Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-15

ry and cavalry, their big guns, strongly pro-
tected by large artillery force, kept up an
incessant cannonade against our line Their
forces were soon in motion. Our artillery
was thrown forward to meet them, protected
by the volunteers. Gen. Wool led the main
body in person, and was seen everywhere
rallying and encouraging the volunteers.
The two armies were soon engaged in hot
conflict The broken nature of the ground
divided the forces, so that instead of one
general engagement the regiments were COM
PEELED in great measure to fight on their
own hook.
Our officers were always in advance, lead
ing their troops-hence the great mortality
among them. In this general melee, one Of
our small regiments of 400 men, would be
attacked by whole Mexican brigade of sew
eral thousand. Thus the Kentucky infant
ry was attacked at the foot of hill, in a
deep ravine, by an immense force of the en-
emy A large number of the officers were
killed here-among them was Col Mckee,
who fell badly wounded, and was immedi-
ately despatched by the enemy, who pierced
him with their bayonets as he lay on the
ground. Lieut.. Col. Clay was shot through
the thigh and being unable to walk, was Ia
ken up and carried some distance by some
of his men, but owing to the steepness of
the hill, the men finding it very difficult to
carry him, and the enemy in great numbers
pressing upon them, the gallant Lieut.. Col
onel 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 laying on his back,
fighting with his sword the enemy who were
stabbing him with their bayonets. The We
teran Capt VIM. S. Willis, of the same re-
giment, at the head of his company, with
three stalwart sons who fought by his side,
was badly wounded, but still continued the
fight, until he was overcome with the loss of
blood.
In the meantime, the Indiana brigade,
who were drawn out and ordered to charge
the enemy, were seized with a panic, and
displaying some hesitation, Assistant Adiu-
tant Gen. Lincoln rushed to their front, and
while upbraiding them for their cowardice,
was shot, several balls passing through his
body. In Justice to this brigade it should
be stated, that they subsequently rallied, and
fully redeemed their reputation by the most
gallant and effective fighting.
Col Hardin led the Ilinoisians in very
handsome style, and the sturdy " suckers"
fought like lions. Their intrepid Colonel
fell wounded, and experienced the fate of
Coils Mckee and Clay, and was killed by
the enemy-not however before he had Kill
led one of the cowardly miscreants with a
pistol firing while lying on the ground.
Col. Yell led, the foremost man, charge
of his mounted volunteers against a large
body of lancers, and was killed by a lance,
which entered his mouth and tore off one
side of his face.
The Mississippans, the heroes of Mon
terey, after doing hard duty as skirmishers,
were ordered into line to receive a charge
of cavalry-whch they did with their rifles,
delivering at the same time most destruc-
tive fire amongst the crowded columns of
the enemy, who were completely repulsed.
The distinguished commander of this gal
liant regiment, Col. Jefferson Davis, was
badly wounded, an escopette ball having en-
tered his foot
Col Humphrey MarshalPs splendid regi-
ment of Kentucky cavalry were impatient
for an opportunity of showing their mettle
and avenging the capture of their brethren,
then in the hands of the enemy. They were
soon favored with the desired opportunity,
by the approach of force of more than
1000 lancers and hussars, who CALAMITY char
ged them. The Kentuckians stood their
ground with immovable steadiness, and re-
ceiving the enemy with charge from their
carbines, charged in the most gallant style
through the column on the right, and wheel
ing, fell on their left, dispensing and killing
great many of them. A like charge was
made by Col. May, at the head of a squad
ron of Dragons, and one of Arkansas cav
airy, against large body of the enemy's
cavalry, with like results.
During the engagement on the right, San
ia Anna, seeing that Gen. Taylor's force was
not well protected on the left flank, sent a
large force of cavalry around that point, and
outhanking him, Taylor Immediately sent
Capt Bragg, with his artillery, against this
force, who succeeded in cutting them of
from the main body Lieut. Crittenden was
despatched, with flag of truce, to demand
the immediate surrender of this force. The
Mexican officer, pretending not to under
stand the character of his mission, insisted
that he should be bindfoded, according to
the rules of war, and thus had the Lieuten-
ant carried into the camp of Santa Anna
himself. This was ruSe to get time TO eX-
tricate the Mexican cavalry from their dam
gerous position, and pending this truce they
were all drawn off by different road from
that by which they had gained this position.
Lieut.. Crittenden was conducted blind
folded to the tent of the. Mexican General
in-chief, which he found long distance from
the scene of action, and which he thought
the safest place he had been in during the
whole day. As he approached Santa An
mas tent he was greeted with tremendous
flourish of trumpets which might have been
heard mile off, but produced very great
terror in the mind of the Kentuckian. His
blind was taken off, and he found himselfin
the presence of the famous Mexican Chief,
surrounded by brilliant staff of bedizen-
ed, gilded and mustached officers. Santa
Anna apologized to the Lieutenant for the
act of his officers, in having him bllndiol-
ded, saying that so far from having any de-
sire to conceal his situation, he was deslrous
of exhibiting to Gen. Taylor the utter folly
of resisting so powerful an army as he had
under his command. To which the Lieu
tenant replied, that his simple message was
to demand his Santa Annals immediate
surrender to Gen. Taylor. When this ex-
traordinary demand was translated to the
L