New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-14
NEW.YORK TRIBUNE.
More Of Buena Vista.

,or II
- onr Orn sol, repelling instead of prosecuting
INVASION, we do not the less appreciate the cour.
aye the constancy, the fearless energy OF the he
,oe 1000 Excluding the cOwardly runawaysl who
xth.tood and defeated 10000 Mexicans led by
The able commander with whom Mr.. Polk so un.
wisely provided them. Especially do we rejoice
nat ZACHARY TAYLOR has been afforded such an
opportunity Of sencing the calumnes and repel.
ling the censure which Loco Focoism heaped upon
hin. even in Congress, for bis humane and wise
acquisition Of Monterey, whereby all the ends Of
snccessul assault were attained and it's awful cost
II the lives Of our own as well as Mexican SOL
diers and those Of innocent women and children
was avoided
By this battle, Gen Taylor's Military reputation
,plsced beyond the reach of faction or of envious
haired Doubtless his position was a very
strong and advantageous one but who chose the
position and disposed our force as to repder its
advantages available to the utmost Thousands
did their best on that sanguinary field but all
tongues unite in according to OLD ZAcg the
chief merit Of the victory. Any other man might
have been spared and the battle still won without
bin, the fate Of CLAY and HARDIN and LINCOLN
snd YELL might have been that of three fourths of
our Army. The measure of his Military glory is
fall and il is not probable that he will ever again
have chance to fight pitched battle in Mexico
We have been favored with the following
hitherto unpublished letters from officers who fought
at Buena Vista. Although not many of the facts
are absolutely novel, they will be found deeply
interesting;
Extracts from a letter of an officer Of the Army to
Trend in this City.
Camp at AsuA NuEyA, Mexico Feb. %, Is47.
" Take this whole transaction in all ts parts,
Il without doubt the greatest victory the best fought
battle, In which our country has yet been engaged. !
can hardly credit it, that have myself and taken
part in suchan astounding affair Our killed are 264
wounded 40, with few missing
Gen Taylor htnseU personally the first and highest
clement in accomplishing this great vicoryhe second
our light artillery The volunteers a whole did
exceedingly welithe exceptions to this rather ind
udual than by corps. Santa Anna will not think re.
turn the conflict until his Congress have given him
srher II be does, he will sssuredly be beaten
sssn tina, 10 If Gen. Taylor commands eur forces
The day (the 23d) was one OF great vcissi
tudetwo three times II seemed that the day must
inevitably be the eneinys. IL would have been but for
ow Geaeal-he could not would not give way be
stood firm on the hill In the midst Of the fire. the Tole
ssy until night AT night as dark, toe enemy
commenced his retreat and at daylight not vestge OF
him TO be Hereafter let not Waddy Thomp-
scr or any other man speak praises of Santa Anna
Our wounded men who could not get from the field |
were ALL 10 man. Lieut. Col. Clay, vlely msssa
cred robbed and left naked while the enemys wounded
were e for us TO gather into our hospitals which has
been done the General having given orders that the
niOr Surgeon DIR. Hitchcock, shall have everything he
calls for for their service.
ErtRing-Suce morning we have had several de.
serters and others from the Mexican Army come In, all
u whom say that Santa Annss entire Army IS on the
nn retreat toward San Luis and that he is losing tlo
Sads by desertion-that II will not be possible Tor MN
10 bring thai Ary back 10 new contest-they nave Just
gsling except what fresh beef they can get near
the rosd-ihat the Army is entirely broken u-rering
with perfect route Santa Annas name will no longer
possess charm prestige, with the world or with the
hexicsns but Gen. Tayors will with our people Tor
As 0cfi0R shows all the high qualities heretofore go
usly accorded TO him. and Is added 10 that OF the
.kilful Genersl-the General of strategy beside.
