Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-06-24


pains TO obtain all the facts aad state them correctly
Z Without making any ACCUSATIONS against General
Taylor or Gen. Wool, II Issayipg nothing more than
what is true TO stale, that Gen. Lane was the most
active General on the field. 1t should be published
IN every paper in Indiana in order to Irfe the many
falsehoods that have been uttered in relation to the
Indianans. General Wool told Colonel Bowles this
morning, In the presence of Major Washington, Gen.
Lane, and some other officers " Col. Bowles, you
have dsgraced YOURSELF your Regiment, and your
State by giving that order TO retreat-you, by this
act, prevented your Regiment from achieving one of
the most brilliant victories achieved by American
arms" He said more, but will not repeat it, and
/ the Colonel hung his head for shame.
| Yours, &c.
BUErA VISTA Mexico May TO- Is47.
From the comments Of the press the that
been written and published the many false and dicu
Ous statements uttered by different persons undry places
concerning the battle at this place the 22d and 23d Of
February last and particularly in consequence Of the
erroneous statements invented and circulated reference
the Indiana Brigade in connection with that memorable day,
feel myself constrained in discharge OF imperous duty
TO give the public succuct of facts which may
enable every candid reader to arrive at correct conclusion,
and that the public mind may be dabused Of studied and
systematic attempt at Misrepresentation and detracton
The disposition OF the troops to have been conhded
TO Gehera WOOL and posted in the following order
The "a Regiment Of Indiana Volunteers commanded
by Colonel Bowles with three pieces of Artillery under
Captain OBrien, posted the extreme left The Sd
Regiment Of Indiana Volunteers commanded by Colonel
Lane occupied height in rear of washington Battery
The LIST Illinois Regiment, commanded by Colonel Hardin,
were stationed high hill and short distance 10 the
left and front of the Battery The ID Kentucky Vol
uneer under Colonel Mckee the 22d posted the
right Of deep ravine at the distance Of half mile
the right Of the Battery but the morning of the 23d
ordered the Tavne and took place Col
Hardin and TO his left The I'd Regiment Of Illinois Voun
eeTs under Colonel Bisse posted further the left
in the and the tight distance Of about half
mile from where the I'd Indiana Regiment placed which
Regiment before remarked, occupied the left OF
the field the base Of The mountain The four Rifle
Companies of my command, under Msjor W. A. Gorman
a dlVr of daY fhas
Of The mountain to engnge the enemy, thousand
strong, who endeavorng 10 the points of the
. mountain and turn left flank. These Rihemen
directed to check their advance if possible. Three Rifle
Companies Of the I'd Illinois Regiment three Companies
Of Colonel Marshalls Mounted Regiment, dnounted
and seat the mountain to the Of Major Gorman
who bad now been for time holly engaged with
enemy The the brow ragged with fury
for about the space three hours when informed by
Colonel Churchill that the enemy great
ing under of deep ravne about four hundred yards
in my front and TO the right Immediately put my small
command in mOtiOa TO te. IL should be borne in
mind that my whole battalion companies OF
the I'd Indiana Regiment. kBrieu's Battery Of
three guns in all asoat four hundred men On arriving
ridge between two deep aud rugged Iavnes
found the Mexican Infantry four strong
supported by body of LanceIs. The Infantry coming
up Of the ravine left and forming beautiful
order the RIDGE leaving the Lancers in the
Immediately directed Captain OBen TO halt his Battery and
get ready for the Fray The column halted when the
first company wa9wh and the left of the Battery and
formed forward into line of battle rode of
umn and continued in front the companies forming
into line, and much delighted the officers and
forward in good order Goodness and courage
depicted ccuntenance. By the time half the
companies were in line, and while yet in 'front.' the
Mexicans opened their fire from their entire line In
ment the left companies line. passed to the rear
and the FIRE returned with prompness and good effect
This commenced the battle the plain of Buena VISTA
