The Arkansas banner., 1847-06-14


 A. ,vbcs otf from our main body. l can not too a..AIv eompiiment this gallant band They were me eye the whole time, and tbeir vaior could h, AnO haxs been surpassed. Lieut.. Col. Field1 was no .. .,d everywhere during the battle. equal en- tb, ,o his station. and rendered me the most es- Wess ,ss,sfanee He has mentioned in hattering ,hs gallantry of several as conspicuous on this ..asior. and tt affords me infinite pleasure to add '.S own testimony to tts general geod conduct of the troops 4: ht 2. ...in;ttsd to have been tremendous Persons who hss since visited the scene represent the dfcd of "A, aps,nv iaft oh this mountain side, as from two hn.4red and fifty to three hunired--lhe number of ".".,ded not known. Their loss was immense We did not lose man from the commands engaged. ..,,ose inc enemy shot too high. I was closely ohseyv,eg the movements on the mountain, perceiv- ;r. that Tnatters were reaching extremes with ray f,nsr when observed that regiment Of Ameri- ,rs were retreatng my right; instantly had the s;1,.l sounded to call my men from the mountain, .sd stood with Price's saaadron and the four Ar s,..as cavalry companies until they issued from ihe sayine, and mounted, commenced to ascend the s;l oa the other side Ourline being pressed back, ""I the men retreating in apparent disorder, pro- nosed to Col Yell to charge the Mexican line and k readily assented but before the enemy had taken osition to enable to execute oaT desire the right f ,he Arkansas corps commenced retiring in order Oaf whole force was then withdrawn to the other s;de of the ravne, and we found that we stood de- facbed from the rest of the army. The ridemen of ibe Kentucky cavalry had not yet joined the regi- meni but. retiring before the enemy in order, was occas;onay presenting front to cover the retreat ol the infantry. In this way they twice delivered fro upon the body of the enemy, who were press inr in masses along the mountainside. After cross ing three ravines in this way the rifemen succeed nd in joining the rest of the regiment, and, at onee
 tka tfsf farfn f.ar eha he I.pcets of the enemy, who now moved forward aiang Inc base of the mountain, il to engage the com p,pies under my command. The lancers were nneced by the fnfaatry on the mountain. side, and whenever checked, would at once reform under GOV sT of their fire; while the infantry, becanse of the conformation 1.-the ground could not be approached hy our horses.--The regiment of Kentucky cavalry and the four Arkansas companies met the laneers firmly, and the bead Of their column was pressed back We lost several valuable lives in this charge --not by the lancers but the musketry, which con. stan.ly fired upon my command. We were utter y unsastsnedby infantry, and powerless of course, as against force we could not reach-- force ex- ceeding mine by st least six to one, and constantly reinforced by other infantry and cavalry--and, withal, in position to is inaccessible.
 Al this point ot time 1 could see no infantry be- longing to your aTny and the progress of the ene- ny seemed unresisted. if not resistless. fsce had q lins it was paipable that it had swung away from the mountains, and therefore 1t was deemed best to take position which woule draw the enemy into he plain Accordingly the cavalry moved of arectIy at right angles to our former course. and approached the Saltillo road, near the ranche, at Buena Vista. The infantry of the enemy at once descended to the plain, and formed line of battle parallel to the mountains base; their cavalry formed scolumn of sqnadrons. to charge upon my gimsnt. We formed at once 10 receive them, Col Tells com piniea being on my left. The enemy came down in most gallant style and beautiful order. They numbered from .380 to l,SO0, and constituted the brigade of Gen. Torrelon. Our force did not ex- eeed 400. Our men were armed with rifles, or with eaTa5ine, pistol, and sabre; Theirs wilt sabre and pistol, or with lanees, waited their approach they had arrived within sixty yards of my line when our men delivered their fire. Under this ef- feet the head of their column wavered, and for a msmsnt checked its march, when the order was given to my command to charge upon them. Their column parted-some went right, and some left. The men on our side pressed through them, pur- taed one part, and the melee became general. The Etele crowd was enveiioped in cloud of tttst, and all order on both sides seemed lost. Mexicans aad kentuckians, and some of the Arkansas sol dleTs were together, and so continued until we had reached the valley in rear of the ranche. A large body of the Mexicans broke through the rancho, where they were fired upon as they passed; and thence, pursued by my men, they fired across the mountains opposite. As they ascended the moun-
 
 Among others who fell in this affair were Col Yell. of Arkansas, and my adlutant Edward Nj. Vaughan. Your army contains no braver spirits than these. Nor did the field of Buena Vista hold two more determined soldiers. Their bodies exhibit inc herceness of the shock and the noble daring with which it was met. Mir. Vaughan received twenty-four wounds, many of which were mortal draw no distinction between Col. Tells compan- les and my own. They stood shoulder 10 shoulder up to the moment of collision with the enemy, and behaved as handsomely as 1 could have desired The fall of Col. Yell, who passed to the leff (whils passed to the r1ghtl parted the regiments. There were some of the soldiers from Arkansas who re. mained with me. and who formed with my owr command shortly afterwards to sustain Bragg bat. iery, which was going then into action. It is stuff elent commentary this transaction to observe that With the charge of their cavalry the progress of the enemy ceased. can scarcely distinguish between officers and men, where all were braSe: but may mention the galiantry of Captain Price as conspic- noas. Many performed acts of daring which have been reported to me in attering terms, but which nay not extend this paper by reciting.
 In our new position, after the Kentucky cavalry returned to the field of action, little was left for us 10 do but to sustain the battery by our presence and to cover it when 1t retired. This duty was per. ioFmed under your own immediate observation The advance of some infantry regiments induced fol to order me to a new position, to cover their iaak from another column of the eneiny's cavalry eu the character of the ground and progress of the battle offered TO new opportunity to engage. Ii Was sscertaIned that the energes of our horses by the acton of the proceeding sixty hours, had been completely exhausted; and about this time re- eeSed an order from Major General Taylor to re- paIr to the position he occupied upon the heid, ,aere to disrnount and to act if necessary, foot While marching thithei, the firing on both sides ceased, and the battle closed.
 In conclusion. l would remark, that from the commencement to the close of this memorable ac- uoh, ny regiment was at no time fifteen minutes ea' o the fire 1.-the enemy. or out of the reach oi his lanees 1.-the part it has played has been ser seeaoe 10 our country, and in any measure eontfi- oa'ed to produce the glorious result which has crowned our common tolls, we shall feel fully rec 9onpehsed for all We have suffered by separation lfon our homes and families. deeply depiore the i'eAi loss the regiment has sustained; but the dead nave nave ieit an example which must endeaF their mem- "y While patriotism has an admirer
 respectfully submit the list of the killed and wounded oi the Kentucky cavalry. and have the h'hof 10 be your very obedient servant
 HUMPHREY MARSHALL,
 Colonel of Kenfuckv Cavalry