The Mexican Army win ner1 again make an attack
upon US In the North. II Gen. Taylor had now 5000
regulars in addition 20 his present forces he could over
run this whole country the NORTH having whipped
The Grand Army the lesser ones will soon leave the
ground
AQUA NuKvA, March ], ls47
Santa Anna designed, no doubt, to whip |
Gen Tsyors small army of Volunteers here and then
10 rush ali the way down to the Rio Grande, destroying
al our depots driving away all our forces, and thus
i've, putting the United States back the old starting
pn and proving the world that he is the second Ma
poeon" Gen Taylor Old lack Rough and Ready, |
the crafty old Yankee (this Santa Anna calls him.
BY whatever name you please TO style him, remained
here 10 this camp which had been selected, not with
view to defence but good position to gain Informs
ton Of and to watch the enemy and as furnishing good
ground for an encampment plenty OF wood and watei /
proximity 10 corn &c. When the enemy was within |
One days march OF here, we quickly and with great /
good order not leaving biscuit for the enemy fell 1
back pass In the mountains near Buena Vista. The
mountains two high ridges about two miles apart /
from base base with intermediate range OF lesser
mountains the western range, all running nearly
north and south. Between THE lesser range and the
nigh eastern one, the road from Saltllo to Ague
Nuevs from the eastern mountains the ground grsdu
ally descends 10 the road-on the western side the
ound originally level is cut by the action OF the water
which passes down the various ravines dug into gues
weep pits terrific chssms &c. on all sides are these
psrcptous raynes and chssms formed by the pouring
VI the mighty torrents from the mountains during the
fanny seasons These absolutely impossible by any
speces Of force which IL at all opposedand there
20 passes roads by which Santa Anna could, without
nnn back and taking very circuitous route at
vs. Without forcing this pass. We dug up the road en-
sncked guns at H. posted various field batteries
% the eminences and in welseleced positions, arrang
GU our lines OF troops in proper position, aud then
awaited tho soidisaaf Napoleon H. He, seeing that ii
was apparent we had left Agus Nueva in haste, deter
mined 10 enter Of once upon destruction. On the
I'D little was done-Gen. Taylor and his Stat occupied
he rosd-Gen Santa Anna and his Stat hill in our
mont where esen with Eyeglasses engineers, piekets,
ke &c. made himself rs well acquainted as crcum-
ssaces would permit with the positions assumed by the
o,asr Toward evening there was little firing the
Mexican infantry pressing up the face OF the
mountains. apparently with the design of turning our
eft flank The next day the regular battle opened with
fan vgor and lasted all day until dark with various
prospects, at different periods. We had than
500 men-Ssnts Anna about 10000 Both sides fought /
heir beet; but We had Gen Taylor and some exceed.
nsy well handled batteries. four companies OF regular
argcons and Volunteer Regiments which fought 1
sIA terrific vsor At night the conflict cessed-esch
soc OCCUPYING the ground they had in the mernlng
taonsh there had been some advancing and yielding
curing the dsy. Wsgonlosds OF provisions were dis
rtoued late night the field of battle and our men
sno had fought well during the day, had secured to
nen every man full rstons At night Thus they were
Neu prepared and all expected TO resume their hghung
ssnn me next day bat At the earliest pesp oil day u
~ found that Santa Anna and his whole army had
ISanns The night quit the field and suddenly retired
"" soon found that bic army In full retrest-ths
n vas cut to pieces-disorganized, orokenspirited-
.ss ned was then examined; great numbers OF dead
- - wounded lying everywhere. santa AIMS did not
~, As care OF or take away bis wounded. The Mex
T a nned and wounded Ia probably 1900 or more
.-e nexiean Army Is destroyed-it Is no longer an
y-n 10 still retiring without order-wiihoui the
Ans Oh sabsstence--without any single element OF
modern times
zoe GENERAL and the whole Stat were much exposed
sss'lag the whole day and hsd the enemys artillery
-. served With anything Ike the accuracy and vgor
&c 80 winch ours was. doubtless their number would
been diminished. The General had his coat on the
ssssa' scrsped his AdjutHnt General Bliss had his
AAA L.. H.. u. -