Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-22

The position Of that portion OF the Mexican army which
had gained very critical aud II seemed
doubtful whether il could regain the main body Al this
moment received from Gen. santa Anna a message BY a
stan officer, desiring to know what wSniedi immedi
ately despatched Brig Gen. Wool TO the Mexican general
in-ehie and sent orders firing Upon reaching
the Mexican lines Gen. Wool could enemy
to cease thor ire and accordingly returned without hav
ing an interview. The extreme right OF the enemy con.
nued its retreat along the base Of the mountain aud fin
ally, IN spite OF all our efforts effected junction with the
/ remainder OF the army.
Daring the day TIE cavalry OF Gen Minon had asccnded
the elevated plain above Saluo and occupied the
the city to the field OF battle, where they intercepted
raj at our men. Approaching the town. they fired
upon by Capt Webster from the tcdoub occupied by his
company. and thea moved OIL towards the eastern side at
the valley, and obliqucy towards Buona VISTA Al this
Tune, captain Shower moved rapidly forward with his
piece, supported by miscellaneous command OF mounted
volunteer and hred several shots tho cavalry great
erect Ihcy were driven into the ravines which the
lower valley closely pursued by Capt Shower who was
further supported by piece OF Capt wcbstcr battery
under Lieut. Donaldson, which had advanced iron, the
rcdoub'. supported by Capt whoelcrs company Illinois
volunteers The enemy made efforts to change
the artillery, but finally driven back in n confused
| mass, aud did again appear upon the plain
In the meantime, the firing had partially ceased upon tho
principal hcld. The seemed conno his efforts
to the protection OF his artillery, and had left tho plateau
Tor moment when recalled hilhcr by a very heavy
muskey tire. On rcgaining that POSITION that
infantry illinois and I'd kentucky had ICED great
" superior force OF tho enemy-evdcntly his
aud that they had been overwhelmed by numbers Til,
moment was most critical. Capt OBcn W th two pieces.
had sustained tins heavy charge the last finally
l
bc'ng entirely routed Captain Bragg who had lust arrived
irhm the ic, was ordered at battery Without
any infantry To support him. and the imminent risk of
losing his guns this officer rapidly into action the
Mexican line being hut low yards the muzEe of his
pieces The first discharge at caused the enemy
To hesitate tho second and third drove back IN
aud saved the day The I'd Kentucky regiment which had
advanced beyond supporting distance IN this affair was
driven back and closely pressed by the enemys cavalry
Taking ravinc which led IN the direction Of Captain
Washngtun's battery their pursuerS became exposed n ms
o which soon checked and drove them back with loss In
the mean time the OF artillery had taken position ON
ue plateau covered by tho Mississippi and Sd Indiana cg
mcnts. the former ot which had reached the ground nm e
to pour fire into the right flank oi the enemy and thus
contribute Ia his Tepulse In this last conflict we had Inc
misfortune n very heavy loss Colonel Hardin I
Illinois and Colonel Mckee, aud Lieutenant Colonel Clay
I'd kentucky regiments tell ut this time yhile ,aan,lv
heading their commands.
No further attempt made by the enemy TO force our
posu'h ana the approach OF night opportunity TO
pay proper attention TO the wounded. and also refresh
the soldiers who had been exhausted by inccsant watch
iulness and combat Though the night was severely cold
the troops were compelled tor the bNouack with
out hires, expecting that morning would renew the con-
hct During the night the wounded removed TO sal
ulo, and every preparation made 10 receive the enemy
should he again attack position. Seven fresh GONNA
mes were drawn from the town, and Brigadicr Gene
raj MARSHALL who had made forced from the Rim.
conada, with reinforcement OF Kentucky cavalry and
Tour heavy guns, under Captain Prenss lst artillery was
near al hand, when discovered that the enemy had
abandoned his position during the night Our scouts soon
ascerained that he had fallen back upon Aqua Nuevn Tb
disparity OF numbers and the eyb,us,ion e on,
pursuit staff officer despatched TO General S,n,
Anna TO negotiate exchange OF prisoners which wa.
satisfactorily completed on the following day Our own
dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican wound
ed OF which large number had been left upon the field
were removed TO Saluo, tnd rendered as comortab NJ
circumstances would permit
Ga the evening Of the Doth close Reconnaissance WAS
made OF the enemys position, which found To be oe
copied only by small body OF cavalry the infantry and ar
uery having reucoied in the direction Of San Luis Poos
On the aIh our troops resumed their former camp at Aqua
NuevA, the euemy' guard evacuatng the Mace IA w
approached leaving considerable number OF ,ysundcd-
IL was my purpose To beat his quarters at Encarnaciop
early morning. but upon examination the wenk con-
ducn OF the cavalry horses rendered 10 n,
tempt SO long march without water. command was
finally despatched Encanaeion on the LIST of March
under Col Belknap. Some two hundred wounded. and
about sixty Mexican soldiers were uunu there the army
having passed on m the direction OF Mstehuaa with greatly
reduced numbers aud suffering much from hunger. The
dead and dying stewed upon the road and crowded
the buildings OF the hacienda.
