The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-06-18

CANE SAN JArS De BE>N VrsrA
February %, 1871.

the several cou panles of the lst Illinois
Volunteers, burlng the battle OF Buena
Vista, fought on The 22I and 23l of Feb
ruary, | have the honor to report:
Capt. Norgan's comply a and Capt.
PreuDiss' company a. had been detached,
forming part Of the garrison If SaSuiio,
under the command Of Major Warren,
and were in that place during the engage.
men, The remaining eight companies
encamped in the rear Of the pass on the
evening Of the 2l>t; and during that
nigh, they threw up an emhankment on
the right Of the road at the pass. On the
morning Of lhe 22I, Capt. Crows CON.
pany lF) and Capt. Wyau's company,
under the command of 1t. Col. Wealth
prrord, were ordered 10 occupy and com
plete the ditch in the valley; and he re
naming six companies, under the COM
maud of Col. hardin. erected slight
bresstwork on the hill. The regiment
remained in his position during the day
and night If the 22d. On the morning
nf the 23I, Immediately after the tr,,
charge of infantry, Col. Hardin led four
companies from the hill on to the plateau
-Cap,. Monreomerv's company (H.
Capt. Zabriskie's company (D), Captain
Richardson's company (E), and Captain
Smiths compan, (Bl, With these he
moved up and supported the Kentucky
infantry. on the right. As he advanced.
rie enemy opened a fire upon our right
flank. from the second ravine beyond the
pass. Cot. Hardin wheeled his com
mand to the right, and ordered a "cbargt
boyoneIs." and routed the enemy from
his position, and drove him across ,h'
ravine and the next hill, killing anC
woundng large number. After passing
the last mentioned rsvine, Col. llardli
found his command detached from tn
other regiments engaged; and turning
lie passed across the ravine on the left o
Bragg's battery. and was ordered to sup
port it. lie remained in this position 70
near two hours; during which time tn
Colonel ordered up Capt Mowers com
pany IK, who. with Capt. Frys com
pany (C), had been left in position a, tn
bleaSiwork. About three O'Clock, 2. m
as Brsgg's and a part Of Washington
batteries were moving up the ridge tc
wards The mountain, Capt, Chiffon rod
Mp aud told Col. Hardin that he was Of
lercd to the RICH, tn make charge
hurry, or he would be TOO late ; that tn
DRAGONS were then moving up for
charge. Col. Ilardin's C, mnand file
right BY the heads Of companies passe
through the batteries, and came into lin
on the right. At ,ha: moment the hea
of heavy column Of Mexican infanrr
appeared, and opened tremendous fr,
= Col. II. took shelter under the bank
the ravne on tho right, and moved up
the head Of the ravine, and opened I'll
: on the Mexican column. Up TO this tin
: he had not lost a single man killed. RI
result of thai last unfortunate charge, I,
General already knows. When that pa
Of the command again reached the breas
work on the top of the hill, compani'
+. G., and G., were led by Lieut.. Go
Weatherford To the head Of the ravine, q
the lef, Of the hill, In conjunction vii
one If the Indiana regiments. they occ,
= pied lha, ground during the remainder
: the day and night. Companies A and
, came from SalliIo during the night Of Il
23d, and were posted near companies
G.. and G.
Daring the whole time engaged, bo
, officers and men behaved in the mos, ga
! an, manner. Col. Hardin dislinguisllt
3 himself during the day, foe his feare
, and eager bearing. Capt Zabrskie all
i behaved and died like a soldier; and |.
$ Houghion defended himself to the la,
agains, The crowd Of lancers around hir
!, These ,hree officers all fell in the la
, charge of the day. For the names of Il
. officers who distinguished themselves, II
. general is referred to the roster.
would beg leave further to repor, Il
i operations of Capt, Washinglon's bait
- ~. so far as it acted in conjunction wi
the Is, Illinois Volunteers:
i, Cn the evening Of the 22d, an emban
meni was thrown up between the dit
= dug by the j., Illinois Volunteers and 4
y hill. and five pieces Of Capt. Washin
>. tons were placed behind it, so as to cot
. mand the soad, supported on the right
y, companies F and G., occupying the dilc
;, Ga the morning Of the 23d, heavy CO
!, umn presented itself, moving from Il
Mexican lines. and making denons,l
ton towards the battery. When /, h
e cleared ,he point of hill and come wit
ri IN range, Capt. Washington opened mp
|. it with his whole battery, The eff
II was ,remendous--,he sho, opening wi
d gaps in the heavy ranks Of the advsnci
y foe. The column was broken, and mo
/, ed quickly to The right, aud gained GOV