The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-18


my STAFF and the regiment Of engineers occupied the
front little behind the light troops On arriving at
to pass the de6le of Phones which was accomplished
and ordered the light brigade to take position In the
fass OF Carnero where 1t had skrnsh with an advance
OF the enemy Under these dispositions passed the
night.
At dawn on the a2d, the army continued it's march,
with the idea of carrying by force Of the pass Of
Aqua Nueva which supposed would be defended by
the enemy but found to my surprise that it aban
doned then concluded that the American forces had
retired to their Notifications in the hacienda to concen
rate their defence under OF the enrcnc hments
which had heard they had there thrown up Undor
this idea continued the march, In order turn by the
right to the rancho Of Encantada, which have be-
fore mentioned, is the saltllo road being between
that city and Aqua Nueva and four five leagues
each Till that time no one had appeared to give in
formation nor did any ono after except servant from
Aqua Nueva. who told me that the enemy had been
evacuatng his position since the day previous aud fall
ing back towards Saltllo and that on that
ing the hacienda had been wholly abandoned, by the
retreat Of small detachment which escorted large
quantity of munitions. BY this movement my first plans
and dispositions founded on expected resistance,
rendered abortive but still did not despair Of
successful result for had in anticipation directed Gen.
Mnon with his cavalry brigade 1900 strong to occupy
the morning Of the 22d the hacienda Of Buena Vista
distant three short leagues from Satilo This force
might arrest the cnemys march, at least make d.
version that would give time for the army to come up
therefore continued my march, without losing time
than would allow the soldiers to drink water the road
The light brigade came within sight of the enemys
guard, and ordered them to charge in conjunction
with the hussar regiment had reason to believe tho
several articles the road such CARTS forge mplc
ments, extra wheels and other things which gathered
while marching In consequence Of the different reports
received, ordered the cavalry to advance thought
would be able to reach their guard and placed
myself at the head of those troops
On arriving Mt place called Angostura, found the
main body Of the enemy awaiting me in position. The
road from the pass Of Phones to Saltlo between
OF Carncro and Agun Nucva. The ridges open beyond
that hacienda and approach each other again Angos
tura where the road turns to the right At this place
there Is succession of ridges which run out toward the
limo OF our route and at right angles with II, and be-
tween them ravnes which form the drains of tho
mountains the right. They less pnssa-
BILE, but all very difficult. The enemy position in
front and in Of the road his right and front being
covered by ravincs that were impasabc even for in
fanry and battery Of four pieces being planted on tho
highest point. His battalions formed the
heights with two other batteries, Of which in
low part of the road between two hills and my view
their forces appeared to be about men with twenty
pieces but the prisoners taken from them report twenty
six pieces and upwards Of 5000 combatants
reconnotredthe position and situation Of the enemy,
and ordered tho Director OF Engineers Gen Don gna
clio dc Mora Vilami to do the After ascertain
ing the force Of the invader necessary either to
await the infantry to take position, or to fight might
seem most advisable At this interval observed that
the enemy had neglected to occupy height his left
flank; and, without losing moment, ordered General
Ampudias light brigade to take possession Of and hold
1t at every cost As the brgades up formed then
In two lines on rising ground that fonted tho enemy
there being another eminence between two positions
the first division OF infantry was under the command Of
General Lombardini, and the second under the com
mand Of General Pacheco. directed that Gen. Nor,
Villamil in conjunction with the Commanding Gene
raj Of Artillery Don Antonio Corona should find posi-
ton for battery Of l6pounders to be sustained by thu
regiment Of engineers Two other batteries Of u
manded by General Juvera were placed the right o
our rear, and on our left flank The regiment of hus
said height which ordered the battalion of Leor
to occupy The general park was in the rear covered
by the brigade OF General Andrade, and between thi
park and the lines Of battle took my own position
The making Of these dispositions may be supposed
some time Tor tho troops arrived at their posi-
therefore not hour for combat and the army
on its arms The enemy, however. so soon rs he per-
csived that had occupied the height that Hanked his
left and right dispatched two batalons to dislodgo
US which led to warm engagement that lasted all the
afternoon and till after dark, when ho was repulscd
with loss Of four hundred men, according the re-
port Of the prisoners Ours was,much less, had
the advantage of the ground
At dawn on the 23d mounted my horse the enemy
had not changed his previous dispositions, and WA
ready to receive us. observed but ono differences
which was that his right, and Mt distance from
his position he had formed two bodies Of infantry will
battery Of four pieces ~ If with the intent Of Threat
sning our left flank but ut once believed this to be
demonstration, for he would have left In hi
rear the difficult ground which strength to that
sition being tho web of impossible ravnes before
fcrrcd to- l. therefore, attention to this dpo
sition Of his forces and resolved to mine by tn
right With this intention advanced the divisions
| Con Lombardin and Gen. Pacheco in that direction.
