Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28

ing way before Inc greatly superior lOIcc Will
which they were conlendng, the batteries Of Car
lains Sherman and Bragg coming up most OPP
portunely from The rear, and under The immediate
direction oil The handing general, BY well
directed fire checked and drove back with great
loss the enemy who had come close upon The
muzzles oftheir pieces. A part oil the enemy's
lanceTs took our infantry in flank, and drove them
down The ravine in front OF Capt. Washington
balleiy, who saved them by well-directed and
wel-imed fire from his pieces.
This was the last great effort OF Gen. Santa
Anna; the firing, however, between the enemy's
artillery and our own continued until night.
The troops lay on their arms in The position in
which they were placed al evening. Maj. War
ren's command consisting Of four companies H.
linois infantry, and detachment OF Capt. Web
s,er's company, under Lieut.. Donaldson, were
brought on The field from Sallillu, where they
had performed, during The day. important selvi-
ces in connection with Capt. Websler's battery,
under piece ably served BY Lieut.. (now Cap
lain) Shower, Sd artillery in reptlling The attack
o! Gen. Minon and his cavalry on thai place
Every arrangement was made 10 engage The enc
my carly The next morning, when, al daybreak
it was discovered he had rereaed under cover
| oil the night, leaving about 900 dead and seve
raj hundred wounded on The field Of battle, and
294 prisoners in our hands, one standard and a
large number OF arms.
Our own loss was, | deeply regret 10 say, very
great-equalng if moi exceeding, in proportion
10 The numbers engaged that Of The enemy. In
killed, wounded and missing, il amounted 10 RI
sing OF 700. Among The dead some OF The most
gallant OF our officers fell while leading their
men 10 The charge, and some who are well known
TO the country fer distinguished services on other
fields; among whom were Col. A. Yell, OF AT
kansas. Col VIM Mckee, Lieut.. Col. FL. Clay,
OF Kentucky, and COL Harden, of Illinois.
also lost my assistant adjuant general, Captain
Lincoln, who was as brave, gallant and as &C
complished an officer as ever knew. He fell in
The execution OF my orders, and in the attempt, 10
rally our men.
The troops posted in the centre were constantly
under The eve OF The commanding general, and
their movements and bearing during the battle
are better known 10 him Than myself. think II
proper, however, 10 bear witness with him 10 the
particular good conduct OF The lst Illinois yolun
teers. under Col. Hardin, and alter his DEATH M
der Col. Wealheriord; OF the I'd Illinois VOLUNTEERS
under Col. Bissel; and % Kentucky infantry, I'M
der Col. Mckee, Lieut.. Col. Clay, and after their
death, under Major Fry. These regiments sui
tered greatly in The contest, and were ably AMI
eallanlly led on 10y their officers as their number
names, and rank OF the killed will abundany
testify.
also desire 10 express ms high admiration
/
ington, Sherman and Bragg, and Lieu,enanls
O'Brien and Thomas, and heir batteries; 10 whose
services al this point, and on every other part Of
The field, Think il hut Justice 10 say, we are main
~ indebted for The great victory so successfully
| achieved by our arms over The great force oppos-
| Ell 10 us-more than 10000 men and IL pieces OF
artillery. Without our artillery we would moi
have maintained our position single hour.
Brigadier General Lane was very active and
prompt in The discharge OF his duty, and rendered
good service throughout The day. lie reports
among many others, Colonel Lane and The )
Indiana regiment as having done themselves
great credit To Colonel Davis and the Missis-
sppi regiment under his command, whose SER
vices were conspicuous in The open engagements
on The rear of our left, great credit is due Tor The
part they performed, and much praise Tor their
conspicuous gallanTy which caused them 10 lie
a rallying point for The force that was driven III
| from the left, and who. in connection with the Sd
| Indiana regiment and fragment III The "a In
| diana under its gallant colonel, constituted al
most The only infantry opposed 10 The heavy CO.
| lumn of The enemy.
