The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-04-30
1'up BArrIn Of BvnsA vIsrA We give


from Gen. Tayor's detailed Despatch,
his notice Of the retreat Of the IEdana Regt
and efihe numbers engaged IN the battle:
During the evening and night Of tho 22d
the epelay had throwu a body Of light troops
on The mountain side, wish the purpose Of
ouiflanking our left; and it was here that the
actien Of the 232 commenced al an early
hour. Our riBsmsn uader Colonel Marshall,
whe had bo1n .1sinloroed by ihreo compan-
les undes Major Erail, ed Illinois volunteers,
main,airsd their ground handsomely against
a greatly Superior force. holding themselves
punder cover, and using their weapons wltA
deadly effect. About Q o'clock q strong de-
moDsiralion was made against the centre Of
our position, a heavy colaRn moving along
the road. This force was sson dispersed by
few rapid and well-dreeted shots from
Captain Washinglon's battery. lathe mean
time ,he enemy was concentrating a large
force Of infantry and cavalry under cover Of
tbs ridges, with The obvoss intention Of for,
cling eur loft, which was posted on en- extsn'
siye plateau. The I'd Indiana and Sd Illi.
.oi. Re siasnis formed this part of our line
the former covering three pieces Of light ar
iillsry, under the. orders Of Captain O'Brion
I-Brigadier General LaRs being in the ia.
snediate command. In order to bring biz
men within effective range, General Lane
ordered the artillery and I'd Indiana regi.
ment forward. The artillery advanced with
in musket range efa heavy body Of Mexican
infantry, and vas served against it with great
effect, but without being able 10 check itl
advance. The infantry ordered 10 it's sup
por, had fallen back in disorder, being ex
posed, as well as the battery, not only to a
severe Are Of small arms from the front, bu
also 10 murderous cross fire Of grape and
canister from Moxicas battery on the left
Captain O'Bren found it impossible TO retain
his position without support, but was only
able TO withdraw two Of his pieces, all the
horses and cannoneers Of the third piece be.
ing killed or disabled. The Cd Indiana reg.
imsnt, which had fallen back as stated, could
not be rallied, and took no further part in the
acticn, except handful Of men, who, under
its gallant Colonel, Bowlea, joined the Mis-
sissippi regiment, and did good service, and
thoss fuglives who, at a later period In The
day, assisted in defending the traia and de-
po. at Busna Vista. This perten Of oar line
having given way, and the enemy appear ing
in overwhelming force against our left fank,
the light treops which had rendered such
good service on the mountain, were compel
led 70 withdraw, which they did, for the most
part, in good order. Many, however, were
not rallied until they reached the depot at
Busna Vista, TO the defence Of which they
afterwards contributed,
The American force engaged in the action
Of Busna Vista is shown, by the accompa-
nying field report to have been 334 officers,
and 4, 425 men, exclusive of the small com
mand left in and near Saltillo. or this
number, two squadrons. OF cavalry, and three
batteries of light artillery, making not more
than 453 men, composed the only force OF
regular troops. The strength Of the Mexi-
can army is stated by Gen. Santa Anna, in
his summons, to be 10000; and that es,i.
mate is confirmed by all the information
since obtained. Oar loss is 267 killed, 456
wounded, and 90 missing. Of the numer.
GUS wounded, many did no, require removal
to tho hospital, and il is TO be hoped that a
comparatively small number will be perma-
nently disabled. The Mexican loss in killed
and wounded may be fairly estimated at l,
500, and will probably reach 1900. A,
least 500 of their killed were left upon .he
| field OF battle. We have no means of ascer-
taining the number Of deseriers and dispers-
ed men from the, ranks, but it is known to
be very great.