Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-23

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king moi more than 453 men, composed the only
force OF regular troops. The strength OF The
Mexican army is slated by General Santa Anna,
in his summons, TO be 100000 and that estimate
is confirmed by all ahe information since obtain
ed. Our loss is 267 killed, 456 wounded, and %
missing. Of the numerous wounded, many did
not require removal 10 the hospital, and il is hoped
that comparatively small number will be per-
manenlly disabled. The Mexican loss, in killed
and wounded, may be fairly estimated al 800,
aud will probably reach 1000. Al least 500 Of
their killed were left upon The field OF battle. We
have no means OF ascertaining The number OF de-
serlers and dispersed men from their ranks bul
il is known 10 be very great.
Our loss has been especially severe IN ofhceIs,
twenty.eight having been killed upon The field.
We have TO lament the death OF Captain George
Lincoln, assistanradju anl general, serving on The
staff of General Wool-a young officer of high
bearing and approved gallanIry, who fell early
in the action. No loss falls more heavily upon
The army in the field than that Of Colonies liar-
din and Mckee, and Lieutenant Colonel Clay.
Possessing 10 a remarkable degree the confidence
Of their commands, and the last two having en-
joyed the advantage of a military education, l
had looked particularly 10 them for support, in
case we met The enemy. Ineed moi say that their
zeal in engaging the enemy, and the cool and
steadlast courage with which they maintained
their positions during the day, fully realized my
hopes, and caused me to feel YET more sensibly
their untimely loss.
perform grateful duty in bringing TO the no.
lice Of the government the general good conduct
OF The troops. Exposed for Successive nights
without fires to the severity OF the weather, they
were ever prompt and cheeful in The discharge oil
every duty, and finally displayed conspicuous
steadness and gallantry in repnlsine at great
odds disciplined foe. While The brilliant sue.
cess achieved by their arms releases me from The
painful necessity Of specifying many cases OF bad
conduct before the enemy, feel an Increased Oh.
legation TO mention particular corps and oihcers,
whose skill, GOODNESS, aud gallantry in trying sit
nations and under a continued and heavy fire,
seem to merit particular notice.
To Brigadier General Wool my obligations
are especially due. The high state or discipline
and instruction Of several OF the volunteer regi-
menls was attained under his command, and 10
his vigilance and arduous services before the ac-
ton, and his galanlry and activity on the field, a
large share OF our SUCCESS may Justly be altribu-
ted. During most OF The engagement he was in
immediate command Of the troops thrown back
on our left flank. beg leave 10 recommend him
10 the favorable notice of the government. Brig
adler General Lane Slightly wounded) was &C.
tive and Jealous throughout The dag, and dis
played great GOODNESS and galantry before The en-
envy.
The services ofihc light artillery, always con-
spicuous were more than usually distinguished.
Moving rapidly over The toughest ground, il was
always in action al The right place and the right
lime, and lis we.direced fire dealt destruction in
the masses Of The enemy. While recommend
TO particular lavor the gallant conduct and val
liable services Of Major Munroe, chiel oil anil
lery, and Captains Washington, 4lh artillery, and
Sherman and Bragg, ID artillery, comm Landing
batteries, deem il no more than just 10 mention
all The suballern officers. They were nearly all
detached al different times, and in every silua-
ton exhibited conspicuous skill and gallaniIy.
Capt. O'Brien, L,culs. Brent Willing and
Couch, 4,h artillery, and Bryan, topograrh
engineers, [slightly wounded,l were auached 70
Reynolds i and French, Sd artillery, lseverely
wounded, ] 10 tina, OF Capt. Sherman; and CAPT
Shower and Lieut. KiIburn, Sd artillery, 10 that of
Captain Bragg. Capt. Shower, in conjunction
with Lieut. Donaldson, Isl artillery, rendered
gallant and important service in repusing The
cavalry OF Gen. Minon. The regular cavalry,
under Lieut.. Col. May, with which vas asso-
ciated Capt. Pixies squadron Of Arkansas horse,
rendered useful service in holding The enemy IN
n nnGc 'ra n in nserns s Daeres al ssSr,a.
wounded yariy in me day, While gaIlamuj VI
deavoring, with my authority to rally The troops
which were falling to the rear.
