Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-15
Particulars of the Battle of Buena Vista.

The New Orleans Delta of 9th ult. gives the fol-
lowing stirring details of the battle of Buena Vista
We had the pleasure of an interview yesterday with
Major Coffee OF the army, who brought over Gen Tuy-
or's dispatches This gallant oficer--a son of the
distinguished General who fought so bavely on the
Plains OF Chamette and in various other battles by
the side Of the ustrious Jackson acted as the aid of
Gen. Taylor in the bloody fight at Buena Vista We
are greatly indebted to himtor many particulars of this
hardfought battle.
Gen, Taylor had fallen in love, at first sight with
the position at which he finally made his stand at Bue-
ma VISTA His movement toward Aqua Nueva was
merely r,Se to decoy the enemy into the field which
he had selected for his battle ground. As soon as
McCuIloch'S men, who were invaluable scouts, in
formed him of Santa Annals approach to Ague Nueva,
Gen. Taylor quietly broke up his camp and fell back
to his first ove-Buena Vista This position was ad-
mirably chosen 1t was at the foot of mountain or
rather of two mountains, between which the road
through a narrow valley. On his right there
deep ravine which protected that flank more efectu-
ally than half dozen regiments could have DONE
The left Of Gen. Taylors line rested on the base of
mountain. The road in the centre was intrenched and
defended by strong battery. In front the ground
was uneven-broken into hills and deep ravines-well
adapted to the mode ofighting suited to our volun-
teers and by its pecuarities supplying the disadvant
age of great interority of numbers
On tne SlSt the enemy were uescHeuJ approaching
over the distant hills. At their appearance the voun-
teers raised great shout and gave three tremendous
cheers. Their engineers and officers were seen flying
over the field and dragging their cannon about to get
them into position but the nature of the ground did
not favor the undertaking and it was too late in the
day before the big gun began to open.
The enemy had with them thirty-two cannon, most
" of large calibre Their fire, though kept up very
brskly, and apparently well manned, did SO little ex-
ecuon in our ranks that it not considered neces-
sary to return their fire. Our cannon were therefore
silent the whole of the 2lst Eight or ten killed and
wounded were the extent Of the casualties sustained
by our army on the Dist. During the day an officer
approached lines with flag of truce, and request
ed to be shown to Gen. Taylor. The brave old man
was sitting quietly on his old white charger with his
leg over the pomme Of the saddle,watching the move
ments Of the enemy, when the Mexican officer was
presented. In very courteous and graceful manner
the officer stated that he had been sent by His Elk
cellency Gen. Santa Anna, to His Excellency Gen.
Taylor, to inquire, in the most respectful manner
what he [Gen. Taylor was waiting for" From the
silence Of Gen Taylors batteries, and the quiet
ner in which he received Santa Annals terrific can
nonading the Mexican supposed he was asking very
pertinent question: to which, however, old Rough and
Ready gave the very pertinent reply that he was on
ly waiting for Gen. Santa Anna to surrender" The