The distance between the enemy's line and my own
nne eny yards .ne tune the
their Battery OF three heavy guns on my left and
little to the rear, which nearly enhaded my ne In this
the battle continued rage for twenty
minutes the firing being very both Sides the lines
of the Mexican Infantry presenting continued sheet Of
fame observed the Mexican line to break and fall back
ridge enabled them at 10 force the back to their
position and keep them steady, Iihsn forme&a. 6ser-
minaton to take position near the enemy with the hope Of
routing and driving them from part Of the field aud
the purpose Of placing the line Of the range Of the
my guns which had succeeded ia getting the range
10 be doing execution neary-eyery he. FlAstpuE-
pose my Aid direct Captain 0BIien to advance his
Battery fifty sixty yalds TO the 'front.' and to return
10 10 assist in passing the 10 the line TO advance
the point. de ihe Battery advanced
position. was at that moment meas the left of mylipe
Before my Aid returned to me was much surprised TO see
my line begin to give way the right and continuing to
give the extreme left knowing time
Colonel Bowes had given order to retreat and it
several days after the battle land not till after rad made
my official repor before satisfied that the Regiment
had Teeaed obedience order given by Col Bowle
The order not obeyed until it had been twice repeated
has since been proven in Court Of Inquiry appointed
enquire into conduct Of the Colonel Lieutenant Colonel
MADDEN and twelve other good witnesses have testified
having given broke
so unwilling were they abandon their position The %
Regiment of Indiana Volunteers occupied important posi-
ton it the key to that part of the field, and
unsupported by any other troops.
An evidence of their being in very hot place is that
ninety Of them killed and wounded before they
retreated They had stood hImly doing their duty well
did troops until they had discharged
twenty rounds of cartridges at the enemy, killing and
wOundiDg Eve HUNDRED of them and have besta
ton saying, thatf had not been for that unnecessary
unauthoTzed and cowaIdy order retreat they would
have left their position hesitate not to belief
if my advance had been carried out and have
| ken he adj intended.
have driven enemy from the ridge. Although the
retired confusion the most Of them rallied
say the number of hundred and fifty and they
tnued fight like veterans throughout The day. Leuten
Robinson (my Aid-de-Camp) and Lieutenant Colonel
Haddcn, very active in rally ing tie hiaor era
ordered proceed to the ranch and bling back
such of had gone in that direction, which was
| promptly done. Captains Davis Kimball, Mckee, Briggs
1t Spiceiy fthen command Of the company in
quenee of fall of the gallant and lamented Kinder
Adj Sharks, Its. Hoggaii Burwe Lewis, Foser benene
| Kunkle Lowdernik Roach Rice, and Zenor With tie
OF company officers, also active in rally
ing the men. Captain SandeIson and Its Davis. Hogan
Csyce and several others wounded aud had to leave
the field Also Captain Dennis who had fought like hero,
with gun hand, found himself unable fion fatigue and
\ indisposition TO IemsiD longer on the deld
Il P~yuiaster Major Dix having arrived the field at this
moment, very active in assisting to rally our broken
and scattered forces; he seized the c0ors from then bearer
who was unable carry them longer and handed them TO
Lieutenant Kunke who carried them throughout the day.
These coors, the possession Of Captain Sanderson
were ddIed with balls "a pound shot, pound
shot, and many muske balls passed through them while
they hands Of this meIitoous young officer and
they could at all times be high above The heads OF the
Indiana Brigade moving to and fro whenever was neees
saTy and replise the enemy Lieut. now Capain)
Peek of the Rife Bataiioa, who had been compelled to
retire mountain to The plain, and after the fall of
his gallant old Captain Walker, succeeded in ralyng about
twenty men joining the I'd Indiana Regiment continued
TO fight CALAMITY throughout the day. The loss
killed and wounded which The I'd Indiana Regiment
tanned in the action will convey some idea Il the danger
they faced the enacity with which they struggedone
hundred of the number killed and wounded