Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-04-21
ssss BUENA VISTA;
Another account of the Battle.

$3.50 BUENA VISTA
Another NccOWnt of the Battle.
We find in the Ne,0 Orleans 7ropic of the
soth chino the subjoined highly interesting ac-
esunt of the Battle of Buena Vista, from the
pen of an accomplished gentleman who shared
its aonors and its perils. 1t is full of interest,
as presenting the most graphic description of
che scenes of that ensanguined field which We
have set seen.
Correspondence of the New Orleans Tropc.
- CAMP OF BUESA VISTA FEBRUARY "a lS47,
On the meraing of the a2d intelligence reach
cd General Taylor at his camp.on the hill over
looking Saltiilo from the south, that Santa An
m, whose presence in our vicinity had beeL re-
ported for several days, was advancing upon
our main body, stationed near the Rancho San
Juan de Buena Vista, about seven miles from
Saltillo. The General Immediately moved for
ward with Mays squadron of Dragoonss Sher-
mans and Bragg's batteries of Artillery, and
the Mississippi regiment OF Rifleman under Col
Davis, and arrived at the position which he had
selected for awaiting the attack of the enemy
about IL o'clock. The time and the place, the
hour and the man,seemed to promise glorious
celebration of the day. 1t was the 22d of Feb
ruary, the anniversary of that day on which the
God of Battles gave to freedom its noblest cham
pi n, to patriotism its purest model, to Amer
lea q preserver, and to the world the nearest
nalzation of human perfection; for panegyric
Snks before the name of WASHINGTON.
The morning was bright and beautiful. Not
q cloud Aoated athwart the armament or dim
med the azure of the sky, and the flood of gold
en- radiance which gilded the mountain tops and
poured over the valleys, wrought light and
shade into thousand fantastic forms. A soft
breeze swept down from the mountains, roll
ing into graceful fluctuations the banner of the
Republic, which was proudly streaming from
the flagstaff of the fort and from the towers
and battlements of Saltillo. The omens were
oil! in our favor.
In the choice of his position Gen. Taylor ex-
hibited the same comprehensive sagacity and
mastery coup DIAL, which characterized his
dispositions at Resca de la Palma, and which
crowned triumphantly ell his operations amid
the blasting lines of Monterey. The mountains
rise on either side of an irregular and broken
valley, about three miles, dotted over with hills
and ridges, and SCARED with broad and winding
ravines- The main road lies along the course
Of an arroyo, the bed Of which is now SO deep
as to form an almost impossible barrier, while
the other side is bounded by precipitious eleva-
tons, stretching perpendicularly towards the
mountains, and separated by broad gullies, un-
ill they mingle into one at the base of the prin-
cipal range. On the right of the narrowest
point of the roadway a battalion of the first IL
iinois regiment, under Lieut.. Col. Weather ord
was stationed in small trench, extending to
the natural, while, on the opposite height. the
main body of the regiment under Col. Hardin
was posted, with single prece of artillery
from Capt. Washington's battery. The post
Of honor on the extreme right was assigned to
Bragg's artillery, his left supported by the sec
ond regiment Of Kentucky foot under COL Nc
Kee, the left flank of which rested upon the ar
royo. Washington's battery occupied posi-
ton Immediately in front of the narrow point of
the roadway, in rear of which and somewhat to
the left, on another height, the second Illinois
regiment, under Col. Bissell, was posted
Next on the left, the Indiana brigade. under
Gen. Lane, was deploye while on the extreme
left the Kentucky cavalry. under Col. Marshall
occupied position directly under the frowning
SUBMITS of the mountains. The two squad
sons of the first and second Dragons, and the
Arkansas cavalry under Col. Yell, were posted
in rear, ready for any service which the exigen-
cies Of the day might require.
These dispositions had been made for some
time, when the enemy was seen advancing in
the distance, and the clouds of dust which roll
ed up before him gave satisfactory evidence that
his numbers were not unworthy the trial OF
strength upon which we were to enter. He ar
rived upon his position in immense masses, and
with forces sufficiently numerous to have COM
menccd his attack at once, had he been as con-
fdent of success as it subsequently appeared he
was solicitous for our safety. The first evil
dence directly afforded us of the presence of
Santa Anna was white flag, which was dim
ly seen auttering in the breeze, and anon Sur
geon General Lindenbeig, of the Mexican army
arrived bearing beautiful emblem of benevo-
lent bIavado and Christian charity. 1t was a
missive from St.Anna, suggested by considera-
lions for our personal comfort, which has placed
as under lasting obligations, proposing to Gen
eral Taylor terms of unconditional surrender:
promising good treatment; assuring us that his
force amounted to upward of 10000 men !;
that our defeat was inevitable, and that to spare
the effusion of blood, his proposition should be
compiled with. Strange to say, the American
General showed the greatest ingratitude: evin-
ced no appreciation whatever of Santa Annals
kindness, and informed that whether his force
amounted to $4,000 or $4,000 it was equally a
matter of indifference: the terms of adjustment
must be arranged by gunpowder.
a The messenger returned to his employer, and
we waited in silence to hear the roar of his ar
tillery. Hours rolled by without any movement
on his part, and it appeared that the Mexican
commander, grieved at our stubborness, was
almost disposed to retrace his stepsas il deter
mined to have no further intercourse with such
,,ngrateful audacity. At length he mustered
resolution to open fire from mortar, throw
ing several shells into our camp without execu-
tion. While this was going on, Captain Steen
. Of the lst dragons. with single man, started
isowar,ls hill on which the Mexican General
seemed TO he stationed with his staff, but before
he completed the ascent the party vanished, and
: when he reached the top he discovered that two
yeo;mcufs had throuu them selves into so,ya res