Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-09

officers were always in the ADVANCE leading their
uooPs-hence the great mortality among them.
In this general melee, of our small regiments
OF 400 men, would be attacked by a whole Mexi-
can brigade of several thousand. Thus the Ken
lucky infantry was attacked at the foot of hill
IN deep ravine, by an immense force of the ene-
N.Y. large number of the officers were killed
here-among them was Col. Mckee, who tell bad
ty wounded, and was Immediately despatched by
the enemy, who pierced him with their bayonets
as he lay on the ground. Lieut.. Col. Clay was
shot through the thigh, and being unabls to walk,
was taken up and carried some distance by some
of his men, but owing to the steepness of the HILL
the men finding it very difficult to carry him, and
the enemy in great numbers pressing upon them,
the gallant Lieut.. Colonel begged them to leave
him and take care of themselves. Forced to leave
him on the field the last that was seen of this no.
BILE young officer he was lying on his back, fight
ing with his sword the enemy who were stabbing
him with their bayonets. The veteran Capt. VIM.
8. Willis, of the same regiment at the head of his
company, with three stalwart sons who fought at
his side, was badly wounded, but still continued
to fight until he was overcome with the loss of
blood.
In the meantime, the Indiana brigade, who were
drawn out and ordered to charge the enemy, were
seized with panic, and displaying some hesita-
tion Assistant Adj't Gen. Lincoln rushed to their
front, and whilst upbraidlng them for their coward
Ice, was shot. several balls passing through his
body In justice to this brigade it should be stated
that they subsequently rallied, and fully redeemed
their reputation by the most gallant and effective
fighting.
Col. Hardin led the IlIinoisians in very hand
some style, and the sturdy "suckers" fought like
lions. Their intrepid Colonel fell wounded, and
experienced the fate of Coils. Mckee and Clay,
and was killed by the enemy-not, however, be-
fore he had killed one of the cowardly miscreants
with pistol which he fred whilst lying on the
ground.
COL Yell led, the foremost man, a charge of his
mounted volunteers, against large body of lam
GERS, and was killed by lance, which entered his
mouth and tore off one side of his face.
| The Mississippans, the heroes of Monterey, af-
ter doing hard duty as skirmishers, were ordered
into line to receive charge of cavalry, which they
did with their rifles, delivering at the same time
most destructive fire among the crowded columns
OF cavalry. The enemy were completely repulsed.
The distinguished commander of this gallant regi-
ment. Col. Jefferson Davis, was badly wounded,
an escopete ball having entered bis foot and pass
ed out of his leg. He was, however, doing we'll
when last heard from. The chivalrous Lieut.. Col.
McClung was prevented from doing his share of
the brave deeds of this brilliant fight, by the grie
vous wound received at the battle of Monterey,
which still confines him to his bed, and from
which it is much feared by his best friends he will
never recover
Col. Humphrey Marshall's splendid regiment Of
Kentucky Cavalry were impatient for an opportu.
nifty of showing their mettIe and avenging the cap
ture of their brethren, then in the hands of the
| They y1are soon fayored With the desired
opportunity, by the approach of force of more
than 1000 Lancers and Hussars, who CALAMITY
charged them. The Kentuckians stood then
ground with immovable steadiness, and receiving
the enemy with fire from their carbines, charged
IN the most gallant style through the column or
the right and wheeling. fell on their left dispensing
and killing great many of them. like charge
was made by Col May. at the head of squadron
of Dragons, and one of Arkansas Cavalry, agains
a large body of the enemy's Cavalry, with likt
: results.
During the engagement on the right, Santa An
ma, seeing that Gen. Taylor force not wei
protected on the left flank, sent largo force o
cavalr, around that point. and outfanking Taylor
succeeded in throwing 1900 men into his rear
But Gen. Taylor Immediately sent Capt Bragg
with his artillery against this force, who succeeded
in cutting them off from the main body. Lieut.
Crlttenden was despatched, with flag of truce II
demand the immediate surrender of this force
The Mexican officer, pretending not to understand
the character of his MISSION insisted that he SHOULD
be bindfolded, according to the rules of war; ant
: thus had the Lieutenant carried into the camp o
? Santa Anna himself. This was ruse to get tim
: to extricate the Mexican cavalry from their dan
: gerous position, and pending this truce they wer
all drawn off by different road from that by whicl
they had gained this position.
: r.. c.IJ L.
5 to the tent of the Mexican Generalin- Chic
: which he found long distence from the scene c
action. and which he thought the safest place he ha
been in during the whole day. Ashe approache
Santa Annals tent he was greeted with mos
tremendous flourish of trumpets, which Nigh
have been heard mile off, but produced no very
great terror in the mind of the Kentuckian. Hi
blind was taken off, and he found himself in thu
presence Of the famous Mexican chief, surrounded
by a bril- Staff of bedizzened, gilded an
moustached officers. Santa Anna apologized t.
the Lieutenant for the act of his officers, in hav
ing him blindfolded, saying that so far from hav
ing any desire to conceal his situation, he was de
: srous of exhibiting to Gen. Taylor the utter foil
of resisting SO powerful army as he had unde
his command. To which the Lieut.. replied, tina
: his simple message to demand his [Sant
Anna's1 immediate surrender to Gen. Taylor
When this extraordinary demand was translate
= to the Mexican, he raised his hands and eyebrow
e in utter establishment at the temerity and presump
c ton of such message, and replied, that he woul
S expect Gen. Taylor to surrender in an hour, or h
would destroy all his forces. Lieut.. CrittendOn'
3 reply, which we have already given-"Gen. Tag
!, Tor ncver Surrenders disseminated the interview
: and the battle recommended, and was continue
until night.
!, Santa Anna took three small pieces of cur ar
t tillery, which, under Lieut. O'Brien, had bee
posted too fnr in advance to be covered by in
= fantry. All the gunners were shot down, ant
] when the guns were captured there was not
t soldier left to man them. One of these piece
e was an old Texan 6.pounder, which, during tn
= Texan Revolution, had done good execution a
mong the Mexican ranks. AS to the flags he boast
of having taken, they are very probably mere com
pany markers, which dropped on the field ant
r picked up by the valiant Mexicans. His Excel
S lency of the War Department, to whom Santa An
ma has sent these trophies, will doubt be sorel
r disappointed in the size, texture, and beauty c
of these standards. Mexican pride is easily salts
! fed when such feeble mementoes of their proves
and vaor as these console them for so iDglorious
. defeat.
All the officers on our side, in this hard-fough
: battle, distinguished themselves. The details {
i the battle were confdcd to Gen. Wool, who no
|, bly, justified the confidence of his commander AM
: brother-veteran, by the most active, Jealous, eff
J.. cent and gallant conduct. Throughout the Who'll
4 action he was constantly engaged in the DISPOSE
a ton of our forces and alying them to the onset
n 1t was miracle that he escaped the thick.fyin: