Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-23


@EAlthough we have give our readers am
pie details of the battle of Buena Vista, still,
believing that they take a deep interest in ev-
cry thing connected with the Operations on
that glorious battle field, we cannot refrain
from giving them the following letter flour
readers don't say that it is worth perusal,
then we are no Judge of-ofSWhafs nice:
From the n. o. Delta
BATTLE OF BEUNA VISTA:
Like the changing colors of the kaleidos-
cope every writer who speaks of this battle
evolves some new feat of prowess-sone adj
ditional instance OF heroic bravery on the part
our troops! This being our belief, although
giving the letters of two of our correspondents
and sketch furnished by an eyewitness, we
transcribe the lively sketch below, furnished
to the Vicksburg Wing by a correspondent of
that paper. The reader will find 1t to pos
sess much interest.
SALr1LLo, March ID, 1847.
In a letter which wrote stew days since,
gave YOU very full account OF the sangui-
nary affair of Buena Vista, pronounced Va
no Esto, and will now give you few scenes
which | have witnessed, not mentioned in that
letter.
The first view that we caught of the enemy
was when they turned the lett flank OF our
lines, and were pursuing the Flying. Infantry
and Horsemen Column after column succee-
ded, until they formed dense mass, number
ing something like twelve thousand men. No
words can convey to you even faint idea of
their imposing appearance. Their arms, bril-
liantlv Furnished, reflected a million times the
dazzling rays of the sun-their rich and gau-
DIV uniforms stood out in bold relief against
the soiled and tattered garments of the "suf
ferng volunteers" Cavalry Uancers)
drawn up in beautiful style, in numbers from
two to three thousand, and in lines the beauty
of which the most accurate military observer
could have found no fault with and, added to
this, that they were, for the time, yictors, as
sure YOU that we dEnot look upon them with
contempt But when the quick, sharp ringing
of our rifles sounded the death-knell of score
after score of them, three hearty Mississippi
cheers told full we'll that no cowardly fear
paralyzel that little band. Rushing on, our
small force would have scattered the retreating
foe in all directions over the death strown
field, had not our watchful leader, Col. Davis,
perceived that we were about to be surrounded
by an overpowering force, and ordered us to
retire and rally.
Here an amusing circumstance took place.
Maj Bradford-Who is probably the most i'm
petuously brave officer who ever drew a sword
perceived us retiring and thought we were
defeated He dismounted from his horse and
followed on slowly after US, eXclaming-
g Shoot me! Shoot me .o' Some one called out
"What the devils the matter, Major@
"Ah, kill .ne!-the Mississippi Regiment
has run, and I'll be hanged # I araat to lice
another minlte!''
But-the gallant Major was quickly unde-
ceived, for we soon reformed, and although
our ranks were terribly thinned by the killed
and wounded, yet again was heard the deep
voice of the noble Davis Forward-gude
by fifty voices, and with more steadness and
precision than the careless fellows were ever
known to evince on drill, they returned to
the bloody contest. But it is not my intention
to repeat what have already written.
At one time during the fight, we returned
over the ground on which was made our first
charge We there saw the mangled bodies OF
our fallen comrades, and although animated
by the excitement of the fierce contest just
passed, and the knowledge that that contest
+ was Just then to be renewed, yet | think there
was not heart among us which did not for
the moment cease to beat on beholdlng that
horrible scene. But for his straw hat and a
few other articles of clothing which the ruff
ans had left on him, should have failed to
recognize the body Of young Eggleston. He
was Shot, stabbed, and otherwise abused
This was, indeed, the fate Of all whom saw.
Lieut. Moore, and a man named Couch, OF
f our company, were the only persons whose
bodies | easily recognized.
After the battle | rode over the whole field
Parties were engaged in burying the dead
but there were still hundreds of bodies lying
+ stiff and cold, with no covering save the scanty
remnant of clothing which the robbers of the
dead found too valueless to take from them.
saw the human body pierced in every place
Q saw expressed in the faces of the dead al
y most every passion and feeling, Some seem.
ed to have died execratng their enemies, ana
/ cursing them with their last breath-others
! had the most placid and resigned expression
Some appeared to have died defending thei
lives bravely to the last, while others evident
ly used their last words in supplicating fol
O mercy Here lay youth and mature age calm
ly reposing in untimely death.
2 Passing on from this part of the bloody
q ground, went over to the plain literally Gov
o cred with the dead bodies of those who has
Y horrible enough, God knows-but was dives
i ted of some of It's horrors by the fact that no
# one of the Mexican soldiers was either robbie,
n or stripped of his clothing, nor was there TIT
n least appearance Of the bodies having been a
4 bused after being wounded. This, indeed
# speaks much for the " barbarous volunteers O
;. the United States of the North,' as the Mexi
r cans style US.
# Among the hundreds of dead I saw there,
: was much touched by the appearance of tn
# corpse of Mexican boy, whose age woult
l. think could not have exceeded fifteen years
q A bullet had struck him full through the breast
o and must have occasioned almost instant death
/ He was lying on his back, his face slight,
n inclined to one side, and, although cold, ye
|, beaming with bright and sunny smile, whic
O eloquently told the spectator that he had falle
' with his face to his countrys foe.
h THE ILLINOIS DEMONSTRATING Incident.
lie The following from the St. Louis Revelle
y shows that the brave volunteers from Illinois
who behaved so nobly at Buena Vista, wer
composed of some veterans, and that they free
- ly met death on the battle field -
PATRIOTIsM-Lieut Price-On the frs