The American force engaged in the action OF BuenA V
shown, by the accompanying field report TO have been
1874 officers, and I25 men, exclusive OF the small corr
mand left IN and Sallo OF this number two souad
rons OF cavalry, and three batteries OF light artillery mat
ing not more than l53 composed the only force of re
gular troops The strength Of the Mexican army Is stated
by Gen Santa Anna, IN his summons. be 30 600 and
that estimate confirmed 10y all tho information since oh
tanned. Our loss ia 267 killed. 4j6 wounded and % mis-
ing. OF the numerous wounded many did not require r
moval to the hospital and II hoped that comparatively
small number will be permanently disabled Tho MeKi- |
can loss IN killed and wounded may be fairly estimated
1900, and will probably reach 1000 At least 500 of their
kied were left upon the field OF battle We have no means
OF asccainug the number OF dcscers aud dispersed men
f"RI their rauks, but II Is known TO be very great
Our loss has been especially in officers twenty
eight having been killed upon the field We have TO Ia
mrnt the death OF Capt Geo. Lincoln assistant autan,
general serving the staff Of Gen Wool-a young officer
Of high bearing and approved gnlantry who tell early m
the action No loss falls heavily upon the army m
tie field than thai OF Cole Hardin and Mckee and I,ut
Col Clay. Possessing IN a remarkable depre. the conf
doHee OF their commando and the last having enjoyed
he advantage OF military education, had looked pau
cuiry TO them Tor support ~ VIC met the enemy |
need not say that their zeal in the enemy aud the
cool aud steadast with which they maintained
Their positions during the day fully realized my hopes and
caused mo 10 feel yet more sensIby hoir unmey loss
perform grateful duty IN bringing to the notice of the
Government the general good conduct oi the troops E.
posed 10" successive nights without fires severity of
the wc1h they were ever prompt and cheerful the dis
charge OF every luy, Hud finally displayed conspicuous
sioadn'ss and gllnTy repu.siug NJ great odds disc
pinned Toe While the brilliant success achieved by their
arms releases from the painful necessity of specitvng
many cases ct bad conduct before the enemy cc an IN
creased Obligation 10 mention particular corps and oicer
whose skill. cooness and galnry trying situations and
notice
10 Ddgadcr General Wool my obligations arc especial
" due The high state ct discipline and instruction of se-
Vafal o The volunteer regiments attained nader his
command, and his vigilance and aduous acryicra be-
tore the action, and his gnlny and activity on the field
large share 81 our success Justly be attributed Du
h2 most Z" the engagement, Inc IN immediate COM
m md ut ITO troops thrown back let, aank beg
ieivc q recommend him the favorable notice OF the
government Bngader General Lane (slighuy woundcd)
was hcNe and Jealous throughout the day, and DISPLAYED
great c'olncss aud galantry before the enemy.
The services Of the light artillery. always conspicuous
were more than usually Distinguished Moving rapidly
over the toughest ground, 1t always action at the
tght place aud the right tmc, aud It's we'll directed FIRE
dealt destruction ~ tho oi the enemy Whn r..
commend 10 particular favor tho gallant conduct and val
liable services Of Moor Muutoc. Chief OF artillery and
Captains Washington, 4th artillery, md Sherman and
Bragg, 81 artillery, commanding batteries, deem II no
more than Just 10 mention oil tho sub1Itcrn officers They
HHau call aN "A d. ~.
uauon exhibited conspicuous skill aud CALAMITY. Captain
Obneu, Lirutcnanu Brent, Whiting, aud Couch 4lh ar
HeTy and Bryan typographical engineers sl ghty woun-
ded,l wcro attached "a Captain Washington's battery
lHeutenants Thomas, Reynolds snd French. 3D. artillery
'evof'y wounded. 20 il VI Captain Sherman and Capt
Shower aud Lieut. kburn. 81 aruery that OF Captain
Bragg. Captain shower in conjunction with Lieut.. Dom
nidson lst artillery rendered gallant and important service
n fepulsing the cavalry Of General Mu0n. The regular
cavalry, under Lieut. Col May, winch associated
Captain Pkes squadron Of Arkansas horse cIe uc
ul service 10 holding the enemy check and In coycfipg