The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-16
THE u MON.
From the Indiana Register, April To-
The Ipdinnians at Buena Vista.


The Indi.nians at Buena Vista.
We sorey regret TO see statement made IN the New
Orleans Delta and again IN the Louisville Journal upon
the authority OF Major Coffee of the regular army that
the Indiana volunteers faered and acted cowardy in the
beginning OF the battle OF Buena Vista That they fell
back from the muderous charge OF four times their num-
her of mounted ancers, doubt not-that any troops
on the face of the earth would do the same must be
known TO every calculating mind Gen Wools division
of the army (regulars did the same thing at the same
feht No small number OF infantry could maintain their
position against such fearful odds of mounted lancers
But the resulto the falling back is shown in the letter
Of Dr. John G. Dunn, which publish to-day.
The result of the fghtthe lists of killed and wounded
will show clearly who Were towards and who stood the
hottest of the fight There appears to be no difference IN
the fate of the volunteers-all suffered alike
In Justice to the Louisville Journal give the extract
below, by which it will be that hGN spoke OF the
Indanians on the authority of Major Csf,Ysa
From the Louisville Journal ] ~
"TnE INDIANA TROOPS. Major Coffee, an abstract OF
whose of the battle OF Buena Vista in our
paper yesterday is rather severe upon the Indiana vol
uneers bur he says that although hey ftcred first
character in subsequent part of the battle We believe
there drawer men than the Indiana volunteers The
following handsome tribute TO their department in the
great battle is from the New Orleans Atlas;
''The first attack, made by our troops the morning
of the 2od led by General Lane, was met by the enemy
with great mness and bravery and with such fearful odds
in their favor that victory for the moment seemed doubn
but the skl management and the destructive effect OF
our artillery supported by bodies of fresh troops soon
changed tho fortunes of tie day The Indiana volunteers
who bore of the first attack, and who received
terrible repulse, which compelled them to fall back, were
subsequently, rallied after little breathing tme and were
engaged in the latter part OF the day in the hottest CT the
conflict, and fought informant expresses il, with the
desperation OF devis'
II said that the HOLSTERS al the commencement of the
fight rather ihltered We do believe word Of It, 50
the Kentucky troops thought to iater at first accord
viii turn out 50 with Indiana have doubt.
[LouseiHe Democrat
Through the poiteness of Judge Geo. H. Dunn,
have been permitted to make the following extracts from
letter from his who is assistant surgeon to the Sd
regiment Indiana volunteers:
BrESA VISTA, Feb. q, 1871
DEAR FATHER. After nruous night of knives and saws,
take the opportunity Of giving you the pa,enVs Of our
has douby celebrated by the triumph ofour arms
The battle commenced the 22d and ended the 2'd,
and the unequal and longest fight of tn present
war. Our regiment was under fire Tor sir hours.
While at Aqua Nneva, we received Intelligence Of me
very superior force OF the enemy and etreated to the rancho
Ruena Vista, good view.) On the morning the enc
my found TO be advancing toward us The long ro,
beaten and trunks packed into the wagons, and
the troops soon on the advance We marched toward them
about miles and took position on high ridge The IL
nois troops, under Col Hardin ridge just over
the mvine from The kentuckans detached ridge
just our right, at the mouth OF the ravne Two pieces
artillery placed in the road between the foot of the
Illinois ridge and the deep ravine OF small stream They
commanded the road perfectly, company of ritemen
We're placed near to support them The I'd dragons Were
The ridges spoken of ascend toward the mountain, the
left. until they meet one common plain. 1t was upon
this the princpa fight took place. The rifemen of our
two regiments We're ordered to advance to the foot of the
mountain under Major Gorman TO keep the enemy from
turning flank and support the cannon stationed in that
vicinity.
The Mexicans commenced climbing the mountain. in
der out-ianl boys They also assembled but the
enemy having got higher knoll lad the advantage They
commenced firing about three o'clock, which lasted until az
dark Several shells We're thrown at our men, but fell
short. In this engagement none of the Grabbers We're
wounded Next morning the fight was resumed on the
All the surgeons ordered back this rancho
prepare for the wounded We had scarcely rooms
ready when several of the Grabbcrs" were brought in
wounded By this time the Mexican troops had advanced
the plain and met by the "a regiment The con-
ic became general and our men We're forced to CON
tend against superiority OF to The enemy raked our
lines severely with she'll and large shot They had four
eighteen Founders playing on us continually Our guns
The Mexican force on the mountain increased every mo-
ment, and AT last they commenced charging down with
calling fire, upon rfemen charge OF lancers also
om P 5 d hotter p ns' The vain MfeG
they sustained their place against $500 mnsketeer, nor
left he Ps pn hsy found s a a afHy W WHa
a brave Old patriot was killed Snch are the Cabberst
such the other lndanians who fought by their side.
In the meantime our regiment in conjunction with the
cannonade kept the but still they beat back the
enemy's nnry Once they retired out OF play of our Is
ing thought to insure victory bya charge On they came
Colonel Lane ordered the men TO their fire General
watched the charge with great deal OF anx'ey But
imagine his qualification when fierce discharge from our
line swept the whole front of the enemy into eternity Such
scampering OF ancers was never before seen our men
continued to adyancedthe enemy to retire Our flying ar
llcry made great havoc among them as they etreaied
The Kentucky and Illinois regiments suffered severely ne
battle lasted until nearly dark, when both sides ceased fir
Our sept were tney Hreo last snOl on the
next nornng the enemy had rereated, leaving most of
their dead aud great many OF their wounded on the field
1t was hard day officers who led the troops so
calamity TO the field Lieut. Daily ran narrow escape an
Spounde shot struck between his horses legs Col Lane
struck by spent ball He deserves great deal of
praise for his GOODNESS aud the manner in which he hs
banded his fire until it could do certain execution. have
been a the field, and 10 show the deadly and debe
Of our men, every Mexican, nearly, Is shot through
the head The Mexicans had 800 in the action, and
3 800 their camp. l,50O lancers made attack sal
tlo the time OF our battle, but Captain Websters
battery caused them fly At Sallo and here, the
enemy had q, 900 We had but 1000 This is, in
deed, glorious victory
Yours &c, JOHN G.. DUNN,
Asst Sergeant 81 regiment la. Vol.
: A given to one of the companies