| Colonel Marshall rendered gallant and impor-
| tanl services, both as the commander of HE rifle
men in the mountains, where he and his men
were very eiIecual, and as'he commander OF The
cavalry companies Of his regiment, in connexion
with those OF lie Arkansas regiment. under Co
| lionel Yell, and after his death under Lieutenant
| Colonel Roane, (who commanded them IN gal
liant manner,) in their operations against the enc
my's lancers. Colonel Marshall reports that
| Lieutenant Colonel Field was everywhere during
| the battle, and equal entirely TO his station, anu
| rendered The most essential assistance.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel May I'd Dragons
with The sqnadron of the Isl and I'd dragons, and
| Captain Pixies squadron Of Arkansas cavalry
| and section OF artillery, admirably served by
Lieutenant Reynolds, Sd artillery, played an i'm
porlant part in checking and dispensing The enc
my in The rear oil our left. They retired before
him whenever he approached Them. The GAL
LIANT Captain Steen, whilst rallylng under Inc or
ders OF the commanding general some men Inn
| ming from the field oil battle, was severely
wounded 10 The thigh.
Major McCulIock quarlermaster IN COM
mand Of Texas spy company, has, on the
| field. and in all the Reconnaissance Tor several
/ days previous TO the contest, given me great as
sistancc and valuable information.
Though belonging 10 The staff OF the major &C.
neral commanding, yet The very imporlanl and
valuable services OF Major Mansfield, 10 whom
am greatly indebted for The aid received IRON
his unliring exeIlions activity and extensive IN
formation as well as for his gallant bearing GU.
ring the days and nights Of The 2lsl, "a, 2"a
and 24lh, gives me The privilege oil expressing 10
b
this accomplished officers conduct.
NV thanks are alsodu TO Major Monroe, chlel
OF artillery, for The services rendered by him on
The field, as chief Of artillery, and Tor his exer.
lions in ralying the men al Buena Vista, ana
di.posing OF them a, that place, 10 meet The at
tack OF The enemy's lancers Paymasier Dix and
Caplajn Leonard rendered very valuable aid by
their gsllanlry in rayins The troops. Lieulen'
ant Renham, engineer, was very gallant, Jealous,
and efficient al all times, night and day, III me
performance of the important duties with which
he was charged.
OF my staff cannot speak in TOO high terms
their devotion TO duty at all times, day and night,
and their activity and gallant bearing on The 2is',
22d, 3d. and oath. not only command my adm'
ration, but is worthy OF all praise. VI those en-
titled TO this commentator | would mention The
following:
Lieut.. Irwin Mcdowell, my aid-de-camp,
would recommend 10 the special notice OF The
commanding general for his activity and devo-
lion, al all times, in The discharge OF his dulles
and especially for his gallant and efficient ser
vices throughout The ODD and 23d, on the field oil
battle.
OF Col S. Churchill inspector general would
speak. for his assistance on The field, where his
GOODNESS and judgment we've in accordance with
his previous reputation as brave veteran. he
had his horse shot under him during the heat OF
the action. | would lake OCCASION at ihIs place,
TO express to The commanding general the aid
and support have received from This officer IN
discipIining and lns'Iuclins Inc troops under my
command since The opening OF The campaign
Cant. w. w. Chapman rendered me great as
sis,ance, as extra aid de-camr, in gallanily con-
veyins my orders, in rallying and sending back 10
The field many of The volunteers who had fallen
back, and in his admirable arrangement for the
defence The train. Lie has been most active,
efficient and dilisen officer during the whole
campaign, and would recommend him paricu-
" 10 the attention OF the commanding general.
Lieut.. Si,greaves, typographical engineer, was
distinguished for his gallanIry and good condnc,
and especially in conveying my orders on The
field oil battle.
Capt George P. Howard, A.C. s., and Capt.
C. w. Davis, A. O. Nj, are equally entitled 10
praise for their efficient services and gallant bear
ing on The field of battle.