Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-30

and nyines, our ariIIery was doing fearful exc.
cution.
The position Of that portion of the Mexican ar.
nv which had gained our rear was now very
critical, and il seemed doubtful whether it could
regain the main body. Al this moment | re.
ceiyed message from a staff officer, desiring to
know what wantedl Immediately despatched
Brig. Geo. 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 10 cease their firing, and ac-
cordingly returned without having an interview.
The extreme right of the enemy continued its
retreat along the base ofIhe mountain; and final.
'lv, in spite of all our efforts, effected junction
with the remainder ofthe army.
During the day, the cavalry Of General Minon
had assembled the elevated plain above Saltillo,
and occupied the road from the city to the field
of battle where they intercepted several Of our
men. Approaching the town they were fired
upon by Capt. Webster from the redoubt occu.
pied by his company, and then moved off to-
wards the eastern side ofIhe valley, and obliqe.
lv towards Buena Vista. At this time Captain
Shower moved rapidly forward with his piece
supported by miscellaneous command of noun.
ted volunteers, and fired several shots at the ca
valry with great effect. They were driven into
the ravines which led to the lower valley, close.
Ily pursued by Capt. Shower, who was farther
supported by piece of Capt. Websler's battery,
under Lieut.. Donaldson, 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,
l.. Z l.. -,
and did not again appear upon the plain.
In the meantime the firing had partially ceas-
ed upon The principal field. The enemy seemed
10 confnc his efforts to the protection of his ar.
tiIlery, and had left the plateau for a moment,
when was recalled thiher by very heavy
musketry fire. On regaining that position, dis
covered that our infantry (lIlinois and I'd Ken.
mcky) had engaged greatly superior force of
the enemy-evidenty his reserye-and that they
had been overwhelmed by numbers. The mo.
ment was most critical. Capt. O'Brien with two
pieces, had sustained this heavy charge to the
last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns
on the feld-hs infantry support being entirely
routed. Capt. Bragg, who had just arrived from
the left, was ordered at once into battery. With.
out any infantry TO support him, and at the immi-
nent risk oflosing his guns, this officer came ra-
pidly into action, the Mexican line being but a
few yards from the muzzle of his pieces. The
first discharge Of canister caused the enemy to
hesitate. and the second and third drove him
back in disorder, and saved the day. The Cd
Kentucky regiment, which had advanced beyond
supporting distance in this affair, was driven
back and closely pressed by the enemys caval-
nv. Taking ravne which led in the direction
N,,k;.u,on3c ,bo;.
became exposed TO his fire, which soon checked
and drove them off with loss. In the meantime
the rest Of our artillery had taken position on the
plateau, covered by the Mississippi and Sd India
ma regiments, the former of which had reached
the ground in time TO pour fire into the right
flank ofthe enemy and thus contribute TO his re-
pulse. In this last conflict we had the mislor
tune to sustain avery heavy loss. Col. Hardin,
lst Illinois, and Col. Mckee and Lieut.. Col.
Clay, second Kentucky regiments fell at this
time while calamity heading their commands.
No further attempt was made by the enemy TO
force our position, and the approach of night
gave an opportunity to pay proper attention to
the wounded, and also to refresh the soldiers,
who had been exhausted by excessive watchlu-
ness and combat. Though the night was Sc.
verely cold, the troops were compelled for the
most to bvouack without fires, expecting that
morning would renew the conflict. During the
night the wounded were removed to Saltlllo, and
every preparation made to receive the enemy
should he again attack our position. Seven fresh
were drawn from the town, and Brig
Gen. Marshall, who had made forced march
from the Rinconada, with reinforcement of
Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under
Captain Prentiss. 1st artillery, was near at hand
when it was discovered that the enemy had a.
bandoned his position during the night. Our
scouts soon ascertained that he had fallen back
upon Aqua Nueva. The great disparity ofnum-
bers, and the exhaustion of our troops, rendered
it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pursuit.
A staff officer was despatched to Gen. Santa An
ma to negotiate an exchange OF prisoners, which
was satisfactorily completed on the following
day. Our own dead were collected and buried,
and the Mexican wounded, of which a large
number had been left upon the field, were re-
moved to Saltlo, and rendered as comfortable
as circumstances would permit.
On the evening of the Goth. close reconnos.
sance was made of the enemy's position, which
was found to be occupied only by a small body
Of cavalry, the infantry and artillery having re.
treated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. On
The 9th our troops resumed their former camp
at Aqua Nueva, the enemy's rear guard evacuat
ing the place as we approached, leaving a con-
siderable number of wounded. 1t was my pur-
pose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacon ear
Iy the next morning, but upon examination, the
weak condition of the cavalry horses rendered
il unudvisNbe to attempt so Tonga march with.
out water. command was finally despatched
10 Encarnucon, on the lst of March, under Col.
Bcknap. Some two hundred wounded, and a.
bout sixty Mexican soldiers were found there,
The army having passed on in the direction of
MotchuaIo, with greatly reduced numbers. and
suffering much from hunger. The dead and dy-
ing were strewed upon the road and crowded the
buildings of the hacienda.
The American force engaged in the battle of
Buena Vista is shown by the accompanying field