ordered Gen. Don Manuel Micheltorena to plant tn
battery OF eight Founders right flank, t
rake obliqueiy the enemys line and to remain with tn
staff Of which he was chief, and await my orders.
directed that Gen Ampuda, with tho light brigade
should charge by our left flank on the cnemys right
and that Gen. Mora Villamil should form column
attack composed Of the regiment Of engineers the l2l
battalion, the flo de Merico and the companies of Pu
eba and Tampico, commanded by Col. Don Santiago
Banco. At the same time, I directed Gen. Corona
commanding the artillery to place the battery Of twelve
Founders In more commanding position while tho 30
division remaided In reserve, under Brevet Gen. Dor
Jose Maria Ortega
SO soon as the enemy perceived our movements he
commenced the action ut all points, attacked troops
with ntrepidity and maintained tho conflict with great
vigor Our men received them with proper energy dri
wing back and following the assaants At this time
disabled
time before could mount another. As the encny had
yielded ground, ordered the cavalry to advance and
charge, which done with vigor Suitable orders had
been sent to the Generals Of Division and Brigade
among the rest to Gen. Don Angel Guzman but though
the officers and troops acted with great resolution 1t
impossible to tho difficulties Of the ground
and, after struggle which did them honor they were
obliged to fall back to their positions After various al
formations the same occurred with the infantry.
The battle. which commenced at in the morning
prolonged for many hours, loss every moment
accommodating Many officers and soldiers had ALREADY
been killed. and a number Of commanders and distin
guished officers wounded, among whom Gen LON.
bardini Lieut. ColoneIs Brito (ialloso and other,
Among the slain Lieut. Colonies Asonos Berra and
other mcritorious officers, whose loss the country will
ever lament The enemy maintained his ground with
the utmost obstinacy insomuch that Of troops
ftcred In their attacks, and many OF the recruits
dispersed This however, ought to exalt the merit Of
those whose ntrepidty never parayzed, and may
be cited show how hoty contested the action
Things in this situation when concluded to make
tho final effort With this view ordered that battery
OF twenty -four Founders should be mounted that the
column ofattack then posted left flank where It
had object Of operation should be transferred to
right, and there be Joined by the remains Of the lth
Regiment the Battalion Of Leon aud the reserves oil
under the command Of Brevet Con Don Francisco Pc
executed this in person. and afterwards sent for
Gen. Morally vlamil, and made him acquantedwith my
final dispositions. had already directed Gems. Perez
and Pacheco each with his command to be prepared
extreme struggle, and had ordered the battery Of
eight Founders to advance and take the enemys line In
flank. Tho charge made with daring valor and
resisted with animated vigor with fire heavy and
rapid a. to admiration; but the Americans could
not sustain themscvesthey driven back and over
come, with the loss of three pieces Of and
many stands Of colors sent two Of the latter to the
government with my last despatch the other, which
then omitted to notice will be presented TO the Honor
able Congress Of the State OF San Luis Potos tee
timonia OF the armys gratitude for the patriotic
vices they had rendered and sacrifices they
had made for It's benefit We, moreover, captured
travelling forge and smaller articles which will
not enurnerate Our cavalry which so bravely execu-
ted the order charge reached the enemy rearost
positions but, owing to the nature Of the ground and
the fatigue the and horses, did not think II pru
attempt dslodge them from those The battle