The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-01
PRIVATE LETTER FROM GEN TAY-
IOR

LOR.
The New Orleans papers of April Ia, con
n sin letter from General Taylor, addressed
W 10 General E. G. w. Butler, of lberville, rela-
tive to the battle of Buena Vista. The eX-
tract which follows is important as it shows
rbaithe author thinks of the war:
Imay observe that have been also nam
edasa candidate for the Presidency by few
newspaper editors, which has been done
without my knowledge, wishes or consent.
This have assured all WHO have written
me on the subject assuring them had no
aspirations for that or any other civil office;
that my whole energies, mental and physi-
CAL were and had been absorbed in such n
wav as thought best calculated TO bring this
war 10 Il speedy and honorable close, believ-
ing it was for the interest of both countries that
for our own country the sooner this was done
the better; & that mt any rate President making
should be lost sight Of Until This ,0as accomplish
cdr
We do not understand the above declina-
ton ola nomination for the Presidency but
as leaving the question still open. Gen. Tay-
or barely escaped defeat in the battle of
Buena Vista as will be seen by the annexed
aract from the same letter.
a portion of the time the contest was
glch the severest Ihave ever Witnessed par
ncnlarly toward the latter part of the day,
when he Santa Anna drought up his reserve,
and in spite ofevery effort on our part after
the greatest eXertions have ever witnessed
on both sides, drove us by an immense supe-
riority of numbers for some distance.
For several hours the fate of the day was
extremely doubtfIl,so much so that was ur-
ged by some ofthe most experienced officers
10 la'l back and take up new postion.-
This knew it would never do to attempt
with volunteers, and at euee declined it,
The scene now had become one of the deep
est interest. Between the several deep ra-
vines there were portions level land from
one to four hundred yards in extent, which
became alternately points attack and de-
fence, after our left was turned, by both Sides"
GPThe Burlington Free Press contains
letter from George NJ. Hill. son of Tru-
man HILL Esq, Of Charlotte, IN this State, and
avOlunteer in one ofthe regiments compos-
ing Gen. Taylor's Army, and who was in the
battle ofBuena Vista. The scenes of the bat
tie field, MS described by him, areenough to
make the heart sick The letter says:
"A the first peep of dawn on the 23d we
resumed our position. and three companies
from our regiment were sent on the mountain
Sde, to hold in check a party ofskirmishers.
Inc remaining six We're formed upon ridge
separate tronrany other troops.
Eight regiments of Mexican soldiers, with
aparty Of Lancers, were sent against us. We
stood aud returned their fire for some length
IA II Il. 4
hail stones. At length they became so de-
struct've that we were ordered TO retreat 10 n
ravine near lis, it was sometime before the of.
fCers succeeded in bringing the men off,sueh
was their ardor for the fight. We dropped
back-they pursued us-we rallied, and with
the assistance oftwo pieces of artillery, drove
them back again. And now lay hundreds
and hundreds of mangled and wounded
wretches, writhing and groaning in agony
Escaped without wound or a scratch, al
though several cannon balls passed within a
few inches ofmy head.
What sight the field of battle presented!
Arms legs, heads and bodies scattered every
where.
Such scenes make me sick of soar and all its
gg!ores. lam now in the hospital, with z. P.
Hill, my messmate,S of others our company
who are wounded. They are diving here
daily slept by the side of dead man, so
near couIdpu my hand on his face.
devote the most of my time to L. p.
Hill, who wns wounded in the thigh, but will
probably recover We that tend upon the
hospital do all in our power for the comfort
M Me wounded yet many of them must die,
o'hers lose their limbs, &c.
a GREAT SHOT. On the 31st of March,
mf Alfred P. Spaulding, of this town, killed
f'0e0e crows at one shot, and wounded several
more Who can beat this? So says the
bellows Falls Gazette.
Idot 'oorth kRO,oing. A gentleman of
s.ololuIous habit, became affected with ulcera-
tOHs OF the thronf and nd n