The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-01
General Minons cavalry reported to be from ono a
5000 " A ~'''S ="
The army Is represented to be in disoreanised state
and that the losses In killed wounded and hv $780,
ton, exceed 5000 men The dead the dying ana the
wounded In starving condition everywhere To ba sss
its route bsspeak hurried retreat aud extreme dis
tress.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your ant
servant JOHN 4. WOOL, Brig 0sn
To Major w. w. 8. BLISS, Asst. Adjt Gen
Gen. Lanes Despatch.

took part.
In obedience to your orders the 22d took position
the left Of the field upon which the battle was fought
the foot Of the mountain, with tbs eight battalion
companies OF the I'd regiment Of my Brigade supported
by three pieces Of light artillery commanded by Lieut.
OBren The four rife companies Of this brigade (two
from the ID and two from the Sd regimsnt having been
sent under your orders together With two companies Of
Kentucky mounted rihemen, to occupy emnence and
ridge the side of the mountain to check the advance
OF the enemy 1.-TWO regiments) who attempting TO
turn the left Hank OF my position by bling the sides
noon OF the 22d-the four companies Of Indiana,
manded by Maj German, Of the I'D regimentthe whole
soon afterwards the enemy opened brisk fire upon
forces with but little effect which they continued with
out intermssion Tor three hours In the time nv
mem being secure from the enemys balls and watching
ther chances and taking good aim succeeded in killing
engagement my loss four men slightly wounded.
During the night OF the 22d, the enemy sent REIN
forcement OF aDout 1909 up the mountain and sue
ceeded in occupying heights which ed The nos
ton OF the rifemcn My whole slept upon the
the morning Of the 23d the enemy opened .ss.r.
hre from their whole force the now amount
Ing IN all to about 1900 or 1000 men, commanded by the
standing the great superiority Of the enemy in mum
bers our gallant rihemen held them in check
hours killing and wounding some fifty sixty OF their
forces
About o'clock m, of the aad instant, art of the
Kentucky mounted rifemen and cavalry (dismounted
for that purpose sent up the side the mountain
to support the forces already there which time the
OF the enemy became tremendous but which return
ed by our gallant force for than hour longer
My instructions from yourself hold my position
the left Of the field against any force which the enc
had been in great force all the morning the 22d d.
recty in my front and in sight but distant to be
reached by Lieut.. o. Brien . battery.
About O'Clock was informed by Colonel Churchill
that the enemy advancing toward my position in
runs up towards the mountain directly In my front
immediately put my columns in motion, consisting Of
those eight battalion companies, and Lieut. O'Briens
battery, amounting In all to about 400 men. to meet
them. The enemy when they deployed from the rsvns
and appeared the ridge, displayed force of about
1000 infantry supported by large body Of lancers
The infantry immediately opened most destructive
FIRE, which was returned by my Small command, both
infantry and artillery in gallant
time perceived that too far from the enemy
for my muskets to take that deadly effect which de-
OBrien, directing him to place his battery In q
advanced position with the determination Of advancing
my whole line By this movement should not only be
the enemy but should also bring the company on
my extreme left more completely into sotion the
brow Of the hill impsdsd their hre By this time the
grape Of their battery posted my left aank ha1
become terrible and my infantry instead Of advancing.
from their position notwithstanding my own and the
severe efforts Of my officers to prevent them About the
to tSs shs Seon and on the 10
had been posted by orders In my the foot Of
the mountain to act circumstances might requirs)
also left their position the whole making rsrogads
movement along the plain towards the rear. At The
time Of the Illinois regiments not under my
command but stationed distance in rear and on
the right Of my position also retired the These
troops, the most Of them Immediately rallied and
fought during the whole day ike veterans A few Of
them regret to say did not return to the field At ali
By this apparent the enemy much elstsd
and poured down along the side of the mountain the
extreme left Of the field their thousands OF infantry and
laucers and formed themselves in good along the
mountain fronting perpendicularly to where lines
had been posted At this critical juncture the Msss-
sippi regiment under the command Of Colonel Davis
arrived the field and being joined by part the I'd
Indiana met the enemy in most gallant style, and,
after a and bloody engagement repuls i them
with great loss. In the mean time large body Of Ian
GERS 6OO 500 in number who had passed down along
the left toward our rear made most desperate charge
upon the Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry with view
Of cutting OF and pundering the baggage train Of the
army which was at rancho the battle field.
