The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-27
HEADQUARTERS, 3D. BRIGADE,

SIR In my report of the battle of the cad ultimo find
that slight has been committed in copying which
desire may be corrected
In alludng to the commencement of the action by my
I'd regment, the following sentence occurs
" by this time the enemy's fire of muskeiry, and the
rakng fire Of ball and grape shot of their battery posted
on my left flank, had become teribe and my infantry
instead Of advancing ordered regret to say retired in
some confusion" &c.
The error is OF word ordered towards the concu-
sion OF the sentence and should read, and my infantry
instead Of advancing, as intended" &c.
BY making the above correction you will much oblige
JOSEPH LANE, Brigadier General
CAMP AT Aqua NuEvA, Mexico,
March /, lsl7.
SIR; In compliance with your order, have the honor
to state that the Kentucky cavalry engaged the battle
OF Buena Vista, the 22d and 23d inst, amounted
two hundred and thirty five men, nearly as can be
stated and consisted OF the companies of Captains Price
Heady, and Clay as one squadron; the companies OF
Captains Milan and Pennington another squadron
and the companies of Captains Shawhan and Beard with
part OF the company OF LIST Lieut.. John Feld-the
three last beng arranged battalion of mounted rifle
When the presence of the enemy was first announced
my regiment ordered to take post along the base Of
the mountains which covered the left of our position
but while proceeding to execute this ORDER it again
pont Occupied % @ mi By General
Having accomplished this purpose you ordered de-
ach the riaenen (dismounted( and sustained by one
squadron OF cavalry and take ground 'to the front
and left" The remaining squadron was in a few mo-
mens directed to support this movement
To render the explanation Of our movements more sat-
sfactory, it may be well to state here, that the position
of Buena Vista is in vale between two ranges OF
mountains whose general direction is from southeast TO
northwest The plain inclnes from the south to the
vale, which in direction parallel to the noun
ans and ntersected by deep ravines worn
by the torrents that in rainy seasons rush its face
These Taylnes have precous abrupt banks varying
in height from three 10 forty feet Their across
the plain is irregular that the ground which we
were to take position consisted Of series OF plains issu
the right in the deep dell through which the road passes
from Aqua Nueva to Sahlo In length they vary from
threequarters OF mile to miles in breadth from fifty
. three hundred yards. Ground which, at little dis
ance would entirely practicable for the operations
Of cavalry will appear exactly the reverse on more
close examination. ss,. y ..sg
the front and left,I proceeded to the base OF knoll
about hundred feet in height. which forms the tem-
of spur from the Sierra and commands the entire
plain before mentioned. Here halted the regiment
presuming, from the appearance OF the ground every
sde that it would be fit point which to rest the left
OF our line, and from Its commanding position, that it
would be seized by the enemy on the first opportunity
Fronting towards Aqua Nueya, the ground the right
of the knoll presented broader plain than any other in
the immediate neighborhood The of this knoll Cor
spur bounded by broad deep ravne whose banks
could be passed with ease by cavalry, while from the
other face issued numerous ravnes of great depth which,
with winding courses, extended TO The vale below offer
ing almost perfect protection to enen against cavalry
and the utmost facility OF resistance by small to large
Hsce Issuing sa IRON the same peak q the Sierra with
was another spur which bore away to the valley in front
Of the knoll and at angle of about thirty degrees to
By crossing deep valley, this ridge accessible from
the knoll and the lines of these hills conveyed TO
the same point OF the mountain il evident that the
passage from one to the other became easy the
higher the point occupied by any force. The ridge of
this second spur, commanding view OF the entire plain
beyond and Of the entire army of the enemy was my
mind papaby the correct line to be occupied by the light
troops who were to defend left flank In truth
was convinced (and So at the time repeatedly stated to
those around me) that the enemy would fight the
battle until he succeeded in carrying this position
After halng at the base of the knoll few moments
ordered the battalion of dismounted remen to take
post the front spur have described, and there to re-
by superior numbers to retreat to the ridge
Meeting the knoll with the Sierra and there to fight again
regiment by retreatng along the face of the knoll
The squadrons Of Captains Price and Milan were dis
mounted, and held in conceament the hill side of the
ravne which bounded the of the knoll battalion
of the Arkansas cavalry was formed the plain about
300 yards to the rear OF my position, while battalion OF
Indiana remen took post under the command Of Major
the enemy, who had already commenced deploying bat
taons to his right our ef with the evident intent Of
manifest from the fact, that from battery the valley
he commenced throwing shells at the rifemen who were
me, at the time that his infantry approached
Captains Shawhan and Beard and Lieutenant Field
promptly executed my ORDERS and already posses
sion OF the heights IN 'front.' when staff officer commu-
nicated TO me the apprehension of Brgadier General
wool that this advanced corps might be cut off by the
regiments Of the enemy which were marching up the
vine beyond and his wish that my men should be re-
called Reluctantly yielded to the ORDER and sounded
the recall whereupon the rifle battalion reoned the regi
ment; Scarcely had the rihemcn returned, when Gen
wool himself rode up and explained that his views had
been Inexperienced by the officer who communicated
them, as II was his design merely apprze me of the
danger which threatened the advanced corps vet to leave
their position entirely to my discretion At the same
time he charged me with the command of the troops on
the left flank. attempted Immediately to recv the err
ror, by ordering company from the Indiana battalion To
resume position the front heights while the three dis
mounted companies belonging to the Kentucky cavalry
(who were much exhausted by their previous exercise)
were ordered again to climb the hill and to take most on
the ridge connecting the knoll and mountain The com
pany OF Indanans started but they failed perform the
duty assigned them, and with deep regret observed
the Mexican troops were, in short time, possession
OF the very heights my own men had half hour pre-
vlousy so advanageousy occupied The firing imme
diatcly commenced Ii about 80 minutes past 8, p
m, on the 22d of February The Mexican light troops
appeared on the ridge, constantly taking additional
ground TO their right that Captain Shawhan was
dered to extend rapidly to his left with the view OF
thanking them. AT the same time three companies of
Germans battalion ordered to take position on the
knoll with one of which the Kentucky battalion was
subsequently, reinforced The Mexicans occupied high
er ridge than that which my force was posted They
overshot their mark continually for though the action
continued until night they killed no one and wounded
only seven The loss of the enemy is not known bu,
is understood TO have been large The Mexcan tyoops