The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-04-23

ed right through the Mexican ranks
During the 22d but little fighting
of serious character was done
The enemy however kept up con-
siderable cannonading-all, howev.
or, without effect. Whenever the,
would give us fire, the boys would
give three cheers, at which time,
the air would be full of hats to the
height of 40 feet. All seemed to be
perfectly delighted, and anxious tc
be sup and doing" A Mexican of
fccr who was found wounded on the
field, says that cit is no use for then
TO fight against men who come &c
fight for fun" From the conduct
of the Illinois boys, it really did app
pear as though they were fighting
for fun, for during the whole fight
on the ed they kept up constant
cheering, whooping, and yelling
whilst on the side Of the MeXicans,
not a sound was heard but the roar
of the cannon and rafting Of mus
kerry.
a young maa belonging to the I'd
Reg. Ill. Vol, who had been wound
ed in the foot, came riding into
town. As he rode up to the church
where hospital was established
and saw the streets full of the Ar.
kansas cavalry who had run off O.
the field, he called out to them go,
he honor u our country, huvrJ
tack u The Jfight-thcy are at it like
Ill! They gave me a small touch
on the foot, but | think | will be
able to give them another turn in a
short time" But much to his dis
comfor;ure, his wound was too &C.
we're, he was obliged to remain in
the hospital.
On the morning of the oath, after
it was discovered that the Mexican
army had retreated, quite a number
Of Vol. officers met at Gen. Taylor
tent. In speaking about the battle.
Gen. L. SAID, "Whcnever an army
is out-fanked by its antagonist, it is
whipped. When that body Of Ian
GERS turned our flank, we were whip
ped, and had our forces been regu-
lar disciplined soldiers, the day
would have been lost. But the vol
untcers, being ignorant of the rules
of warfare, did not know when they
,rere whipped, and by being green
they gained the day" He said it
put him in mind Of the Irishman who
got in fight, and thought he was
whipped, but had forgot the word
"enough," and in trying to hit the
word kept yelling-''go on''-"hur-
rah," &c. But thinking it folly in
lying idle, he commenced returning
the blows and soon got the advan-
tage of his antagonist; and as he
was giving it to him good, he sung
out "enough.'' ooh faith" rcspon-
ded Pat, "and that's the word |
couldn't think Of" SO it was with
our boys, they were whipped seve-
raj times during the day, but they
had forgot the word "enough."
There were about 1000 Mexican
cavalry lowering around town, who
had got through the mountains east
of the city. They were under the
command of Gen. Melon, and seem
ed to be waiting to attack the forces
here just as soon as our army would
commence retreating. When the
Arkansas boys came in lie no doubt
thought that the whole of the u. S,
forces were routed, and started rol
the road between town and Buena
Vista. 1t was thought that his OBJ
Jet was to attack our forces in the
rear, which, if he had done, would
inevitably have defeated us. But
instead Of doing this he moved up
to the road to cut off the stragglers
and wounded, that were coming in
to town. An effort was made to raj
ly the Arkansas cavalry to 90 out
and drive them back, but "they
would not" SO about 40 sporting
gents who have been following the
army ever since the war, mounted
their horses and went up on the hill
where they obtained the addition OF