The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-22


guard against General Mihon and his cavalry, taking
I'd Dragons
The troops remained under arms during the night in
the position they occupied at the close of the day About
o'clock, m, OF the 23d, our pckets driven in
by the Mexicans, and at the dawn of day the action was
on the side OF the mountan
The enemy had succeeded during the night and early
IN the morning in gaining the very top of the mountain
and IN passing TO left and He had reinforced
! his extreme right BY some 300 to 900 infantry
MAJOR Pral I'd Illinois volunteers, was ordered, with
has battalion OF rhemen, 10 reinforce Col Marshall, who
was engaged IN holding the right of the enemy in check
The enemy now opened fire upon our left from bat
terry planted the side of the mountain near where his
now indicating that the main attack would be against
our left
The I'd Kentucky infantry and Braggs battery of ar,
ley were by Instructions given to Major Mansfield order
ed from the extreme right and Shermans battery ordered
up IRON the rear to take post with Col BrelFs regiment
{ed illinois vounieersl the plateau which extends
from the centre OF the line to the foot of the mountain
the sides OF which were filled with the Mexican in
iantry and our rflemen, between whom the firing had
become very brisk About this time the major-general
commanding was seen returning from Satllo with the
Mississippi regiment and the squadron of The I'd dr-
goons and shortly after he arrived and took his position
IN the centre OF the field OF battle, where he could see
and direct the operations OF the day All o'clock large
body OF the enemy composed of infantry lancers and
three pieces OF arley moved down the high road upon
our centre, held by Capt Washingons battery and the
lst Illinois volunteers, but were soon dispersed By the
iormer The npdiy and precision of the fire OF the
artillery scattered and dispersed this force in few mi
nules with considerable loss on their side, and little
none on Our own.
In connexion with this movement heavy column OF
the enemys infantry and cavalry and the battery the
side OF the mountain moved against left which
held by Brig Gen Lane, with the I'd Indiana regiment,
and Lieut. UBrIens section OF artillery, by whom the
mys lire was warmly returned, and owing to the range.
with great effect, by Lieut. OBrens artillery General
Lane, agreeby to my orders, wishing bring his infantry
within striking distance, ordered his line to for
ward This order was duly ,obeyed by Lieut.. oBrien.
The infantry, however instead of advancing retired in
disorder; and in spite OF the utmost efforts of their
general and his officers, left the artillery unsupported and
fled the field OF battle. Some Of them were rallied by
Colonel Bowles who, with the fragment, fell in the
ranks of the Mississippi uaemen, ana during the day did
good service with that gallant regiment deeply regret
10 say that most OF them did not return to the field, and
many OF them continued their flight TO Sahllo.
Lieut. OBrien, being unsupported by any infantry, and
not being able 10 make head against the heavy column
bearing down upon HIM with destructive fire, fell back
on the centre, leaving OF MS pieces, which all the
cannoneers and horses were either killed disabled in
the hands OF the enemy. Seeing themselves off from
the centre BY the flight OF the I'd lndiSa regiment, and
the consequent ADVANCE of the Mexican infantry and
airy upon the ground previously occupied by it, the ri
emen under the command OF Colonel Marshall rereaed
from then position IN the mountain where they had been
successfully engaged with the enemy 10 the other
side of the dry bed of deep and broad torrent that is
Immediately IN rear OF our position Here many fled IN
disorder the Some OF them were subsequently,
rallied and brought again into action with their brave
companions; others stopped at the hacienda OF
Bucna Vista, and there reformed by their officers
three pieces, and took position sbn the extreme left OF
line, under the mountain, and commenced emilia
ding fire centre, which returned with much
effect upon the advancing column OF the Mexlcans, con-
tanning. 5000 infantry and lncers that it forced
them TO keep to the upper side OF the plateau close under
the side OF the mountain; and, Instead OF turning the
lett and advancing centre, against the heavy fire
OF much well served artillery, continued its course
perpendicular TO our line the extreme left, crossed
over the bed OF the dry toren nhe direction taken
retrealng emen. keeping all the while close TO the foot
of the mountain Coils. Marshall and Yell with their
airy companies Colonel May, with the squadron OF the
and ID dragoons, and Captain Pixies squadron Ar
kansas regiment, connexion with brigade of inan-
try, formed Of the Mississippi regiment, the Sd Indiana
Colonel Lane and fragment OF the I'd Indiana regl
hree pieces Of Shernan's battery, succeeded in check
ing the march of this column The Mississippi regiment
alone, and with howitxer under Captain Sherman,
moved against 1000 OF the enemy and stopped them
their march upon Saltilio large body OF lancers
from hs body, formed column IN one OF the mountain
gorges, and advanced through the Mexican infantry to
make descent the hacienda of Buena Vista, near
which our train of supplies and baggage had been
packed They calamity and successfully met by
mounted men, under Colonies Marshall and Yell, and
the attacking column separated part returning to the
mountain under cover of their infantry, and part
going through the hacienda Here the latter were met
by destructive fire from those who had left thu
field in the early part OF the action and had been rallied
by their officers Colonel MAYS dragons and section
of artillery under Lieutenant Reynolds, coming up this
moment completed the rou OF this portion of the
my's cavalry The column that had passed our left and
had gone some two miles to rear, faced
about aud commenced retaclng their steps, exposn
their right flank to very heavy and destructive fire from
our infantry and artillery, who We're drawn up line par
alel to the march of the retreatng column of whom
many forced on and the mountains, and many
dispersed,
Gen Santa Anna, seeing the situation of this part of
his army and doubt considering them cut off, sent
in flag to the major general commanding to know what
he desired The general asked me to be the bearer OF
his answer, TO which cheeruy assented and proceed
ed Immediately to the enemys battery under the noun
tains TO see the Mexican general -inchief But in
sequence OF refusal 10 firing troops, TO
whom the OF the truce had not yet been commune
Gated and who actively engaged with the Mexican
infantry, declared the paey at end, and returned
without seeing General Santa Anna, communicating |
the answer of the general commanding.
The Mexican column was now IN rapid retreat, pur- |
sued by artillery, infantry, and cavalry and not
wihstandng the effect of fire. they succeeded for the
greater part favored by the conguraton of the ground
in crossing the bed of the torrent and regainng the
plateau from which they had previously descended.
Whilst this was taking place the left and rear of
the ine centre, under the immediate eve Of the com
handing general although it suffered much in killed and
wounded stood firm, and repealed every attempt march
upon IT.
The Mexican forces being now concentrated on our
left made bold move TO carry centre BY advancing
with his whole strength from the left and front AT this
moment Lieut.. OBrien ordered to advance his bat
terry and check this movement. He did in bold and
gallant manner and maintained his position until his
supporting force completely routed by an immensely
superior force His men and horses being nearly all
kles and wounded, he found himself under the
sy OF abandoning his pieces, and they fell into the hands
OF the enemy From this point the enemy marched upon
the CENTRE where the shock met by Col Mckee the
LIST Illinois, under Col Hardin, and the ID under Col
Bissel, all under the immediate eye of the commanding
general This was the hottest as well as the most crit
cal part OF the action. and the Ivh