Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-04-13
From the N. o. Delta, March 2cIh.
HNSEitNEGrS Of the
GLORIOUS BATTLE OFF
RUENA VISTA.

DUElNA VlD / "A.
Description of Gen. Tay'or's Position
CannondCling on the 2lSt--Gen. Tay-
lor's Exposed Sifuation-His White
Horse Battle on the 22d of February
Death of Col. KcKee, Col. Clay,
Col. Hardin. Col. Yell and Adgt. Gen
Lincoln, &C., dc.
We had the pleasure Of an Interview,
yesterday. with Maj. CoFFEE. of the army.
who brought over Gen. Taylor's despatch
es. This gallant officer-a son Of the
acknowledgement who fought so brave
ly on the Plains of Chalmette, and in va
riOus other battles with General jackson
acted as the aid of General Taylor in
the bloody fight at 'Buena Vista. We are
greatly indebted to him for many particu-
lars of This hard fought battle.
Gen Taylor had fallen in love, al first
sight, with the position at which he final
Iy made his stand, at BnehA Vista His
movement towards Aqua Nueva was
merely Tuse TO decoy the enemy into
the field which he had selected for his bat
tie ground. AS soon as McCuliock's
men, who were invaluable as scouts, in.
formed him Of Santa Annals approach,
Gen. Taylor quietly broke up his camp, &
fell back to his frs, love-Buena Vista.
This position was admirably chosen. Ii
was at the foot Of mountain, or rather
of two mountains, between which ran the
road through a narrow valley. Ga his
right there was deep ravine, which pro
tected that flank more effaciually than hall
dozen regiments could have done. The
left of Gen Taylor's line rested on the
base of mountain. The road in the
centrs was entrenchpd and defendei by a
strong battery. la front the ground was
uneven-broken into hills and deep ra-
viRes--we.l adapted to the mode Of fight
my suited to our volunteers. and by its
pee liarities supplying the disadvantage
IF a great inferioritv of numbers.
On the 22d, the enemy were deserted
approaching ever the distant bills. At
their appearance the volunteers raised a
great shout, and gave three tremendous
cheers. Their engineers and officers
were seen flying over the field, and drag
ging their cannoe about to get them Into
position: but the nature of the ground did
not favor the undertaking, and it was late
N the day before the big guns began 10
| open.
The enemy had with them thiriy-two
cannon, mostly Of large calibre. The FIRE,
though kept up very brisl1ly; aud appar-
emily well manned, did so little execution
in our ranks that it was not deemed nee
essary to return il. Our cannon were,
therefore, silent the whole of the Odd
| Eight or ten killed and wounded were the
extent of the casualties sustained by our
army on the 22d. During the day an off
Ger approached our lines with flag OF
truce. and requested to be shown 10 Gen
Taylor. The brave old man was sitting
quietly on his old white charger with his
leg over the pommel Of The saddle, watch
ing the movements of the enemy. In a
very courteous and graceful manner the
officer stated that be had been sent by his
Excellency, Gen. Santa Anna, 20 his Ex-
cellency, Gen. Taylor, to inquire in the
most respectful manner, what he [Gen.
Taylor was waiting for?" From The
silence 0fGen. Tuylor's batteries, and the
quiet manner in which he received Santa
Anna's terrific can1onading, the Mexican
supposed he was asking very pertinen,
question, to which, however, old Rough
and Ready gave the very pertinent reply
that she was only waiting for Gen. Santa
Anna to, surrender" The Mexican re-
turned hastily 10 his lines.
This message proved TO be a ruse to
ascertain where Gen Taylor's position
was, for after the return of the Meai lean
battery seemed to open upon Gen. lay
lor's position, and the balls flew over and
about him like hail. Utterly Indifferent
to the perils of his situation. there sat the
old chief on his conspicuous white horse,
Peering through his spy-glass at the long
lines of Mexican troops that could be seen
at great distance on the march. The
persuasion of his aids could not induce
him 10 abandon bis favorable point for
observation, nor to give up his old white
horse. TO the suggestion Of his staff that
old Whitley vas rather too conspicuous a
charger for the commander, he replied
i'that the old fellow had missed the fun
at Monterey, on account ola sore foot, &
he was determined be should have BIZ.
share tlist ime."
|. At sunrise on the 23j February, the
battle began in earnest. The Mexicans
were drawn out in immense numbers
The dark columns of infantry extended as
y far as the ere could reach, and the caYalry