Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-04-29
VOsl. XXV. ...NG. "


hasotf The mountain IN cur lift, and was gaining our
rsnr in pr,ai re. At this moment arrived tipoh the
field he Mississippi reei mont had been directed "
the left before reaching the position. mud Immediately
into action against the Mexican Infantry which Lsd
turned our hnnb The I'd Kentucky regiment and a
sactienu srlle, under Captain Bragg had previously
bern ordered from the right reinforce our left and ar
rived Mt n most opporune Incmcnt. That regiment.
aud portion OF the lst Illinois, under Col Hardin gal
any drove the enemy, and recovered portion OF tho
ground we had lust The batteries Of Captains Sherman
aud bragg ware IN position the plateau and did much
execution. noi only In 'front.' but particularly upon he
masses which had gained our Discovering that
the enemy was heavily pressing upon the Mississippi
regiment the third Indiana regiment under Col Lane,
was e,patchcd 10 strengthen that part -four ne which
ioimed CROCHET perpendicular 10 the rsl line Of bat
Tie. AT the same time Iient kilburn with a piece Of
Capt Baggs battery. directed support tho infant
~ there engaged The action was for long time warm
~ sustained al that polnt--iho enemy making sovenI
Efforts both with infantry and cavalry against our lnc
aud being always repulsed with heavy loss had placed
all The regular cavalry and Capt Pixies squadron Of
Arkansas horse under the orders Of Brevot Lieut. Col
May with directions 10 hold in check the enemy column
still advancing 10 the along the base Of tho moun-
tain, which WAS done IN conjunction with the Kentucky
and Arkansas cavalry under Colonies Marshall and Yell
In the mean time our left which still strongly threat
ened by superior force further strengthened by tho
detachment ol Capt Bragg aud potion Of Capt, Sher.
man batteries, 10 that quarter.
The concentration Of artillery fire upon the massaa If
the enemy along the base OF the mountain and the deter
mined resistance offered ly the two regiments opposeJ
t. them. had created confusion in their ranks and some
of the corps attempted to effect upon their main
hne o battle. The squadron Of the LIST draR,nns under
Lieut. Ruckor was now ordered up the deep ravine which
these recatnp corps endoavong To cross in order
to charge aud dispense them. The squadron proceeded
to the point Indicated but could not accomplish the oh
Ject, heing exposed 10 heavy iru from battery esab
hshcd 10 cover the retreat of those corps While tho
squadron was detached on lh service, large body Of
the enemy WIS observed 10 concentrate on our ,xtren,
lell apparently with tho view Of making dcscon, upon
the hacienda of Buena VISTA whore our train and bap
Gage were deposited Lieut. Col. May was ordered 10
The support OF Tia point with two pee. OF Capt Shsr-
ma = battery under Lieut. Reynolds In The m, nm
time ie scattered loicos near the hacienda. conps, in
part OF MaJors Trail aud Galmau's commands had been
To some extent organized under the advice Of Major Nun
rdc cici ct auery. with the assistance Of Manr Nor
soh w hirel stall, aud were posted 10 defend the 20
s''on Before onr cavalry had reached The hacienda
ha' oi hc enemy HAD made It's attack having been hand
sonelg met b, The kentucl, and Arkansas cavalry nm
der Coils Marshall and Yell The Mexican column I'M
mediaely divided one portion sweeping by the depot,
Where II received df slructlyo fire from the force which
ad collected there and then gaining the mountain oppo-
Site nndor fire from Lieut.. REYNOLDS " elton the ts-
naming portion r,ganing the base Of tho mountain on
our lll In The charge nj Buena Vista Col. Yell fel
R'n'HS "' ''e h.ad OF lls regiment also lost Ad-
lnian nghan. OF the Kentucky cavalry Young Of
ueef oi much promise Lieut.. Col Nav who had been
rJoned ny the squadron Of the LIST dranoons and by pr
IONS 81 The Arkansas aud Indiana troops under Lieut.
VI hnahe ana alJ'f German, now approached the base
oil 'he mountain holding IN check the ghi flank Of the
'o'in., upon whose n'assts. crowded in tho narrow
goIges aud aflnes, ARTILLERY was doing fearful ex
ccntian.
lie position 81 HAT portion II the Mexican Amy which
n'o eann our Tear was NOW very critical and seemed
u Ronol whether 1t could regain tho main body. At
ms moment received from Gen Santa Anna n messnue
by stall officer desiring To know wha, wanted 4
Immediately despatched Brig Gen Wool TO the Mexican
~ '''i !" vno, ana s'nt orders 10 firing
Upon reaching the Mexican lines. General Wool could
h' cause the enemy TO cease their fire and acc nd
ingy returned without having an interview IN,
extreme right Of the enemy continued its retreat sunc
tho base OF the mountain. and finally in spite of all our
Efforts, elected junction with The remainder Il the
army.
During the day. the cav,lr, Of Gen M,no, b,d ,se,,
dcd the elevated plain above Salullo and occupcd tho
ROAD nom the cy 10 the field Of battle where they in
"''ePea loi our men Approaching the town
'hey were bred upon by Capt Webster from the rodoubt
occupied ny ma company, and then moved of toward,
tie EASTERN side oi the valley and obanely towards Bue
ma Vista At lhls time Capt, Shower moved rapidlv for
ward with his piece. supported by n iseeancous com.
mnnd Of mounted volunteers, and fired several shots at
the cavalry with great effect. They were driven into
the ravncs which lead 10 HE lower valley closely mr-
sued by Capt shaver. who further supported by a
piece q apt ebsicrs battery. under Lieut.. Donald
son, which had advanced from the redoub supported by
'ap W hccet company Illinois volunteers. The enc
my made one or Two efforts 10 charge the artillery but
was finally driven back confused mass and did not
again appear upon the plain
IN the mean time the firing had partially ceased upon
tn principal. field Tho enemy seemed To 90 fine bis
flloTfs 10 the protection Of his artillery and had left tia
plateau ior anonont, when recalled thither by
very heavy mnskotry fire On regaininp that position
discovered that our infantry (llinos and I'd Kentucky
had Engaged goa superior force of the enemy-evi-
IDENTIFY his rcsev Sand that they had been " rwhen-
cd by numbers. The moment was most critical Can't
O'Bren with two pieces had sustained this heavy charge
to the last and was finally obliged leave his guns on
lhe hed-his infantry support being entirely routed
captain bragg, who had Just arrived from tho left was
ordered at once into battery. Without any infantry TO
support hun, and at the imminent of losing his g,lI g.
tins .flcer came read into action. the Mexican line
beng but lew yards from the nizze of his pieces Tho
FIRST discharge Of canister caused the enemy TO hesitate
the second and third drove him back in disorder and
saved the !day. The I'd Kentucky regiment, which
had advanced beyond supporting distance In this affair."
was driven back and closely pressed by tho enenys
airy. Taking nvne which led in the direction Of
Captain ashngton's battery their pursuers became ex
posed to his fire. which checked and drove them
back with loss. In the time the rest of our ar
cry had taken position the plateau, covered by TIE
Mississippi aud Sd Indiana regiments the former of which
had reached the ground in time TO pour fire into the
right flank OF the enemy and thus contribute his
pulse. In this last conflict had the misfortune to sus-
tain very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin. LIST Illinois,
aud Colonel Mckee and Lieutenant Colonel Clay, "a
kentucky regiments fell at this time while callanty
heading their commands.
No further attempt was made ny the enemy 10 force
pslon and The approach Of the night gave an sp-
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