The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-28

gallant style through the column on the
| right and wheeling. fell on their left: dis
perslng and killing great number of them.
| A like charge was made by COL May, Mt
the head Of Il squadron Of Dragon, and one
| OF Arkansas Cavalry, against a large body
of the cncmy's Cavalry, with like results.
During tho engagement on the right,
Santa Anna, seeing that Gen. Taylor's
force was not well protected on the left
flank, scut Il large force of cavalry around
that point, and out-nanLing Taylor, succcc-
ded in throwing 1900 men into his rear.
But Gen Taylor Immediately sent Capt.
Bragg, with his artillery against this force,
who succeeded in cutting them off from the
main body. Lieut.. Crlttcndcn was de-
spatched, with flag oftrucc, to demand the
Immediate surrender Of this force. The
Mexican officer, pretending not to under
stand the character Of his mission, insisted
that he should be blind-iolded, according
10 tho rules of war, and thus had the Lien
tenant carried into tho camp Of Santa Anna
himself This was a ruse to get time to
cxtrcatc the Mexican Cavalry from their
dangerous position, and pending this truce
they were all drawn off by different road
from that by which they had gained this
position.
Lieut. Crittcndcn was conducted blind
folded to the tent of the Mexican General
in Chief, which he found long distance
from the scene of action, and which he
thought the safest place he had been in du-
ring the whole day. AS he approached
Santa Anna's tent he was greeted with IL
most tremendous flurisl1 Of trumprts, which
might have been heard a mile off, but pro-
duccd no very great terror in the mind OF
the Kentucilian. His blind was taken off.
and he found himsclfin the presence of the
famous Mexican Chief, surrounded by
brilliant staff Of bcdzzcncd. gildcd, and
moustachcd officers. Santa Anna apollo
glZed to the Lieutenant for the act OF his
officers: in having him blind-iolded, saying,
that so far from having amy desire to con-
ceai his situation. he was rather desrous OF
exhibiting to General Taylor the utter ioiiy
ofressting SO powerful an army as he had
under his command. 10 which the Lieu
tenant replied, that his simple message was
to demand his [Santa Anna'sl immediate
surrender to General Taylor. When this
extraordinary demand was translated 10 the
Mexican, he raised his hands and eyebrow
in utter astonishment at the temerity and
presumption Of such 4 message, and replied.
that he would expect Gen. Taylor to sur
sender in an hour, or he would destroy all
his forces Lieut.. Cri,tendcn's reply, which
we have already given" General Taylor
ncrcr surrcnlcrs !"-tcrminatcd the inter-
view, and the battle recommended, and was
continued until night.
Santa Anna took three small pieces of
our artillery, which, under Lieut.. O'Bricn,
had been posted too far in advance to be
covered by Our infantry. All the gunncrs
were shot down, pd when the guns were
captured there WA not a soldier left to man
them. One Of these pieces was an old
Tcxian 6-poundcr, which, during the Texan
Revolution, had done good execution among
the Mexican ranks. AS to the flags he
boasts Of having taken, they are very proba-
dropped on the field and picked zip by the
valiant Mexicans. His Exccllency of the
War Department, to whcE1 Santa Anna has
sent these trophies, will no doubt be sorely
disappointed in the size, texture, and beauty
of these standards. Mexican pride is easy
satisfied when such feeble memcntoes of
their prowcss and valor as these console
them for so inglorious defeat.
All tho officers on our side, in this hard
fought battle, distinguished themselves. The
details of the battle were confidcd to Gen.
Wool, who nobly justified the confidence of
his commander and brother-vetcran, by the
most active, Jealous, efficient and gallant
conduct. Throughout the whole action he
was constantly engaged in the disposition of
our forces, and in rallying them to the onset.
1t was q miracle that he escaped the thick
flying balls which thinned the ranks he was
marshalling. There was but one complaint
made against him, and that was, he OK posed
himself too much. Briadcr General Lane,
also, showed himself to be brave and capa.
bic officer. Although wounded early in the ac
ton, he kept his horse until it closed, and
never for Il moment left his post. .~
The old General-in-Chief remained at
his original and much exposed position, SUI
perintending the battle and narrowly watch
ling it's events. An cscopette ball passed
through his overcoat-that same old brown,
so familiar to all the officers and men who