This charge was met and resisted most CALAMITY by
those cavalry aided by about two infantry who
had taken refuge there after they had retired from the
field. This repulse discouraged tho enemy; and the
Mississippi regiment and part of the I'd Indiana being
Joined by the Sd Indiana regiment commanded by Colo
James H. Lane advanced up towards the foot Of
the mountain for the purpose of disodging the
force stationed there In this enterprise was aided by
Captain IS battery Of light artillery, and It was
crowned with complete the enemy retrestng In
disorder and with immense loss back along the side Of
the mountain to the position which they had occupied In
the morning; flying in terror up the sides OF the
mountain, and into the ravnes while few were taken
enemy to regain and hold the left Of the field, was
charge made by large body Of lancers upon my COM
very both seldom been eqused The forces
either side nearly equal In numbers Instead Of
throwing my command into resist tho charge
the enemy received in line of two ranks my force
reserving its fire until the enemy within about
seventy yards which was delivered with deadly aim,
and which proved most destructive in its edectsths
envy flying In every direction in disorder, and making
pyecptate retreat towards their lines About
set the enemy withdrew from the field and the battle
ceased In brief report It is impossible into
the details of day like the 23d Tbs fighting through.
out consisted different in different psrts
Of the field the whole OF them well contested
many Of them bloody and terrible. The under my
command actually discharged eighty, and ninety,
rounds Of cartridges at the during the day The
I'd regiment Of command which opened the battle on
the plain in such gallant style deserves passing
mark shall attempt to make apology their re-
treat for t their duty to stand die the last
until they received orders to retire. but desire
They remained in their position in line receiving tia
fire Of 5000 1000 infantry front erposed at "a,
same time on the itt flank TO most desperate roktns
fire from the enemy's battery posted ofhin ponbisnI
shount they had deliberately discharged fwenfy rounds
Of cartridges nj me enemy IA, ~.
Some may be framed for those who retired for
a few minutes and then Immediately rallied and fought
during day but unless they hasten retrieve their
regulations, disgrace must forever hang around the
names Of those who refused return and regret 10 say
there few Of those from nearly every volunteer
corps engaged. ~ on .nisp
there many exhibitions Of GOODNESS aud brsvery
it is difficult aud delicate tssk to psrticularise But
Justice compcls to mention Colonel Davis and his
regiment of Mssssippians who nobly and hravsy
the at the proper time save tho for
tunes of the day. q a.8 a.. }i.n,
Although censurc does Justly attach to
few who proved reerean to their duty that day yst
am OF the opinion that veteran troops either Of this
any other country could not have fought and
battle better than those engaged 1t Il victory without
parallel in this any other this continent and
the and officers Who did their duty the battle of
Buena Vista, deserve TO have their inscribed
the brightest pages Of their country history. ga
Respectfully your obedient servant 30. .n
JOSEPH LANE, Boz o.
Brig Gen. comd'g I'd Brigade.
To Brig. Cen WOOL u $. Army. 1aii asr. ta
Captain OBricn's Despatch.
CAMP ON BarrLr oRovso os BvrNA VDTA,
MEuco, February rs, le47.S sol
Sal have tine honor to report to you the part taken
in the action of the 23d instant by that portion Of AStil-
ery which was detached from your battery and placed
On the morning OF the 22d instant, was placed on
the plain which afterwards became the battle
ground in command of three pieces of light artillery,
viz one l2-poundsr howifser, 6poundsr gun, and