Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-04-15
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
Americans Killed and Wounded.

''iuch.S couuccteu WIN tnlS EXTRAORDINARY battle
Were related In hasty conversation with the inter
esting and gallant volunteer Aid of General Taylor
who acted as bearer of dispatches, and was i wit
ness of the whole scene
The pass of Bucna Vista is about one and three
quarters of mile wide, the road being i'm the mid
die. Gen. Taylor's right rested upon the road and
was protected by the broken nature OF the ground
as to be secured against any attempt to flank him on
that side. From the road to the mountains on the
left Is 700 or 500 yards the first half Of the dis
lance beng good deal cut up by short rayines run
ming to the road. Beyond the heads Of these ra-
vines the plain extends to the mountain, which is
steep and almost inaccessible
On this plain the battle was mainly fought Most
OF Washington's battery was planted OH the right,
to defend the road. Bragg's and Thomas's bate
| rles, and others were on the plain, and were Used
with tremendous effect upon the enemy, elhose
dense columns had at one time approached SO near
as to threaten, by their mere weight, the complete
overthrow OF our army, when destructive fire
from Baggs battery appeared to open whole streets
through the solid masses i'm 'front.' and to bid def
aDcc 10 any nearer approach.
In the mean time, the superior number Of the en-
envy had passed our left flank while their artillery
endeavored to maintain raking position upon US
! from the foot Of the mountain. Some | 800 of
their cavalry, besides infantry, had got around in
that direction. and maintained a severe conflict for
time. General Taylor directed Lieut.. Col Nav.
with four companies, 10 charge this large BODY of
cavalry; but when he got within about one hun
dred yards, the enemy fed and the infantry in that
quarter was soon after seen in full retreat This
was about O'Clock, and General Taylor despatch
ed MIR. Crlttenden with flag of truce, to saw to
the commander Of these retreating forces if they
would surrender, he would not fire on them Mr.
u, on horseback, with his interpreter, soon over
TOOK the rear OF the retreang party, and after pass
ing many OF the slragglers, was required to STOP
which order was enforced by the presentation OF
gun, until the interpreter explained.
They were then blindfolded and carried forward
Mr. c., occasionally inqurng for the officer in COM
mand OF that corps. They as often said, "A little
further ON "a and at one time, when he refused to
proceed an officer told him he could not be answer
able for the consequences from his own men if he
did not 60 on TO Santa Anna. When he reached
the latter, in sort of ravine, below the fire. on the
PLAIN, Mr. {. soon informed him that his errand
was to the officer In command Of the retreating bo-
dy, and not TO himself. After while a tremend-
GUS flourish Of trumpets and instruments was the
signal for the bandages TO be Withdrawn from their
eyes, when Santa Anna demanded the surrender Of
Gen. Tayor's army. With SMILE MIR. c.. re-
Piled, "Generdt Taylor neUer S,urenderS" An
officer present, who understood English, explained
to Santa Anna the nature of the answer, when he
said-'.then, both armies in the like condition."
or words to that effect.
Mr.. C.. then asked for a conductor that he miobt
return When he reached the plain again, the two
armies seemed engaged in a tremendous struggle,
and after taking leave of his conductor he made his
way back, as best he could in greater peril from the
lire OF our own guns than from those of the Mexi-
cans.
1t is not true, as heretofore reported, that Lieut.
Col. May, in his Reconnaissance, had lost Lieut.
Wood and ten men. They became separated, but
all got back safely TO the camp. Lieut. Sturges was
taken prisoner, but was released under the subse-
quent arrangement for an exchange of prisoners.
MIR. e. thinks the Mexican infantry behaved
much better than their cavalry-the latter would
not wait for charge from even one fifth of their
number.
He does not know exactly how the three pieces
OF artillery were taken. He heard Col Davis say
he could have spiked them, but supposed they
would be retakeD.
The rumor that General Taylors dispatches had
been cut off was unfounded. Some of them had
been delayed at Monterey for want of an escort
These MIR. G. obtained when he came through, and
all have been safely delivered to the Adjutant Ge-
neral in this city.
We are glad to learn from Mr. G.. that Lieut.
Col. May, who is reported as having received ga
severe contuson,'' was ont and considered well a
gain, before Mr.. G. left the army
The New Orleans Delta OF the 9th nit. contains
some particulars of the battle Of Buena VISTA de-
rived from Major COFFEE, one of Gen. Taylor's
Aids. We annex few of them:
On the 21st the enemy were deserted approach
ing over the distant hills. At their appearance the
volunteers raised great shout, and gave three ire
mendOuS cheers. Their engineers and officers were
seen flying the field, and dragging their can
non about to get them into position but the nature
OF the ground did not favor the undertaking. and it
was late in the day before the big guns began to
open.
The enemy had with them thirty-two cannon,
mostly of large calibre. Their fire, though kept
up very briskly, and apparently well manned, did
SO little execution in our ranks that it was not con-
sidered necessary TO return their fire. Our cannon
were therefore silent the whole OF the Dist Eight
OF ten killed and wounded were the extent of the
| casualties sustained by our army on the DIST. Du-
ring the day an officer approached our lines with
flag of truce, and requested to be shown TO Geneta
Taylor. The brave old man was sitting quietly on
his old white charger, with his leg over the pom
mel OF the saddle, watching the movements Of the
enemy, when the Mexican officer was presented
In very courteous and graceful manner the off
Ger stated that che had been sent by his Exceen-
cy Gen. Santa Anna, to his Exceency Cen Tay-
lor to inquire, in the most respectful manner what
he Gen. Taylor was waiting for" From the 81
lence of Gen 1aylor's batteries, and the quiet
manner in which he received Santa Annals terrific
cannonadng, the Mexican supposed he was asking
a very pertinent question, to which, however, old
Rough and Ready gave the very pertinent reply,
"that he was only waiting for Gen. Santa Anna to
surrender" The Mexican returned hastily to his
lines.
This message proved TO be a r,t$c TO ascertain
where Gen. Taylor's position was. for after the re-
turn Of the Mexican officer TO his own ranks the
whole Mexican battery seemed TO open upon Gen
Taylor's position, and the balls flew over and about
him like hail. Utterly Indifferent 10 the perils Of
his situation, there sat the old chief on his cohspic
Hyb,fc ipreo fhrouob HE enc, Ioo,.