The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-07
The old general however made ragged BY the balls
passing through his clothes. Yours &c,

Jus. X. +. MANSFlELD."
variety of letters have been received in Washington
from the army which were intended for the public
eye. Among these we have been favored with the in
spection of two from fine officer as well as scholar
one written from the camp near Buena Vista. the
2sth February, the other from the camp removed TO
Augua Nueva, on the LIST of March He states that
soon as 1t was asceranei that Santa Anna
army with large force, Gen. Taylor very prudenty
solved to fall back and cover Satllo He had already
discovered that several passes open upon
Ouroops hal been led TO think otherwise before they went
there. Buena Vista, very strong place, about five miles
in advance OF Salto, occupied by most OF the army
under Gen. Wool Gen. Taylor, with small force
went into Saltlo to for large stores there The next
morning it reported that the enemy full march
upon Gen Wool. Although there were from 800 TO
500 horse then in sight of Sato, the plain below
through which the road to Monterey runs headquarters
dashed of leaving snail garrison, AMI few pieces of
artillery behnl-enough for all the ancers in Mexico
Gen. Wool founi in position In the course of
the day Gen. Santa Anna sent in asking Gen.
Taylor to surrender, he surrounded by ''more
than 10000 Mexicans"-Santa Annals words Gen.
Taylor answered that numbers matter of nlilfer
TO him; that he had come there to fight, and he
should do it, if $1,000 attacked him. The set upon
little skrmshing, and the 23l upon full battle at all
points, which did not until about p. m, when
Santa Anna hal been repused at all points. The next
morning, when renewal of the engagement was expect
ed, Gall slept the ground and on their arms,) our
troops found the enemy had gone Our troops continued
their to Encanta1a, five miles beyond, finding
wounded and deserters all the way
Our loss has been great will be by the reports
which have in Santa Anna was bold and perseverng
and turned our left flank by the mountain paths with
large force. when all seemed to be lost But the light
artillery and the mounted men saved it. All this party
driven back. Our troops regarded the day then
our own In the meantime, however, the enemy had
succeeded in getting some heavy peces-three four
times as heavy ours-over gully which our troops
had been led to believe impossible With thus he
poured such destruction upon troops and bat
teres to sweep them off the plain When the
light artillery ordered back again, with the
Dragons to cover them, it seemed almost despe-
rate attempt. But they returned most manfully to
the charge, and gave the advancing masses of
the enemy such series of volles scattered them in
their turn This the last attack of the enemy OF any
seriousness and made about 4, p After that the
battle gradually died away, AMI the set in quiet OF
course our troops could not pursue.
Capt Lincoln was las gallant soldier as ever
fought May NAL another fine charge, in conjunction
with Col. Marshall who is said to have distinguished
himself also at the time The regulars few,
but did won lers AMI most OF the volunteers did won
ders also The Missssppians and lnosans stood up TO
the mark most gallany, Gas their losses will show)
The second letter is dated from Aqua Nueva, reoccu-
pied by our roops-thus giving the best evidence that
place on the 2lst The writer states, that as
they came in, understanding that the retreat was made
with considerable disorder, Gen Taylor determined to
push forward strong party in pursuits but was found
that all the animals too much exhausted, partlcu
arly those OF the batteries Prisoners (exchanged
in on the evening of the 2sth of February and reported
Incarnation to be the scene of much disorder, and
that full retreat seemed TO be going On the lst
March, a party started for that place. in order
to fish up the leavings The writer says that
Santa Anna pushed through from San Luis with few
supplies trusting doubt that stores would fall into
his hands--but Buena Vista was our ThemopylH. No
place could be better fitted for battle Our small force
was there equal to the enemy's large one. STILL he
turned our flank by his better knowledge of the base of
the mountains. AT one time, he had four five
thousand horse and foot the of left flank, and
had ALL or nearly ALL wagons within his grasp that
u.s. within striking distance. His cavalry pounced upon
them like bird of prey Indeed tho day marked by
great vicssitudes The mounted men saved the train by
gallant charges the light artillery did the rest, sustained
by some regiments of volunteers that fought well as
troops could fight Col. Daviss regiment and the reg
ens of Col Bissell, Hardin. and McKee, were conspic
uous for efficiency. The first colonel was severely
wounded the two last, well Lieut. Col Clay, fell
at the head of their troops In the front OF the battle
Captain Washingtons battery held the main pass
throughout the day, rather, part OF hispieces; al
section under OBren, being the plain above,
acting in conjunction with Bragg's and Shernans
batteries This light artillery played noble part. II
was always in the front, and sometimes almost alone.
The enemy greatly beat in weight OF metal, (our
heavy pieces, under Capt Prentiss did not come
up until the day after the batte,) but beat them
in mobility, in CELEBRITY and in rapldy of firing
Santa Annals army was fitted for sudden movement
and for coup de main. He had not supplies for any
thing more. His whole force at or beyond Inear
nacion the morning of the 2ls Before noon, the odd
il was all or nearly all, in our front at Buena Vista,
distance of full fifty miles The evening of the 22d
which was bright and calm evening" presented one OF
the most imposing spectacles beheld. Sklrmlsh-
ing going the mountains, about mile and hall
distant when Gen r. with all his suit, probably fifty or
more persons) the high plain, between the road
and those mountains, recommending the grounds, and
observing the enemy From point OF view, our
troops had his camp under their eye and his whole
command paraded forming many lines of foot and horse
all apparently in good order AS it was the hour OF re-
treat their music struck up, and was distinctly heard
consisting mostly of suoh instruments (horns, for in
stance sound affair." Their cavalry particularly their
lancers, have a snowy dress One or more regiments
have yellow cloaks, which, whether worn on the
shoulders or thrown the saddle make conspicu
Gus appearance Colonel Yell killed by lance
wound; nearly all the dead, wounded and prisoners
not in others Our volunteers generally were dressed
like farmers.
Major General William 0. Butler left Washington on
Monday, on his return to his family in Kentucky. His
wound is yet sufficiently healed to return to the du
ties of the camp, which he is anxious TO reoin Every
l., IN nd