that and those OF Carneo and
Aqua Nueva. The ridges open beyond that hacienda and
appoa each other again Angoua where the road turns
the right At this place there Is succession OF ridges
which toward the line OF route, and at right
giles with it, and between them are aynes which form the
drains of the the right They or less
passabe, but all very difficult The enemy position was in
front and in of the road his right and front being
ed by ravnes that impossible even Tor infantry and
battery of four pieces being planted on the highest point
His battons formed the heights with two other bat
eries, of which low part of the road between
two hills and to my view their forces appeared to be about
men, with twenty pieces but the prisoners taken from
them report tweniysx pieces, and upwards OF 5000 com
batants.
recommended the position and situation of the enemy. and
ordered the Director of Engineers Gen. Don lgnaco do Mora
Vlam, 10 do the After ascertalnng the force OF
the INVADER necessary either to await the infantry, to
take position, to fight might seem most advisable. At
this interval observed that the enemy had neglected to
cupy height his left flank and without losing mo-
ment ordered Gen. Ampudias light brigade to take posses
sion of and hold it at every cost Asthe brigades up
formed them two lines rising ground that fronted
the there being another emnence between our two
positions the first division of infantry under the com
and of Gen. Lombardn and the second under that of Gen.
Pachecho | directed that Gen. Mora Valamil in
junction with the Commanding General of Artillery, Don
Antonio Corona should find position for battery of l6
FOUNDERS be sustained by the regiment Of engineers Two
other batteries, of IL and Spounde located by
The cavalry, commanded by Gen. Juvea, placed
the right of rear, and left flank The regiment
hussas also posted the rsa and the flank afore
said a height which ordered the battalion of Leon to
occupy. The general park in the rear covered by the
brigade of Gen Andrade and between this park andhe lines
Of battle took my position.
The making of these dispositions, may be supposed
cupied some me troops arrived their positions after
march of than twenty leagues 1t was therefore not
hour for combat and the army lay its arms The
my however, he perceived that we had occupied
the height that anked his left and right detached two
battaons dslodge us, which led to warm engagement,
that lasted all the afternoon and till after dark, when he
epulsed with loss of four hundred men, according TO the re-
port of the prisoners Ours much less we had the adj
vantage of the ground.
At dawn on the 23d mounted my horse the enemy had
changed his previous dispositions and ready to receive
US. observed but difference which that his
right, and distance from his portion he had formed
two bodies of infantry with battery Of four pieces, if with
the intent Of threatening left flank but at believed
this to be demonstration, for he would have left
in his the difficult ground which strength to that
son being the web of impossible raynes before referred to-
therefore gave attention this disposition OF his forces
and resolved mine by the right With this intention
advanced the divisions of Gen Lombardn and Gen. Pache
co in that direction ordered Gen. Don Manuel Mchcto-
plant the battery Of eightpounders right flank
rake oblquely the enemys line and to remain with
the staff of which he Chief and await my orders. d.
rected that Gen. Ampudia, with the light Brigade should
charge by left flank the enemys right and that Gen
Mora pam should form column OF attack, composed OF
the regiment Of engineers 18th battaon the flo de Me
and the companies OF Pueba and ampco commanded by
COL Don Santiago Blanco. At the time directed
Gen. Corona commanding the artillery, to place the battery
of wevepounders in commanding position, while the
Sd division remained in under Brevet Gen. Don Jose
Maria 0rtega.
So soon the enemy perceived movements be com
menced the action at all points, attacked troops with in
trepdy and maintained the conflict with great vgor Our
received them with proper energy, driving back and fol-
lowing up the assaaus At this time my horse disabled
by grape shot, and it time before could
another As the enemy had yielded ground ordered the
cavalry to advance and charge, which done with vgor
Suitable orders had been sent to the Generals Of division and
brigade, among the rest to Gen. Don Angel Guzman but,
though the officers and troops acted with great resolution,
after struggle which did them honor, they obliged
fall back TO their positions After various atenaons the
occurred with the infantry.
The battle, which commenced at in the morning,
prolonged for many hours loss every
mulaing Many officers and soldiers had already been kill
ed, and number of commanders and distinguished officers
wounded, among whom Gen Lombadin, Lieut.. Colo
nels Bto Gaoso and Others. Among the slain Lieut..
Colonies Asonos Bers, and other merorous officers whose
loss the country will lament The enemy maintained
his ground with the utmost obstinacy nsomuch that Of
troops aered in their attacks and many of the
cruits Dispersed This however, ought exa the merit of
those whose ntrepdy paayze and may also be
cited to show how holly contested the action Things
in this situation when concluded make the final ef
fort With this view ordered that battery of twenty -four
Founders should be- mounted that the column Of then
posted left flank, where had object Of operaton
should be transferred TO right and there be Joined by the
remains Of the lth Regiment the Battalion Of Leon and the
reserves all under the command of Brevct Gen. Don Fran
cisco Perez. executed this in person. and sent
for Gen Mora Viamil and made him acquainted with my
final dispositions | had already directed Gems Perez and
Pecheco each with his command, to be prepared for
IRENE struggle and had ordered the battery Of eghpounders
10 advance and take the enemys line in flank The charge
made with daring vaor, and resisted with animated
vgor, with fire SO heavy and rapid admiration
but the Americans could sustain themselvesthcy
driven back and overcome, with the loss Of three pieces Of
and many stands Of coos Of the latter
to the Government with my last despatch the other which
then omitted to notice, will be presented the honorable
Congress Of The State Of San Luis Potos as testimonial of
the armys gratitude for the patriotic services they had
dered and the sacrifices they had made for its bene
fit We, moreover, captured travelling forge, and