Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-04-10
From the N. o. Delta, 27,b ult.l
battle or Buena Vista,


Death Of Col Mckee, Col. Clay, Col. Hardin,
Adj't Gen. Lincoln. Col Yell. Captain VIII.
lis--Col Marshall's Charge--The Gallant
Mississippin Tsylors Left Flank
Turned-Demand TO Surrender.
At sunrise on the 22d February, the battle be.
gan in earnest. The Mexicans were drawn out
in immense numbers The dark columns Of in.
faniry extended as far y. the eve eould reach,
and the cavalry seemed 10 cover the whole view
with their intsrminabe lines AT intervals be.
tween The infantry and cavalry, their big guns,
strongly protected BY large artillery force,
were soon in motion. Our artillery wns thrown
forward TO meet them protected by the volun.
tecrs. General Wool led the main body in per.
son. and was seen every where, rallying and en-.
couragins the volunteers The two armies we:e
soon engaged in hct conflict. The broken na.
ture Of the ground divided the forces, SO that in.
stead of one general engagement. the regiments
were compelled in great measure TO fight on
their own hook. Our officers were always in the
advance, leading their troops--hence the great
mortality among them. IN this general melee,
be attacked by whole Mexican brigade OF Sc.
. veral thousand Thus the Kentucky infantry
was attacked at the foot of the enemy. A large
number of ;he officers were killed here-among
! them was Col. Mckee, who fell badly wounded,
and was Immediately despatched by the enemy.
who pierced him with their bayonets as he lay
on the ground. Lieut.. Col Clay was shot thro'
the thigh, and being unable TO walk, was taken
up and carried some distance BY some OF his men.
but owing TO the steepness Of the hill, the enc.
my in great numbers pressing upon them, the
gallant Lieut.. Col. begged them TO leave him and
take care Of themselves. Forced to leave him
on the field. the last that was seen Of this noble
| young officer he was lying on his back, fighting
with his sword the enemy who were stabbnc
him with their 3ayone's. The veteran Capt.
VIM. s. Willis, of the same regiment, at the
head Of his company, with three stalwart sons
who fought at his side, was badly wounded, bu,
still continued the fight, until he was overcome
! with the loss OF blood
! In the meantime, the Indiana brigade, who
were drawn on! and ordered to charge the enemy
were seized with panic, and displayed some
hesitation, Assistant Adiutant General Lincoln
rushed TO their front and whilst apbradng them
for their cowarllce, was shot, several balls ras.
sing through his body, In justice to thi, brigade,
il should be stated that they subsequently, rallied
and fully redeemed their reputation by the most
gallant aud effective fighting
Col. Hardin led the lIlinovia in very hand.
some style. and the sturdy "suckers" fought lik.
lions. Their intrepid Colonel, like Mckee and
Clay was killed by the enemy--no' however be-
fore he had killed one Of the cowardiy miscreanis
with pistol which he fired whilst lying on the
ground
Col. Yell led, the foremost man, a charge of
his mounted volunteers against a large body Of
lancers, and was killed by a lance, which enter
ed his mouth and tore off one side OF his face.
The Mssssippians, the heroes of Monterey,
after doing hard duty as skirmishers, were order.
ed into line 10 receive charge ofcavary, which
they did with their rinss, delivering at the same
time most destructive five among the crowd
ed columns Of cavalry. The enemy were com.
ple.ely repuls-d The distinguished commander
Of this gallant regiment, Col jefferson Davis,
was badly wounded, an escopc'te ball having en-.
tered his foot and passed our Of his ley. lie was
however doing we'll when last heard from The
chivarous Lieut. Col. McClung was prevented
| from doing his share OF the brave deeds OF bril-
liant fight by the grievous wound received at the
battle OF Monterey, still confn'ng him TO his bed
and ION which it is much feared by his best
friends he will never recover.
Col. Humphrey Marshai's splendid regiment
of Kentucky cavnlry were impatient for an op.
por,unity of showing their mettle, and avenging
the capture of their brethren, in the hands Of the
enemy They we're soon favored with the desir
ed opportunity, by the approach Of a force of
more than 5000 ancers and hassars, who gal.
!antly charged them. The Kentuc kians stood
their ground with immovable steadiness, and re.
ceving the enemy with fire from their arbines
charged in the most gallant style through the
column on the right. and wheeling fell on their
left, dispensing and killing great many of,hem.
A like charge was made by Col. May, at the
head OF a squadron of Dragons, and one of Ar.
mys cavalry with like results.
During the engagement on the right, Santa An,
ma. seeing that Gen Tay lor's force was not well
protected on the left flank sent a large force OF
cavalry around that point, and outnanking Tay-
lor, succeeded in throwing 1000 men in his rear
but Gen Taylor Immediately sent Capt Bragg,
with his artillery, against this force who succee.
drd in cutting them of from the msiL body
Lieut.. Crittenden was despatched with Gag OF