Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-04-10
Correspondence ofhe NeV Orleans Tropic.

On the morning of the 22d intelligence reached General
Taylor at his camp, the hill overlooking Sao from the
SOUTH that Santa Anna whose presence in vicinity had
been reported for several days. advancing upon main
body stationed the Rancho San Juan de Buena VISTA
about miles from Sallo. The General Immediately
moved forward with Mays squadron of Dragons shermans
and Braggs batteries of Artillery, and the Mississippi regi
ment Of Rfemen under Col Davis and arrived the posi-
ton which he had selected for awaiting the attack Of The
my about o'clock The time and the place, the hour and
the man, seemed promise glorious celebration of the day
the 22d Of February the anniversary Of that day
which the God of Battles gave to freedom its hobles cham
pon, to patriotism its purest model to America preserver
and the world the realization of human perfection
for panegync sinks before the of WASHINGTON
The morning bright and beautiful Not cloud float
ed ahwar the armament dmmed the of the sky and
the flood Of golden radiance which gded the mountain tops
and poured the valleys, wrought light and shade into
thousand fantastic FORMS soft breeze swept down from the
mountsns rolling into graceful unduatons the banner of the
Republic, which proudly streaming from the flag staff Of
the fort and from the and baements of Sao. The
omens all in our favor.
In the choice Of his position Gen. Taylor exhibited the
comprehensive sagacty and mastery coup dG which
characterized his dispositions at Resaca de Palma and which
crowned trumphany all his operations amid the blazing lines
of Monterey The rise either side of inegu
with hills and ridges, and SCARED with broad and winding
vines The main road ss along the Of arroyo, the
bed of which deep to form almost impossible
barrier while the other side is bounded by pecptous eeva
ons, stretching pependcuary towards the mountains, and
separated by broad gules until they mnge into at the
base of the principal range On the right Of the narowest
point of the roadway battalion of the first Illinois regiment
under Lieut. Col Weatherford, stationed in small
TRENCH extending to the natural ravine while, the oppo
site height the main body Of the regiment under Col Hardin
posted, with single piece Of artillery from Capt Wash
ngons battery. The post Of honor the extreme right
assigned Baggs artillery, his left supported by the second
regiment Of Kentucky foot under Col McKee, the left flank
Of which rested upon the arroyo. Washngtons battery
cupied position Immediately in front Of the point OF
the roadway, in of which and somewhat the left
another height, the second Illinois regiment Col Bis
sell, posted. Next the left the Indiana brigade un-
der Gen. Lane deployed, while the left the
Kentucky cavalry under Col Marshall occupied position
directly under the rownng SUBMITS Of the mountains The
squadrous of the 's and second dagoons and the Ar
kansas cavalry under Col Yel posted in rear ready
for service which the exgences of the day might require
These dispositions had been made for ,me when the
enemy advancing in the distance and the clouds
dust which rolled up before him gave satisfactory evidence
that his numbers unworthy the of strength upon
which about to He arrived upon his position
in immense masses, and with forces sufficiently numerous tc
have commenced his attack once had he confident
subsequently, appeared he socou for safe
y. The first evidence directly afforded Of the presence
Santa Anna white flag, which dmy iutering
In the breeze, and Surgeon General Lndenbeg, of the
Mexican army, arrived bearing beautiful emblem of bene-
violent bravado and Christian charity Il was mssive from
Santa Anna suggested by considerations for our personal
comfort which has placed under lasting obligations pro-
posing General Taylor of unconditional surrender
promising good treatment assuring that his force
ed upwards Of 20 900 that defeat inevitable
and that, spare the euson Of blood his proposition should
be complied with Strange to say the American General
showed the greatest ingratude; evnced appreciation
whatever of Santa Annas Kindness and informed him that
whether his force amounted to 10000 or so 900,
equally matter Of Indifference the terms Of adjustment
must be arranged by gunpowder.
The messenger returned to his employer and waited
in silence hear the of his artillery. Hours rolled by
without any movement his part, and it appeared that the
Mexican commander, grieved at our subbonness, al
disposed his steps, if determined to have
further intercourse with such ungtefu audaciy At length
he mustered resolution open fire from MORTAR throwing
several shells into camp without execution. While this
going on, Captain Steen, Of the ls Dragons, with
single man. started towards hill which the Mexican Ge
neral seemed stationed with his staff but before he com
peed the party vanished and when he reached the
top he discovered that regiments had thrown themselves
into squares resist his charge. The Captains gravity
overcome by this opposition, and he returned.
Just before dark number Of Santa Annas infantry had
succeeded in getting position high up the mountains
left, from which they could make noise without exposing
themselves much danger, and distance of three hun
ded yards opened most tremendous fire upon Col Mar
shals regiment This returned by Of his companies
which dsmounted detached for the purpose
they could arrive within a neghborly range. The skr
mshing continued until after dark, with result save
the wounding Of three very slightly.
During the night Mexican prisoner taken, who re-
ported Santa Annals force consisting of fifteen pieces
tcy, including 24-pounde six thousand cavalry and
fifteen thousand infantry thus confirming the Of his
superior.
The firing extreme left, which Nased after
the 22d, renewed the morning of the 23d
early hour. This also accompanied by quick dis
charges Of artillery from the quarter the Mexcans hav
ing established during the night l2-pounder point
the base Of the mountain which commanded any position
which could be taken by To counteact the effect Of this
piece, Lieut. OBrien, 4h artillery, detached with three
pieces Of Washngons battery having with him Lieutenant
Bryan of the Typographical Engineers who having planted
eiIectually silenced his fire.
From the movements perceptble along the le Of
line il became evident that the enemy attempting turn
that flank and for this purpose had concentrated large body
Al.