The Mississippi Iihemen, under Col. Davis,
were highly conspicuous for their CALAMITY ami
slcadiness, and sustained throughout The engage
mcnt the reputation OF veteran troops. Brought
into action against an immensely superior force,
they maintained themselves for long time un-
and with heavy loss, and held an i'm
Of oil
Davis, though severely wounded, remained in the
saddle until the close Of The action. His disln-
ghished GOODNESS and gallanlry al The head OF his
regiment on this day entitle him 10 The particular
notice of the Government. The Sd Indiana re-
giment, under Col. Lane, and fragment OF the
ID, under Col. Bowles, were associated with the
Mississippi regiment during The greater portion
oflhc day, and acquitted themselves cIedilably in
repulsins the attempts of the enemy 10 break tina,
portion Of our line. The Kentucky cavalry, un-
der Colonel Marshall, rendered good service dis.
mounted, acting as light troops on our lef and
afterwards, with portion OF The Arkansas reel-
men,, in meeting and dispensing The column OF
cavalry al Buena Vista. The Isl and I'd Illinois,
and The 81 Kentucky regiments, served immedi-
a,ely under my eye, and bear willing Ieslin,o-
ny to their excellent conduc, throughout the day.
The spirit and gallamry with which The Isl Hi
morning, restored confidence TO that part of The
field, while The list of casualties will show how
much these three regiments suffered in sustaining
The heavy charge OF the enemy in the atternoon.-
Capt, Conner's company of Texas volunteers, al
lached to the ID Illinois regiment, fought bravely
its captain being wounded and two subalerns
killed Col. Rissell, the only surviving colonel
of these regiments, merits notice Tor his GOODNESS
and bravery on This occasion. After the fall OF
The field officers OF the LIST Illinois and ID Ken.
lucky regiments, the command of the former de-
voved upon Lieut.. Col. Waterford; that OF the
latter upon Maj. Fry.
Regimenal commanders and others who have
rendered reports speak in general terms OF The good
conduct OF their officers and men, and have spe-
cited many names, but the limits Of this report
forbid a recapituIaton of them here. may,
however, mention Lieu,enanls Ruckef and Camp
bell, oil the dIagoons, and Captain Pike, Arkan-
sas cavalry, commanding squadrons; Lieutenant
Colonel Field, Kentucky cavalry; Lieu,enan, Col
onel Reane, Arkansas cavalry, upon whom The
command devolved after The fall OF Colonel Yell;
Major Bradford, Captain Sharpe, (severely woun-
died. and Adjutant Griffith, Mississippi regiment;
Lieutenant Colonel Hadden, I'd Indiana regiment,
and Lieutenant Robinson, A. D. C. 10 General
Lane; Lieutenant Colonel Weatherford, lst Hi
nois regiment; Lieutenant Colonel Morrison,
Major Trail, and Adjulanl Whieside, (severely
wounded, ID Illinois regiment; and Major Fry,
ID Kentucky regiment, as being iayoraby no.
ticed for gallant and good conduct, Major Nc
Culloch, quarlermaster in the volunteer service,
rendered important services before the engage
ment, in the command of a spy company, and
during the affair, was associated with The regular
cavalry. To Major Warren, Isl Illinois volun-
teers, feel much indebted fer his firm and judi
cious course, while exercising command 10 The
city OF Sallio.
The medical staff, under The able direction Of
Assis,an, Surgeon Hitchcock, were assiduous 10
attention to the wounded upon The field, and in
their careful removal TO the rear. Both in these
respects and in the subsequent organization and
service of the hospitals, The administration Of
this department was every thing that could be
wished
Brigadier General Wool speaks in high terms
OF The officers OF his staff, and lake pleasure in
mentioning them here having Witnessed their &C.
tivily and zeal upon the field. Lieutenant and
A. D. C. McDowel Colonel Churchill, inspect
OF general; Captain Chapman, assistant quarter
master; Lieutenant Silgreaves, Typographical
engineers, and Captains Howard and Davis, vo.