Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-04-17
They were soon

ldVOIGu WILL tiC oCsti ~ SPHN'
by the approach cf a force OF more
than 1000 lancers and hussars, who
CALAMITY charged them. The Ken
tuckians stood their ground with I'M
movable steadiness. and receiving the
enemy with fire from their carbines,
charged in the most gallant style thro'
the column on the right, and wheeling
fell on their left, dispensing and killing
a great many of them. A like charge
was made by Col. May, at the head OF
a squadron Of Dragons, and one Of the
Arkansas cavalry, against large BODY
of enemy's cavalry, with like results.
During the engement on the right,
Santa Anna seeing that General lay
lor's force was moi well protected on
the left flank, sent large force of cav
airy around that point, and outhanking
General Taylor, succeeded in throw
ing 1000 men into his rear. But Gen.
Taylor Immediately sent Capt. Bragg,
with his artillery, against this force,
who succeeded in cutting them OIL
from the main body. Lieut.. Critten-
den was despatched with a flag OF
truce, to demand the immediate sur
render of this force. The Mexican
officer pretending not to understand
the character OF this mission, insisted
that ne should be blindfolded, accord
ing 10 the rules Of war, and thus had
the Lieutenant carried into the camp
of Santa Anna himself. This was a
ruse to get time to extrica.e the Mex.
Ican cavalry from their dangerous po-
sition, and pending this truce, they
were all drawn OIL by different road
from that by which they had gained
their position.
Lieut.. Cri,tenden was conducted
blindfolded TO Santa Annals lent,which
lac found long distance from the
scene of action, and which he thought
the safest place he had been in during
the day. As he approached Santa
Annals tent he was greeted with n
tremendous flourish Of trumpets, which
might have been heard mile of, and
he found himself in the presence OF the
famous Mexican chief, surrounded by
brilliant staff of bedizzened, gilded
and mous'ached officers Santa Anna
apologized for the act of his officers in
having him blindfolded, saying, that
so far from being DESTROYS to conceal
his situation, he was anxious to show
General Taylor the utter folly of re-
sisting so powerful an army. To this
Lieut. Cril,enden replied, that his sim
pie message was TO demand his Santa
Anna's1 immediate surrender to Gen.
Taylor. When this extraordinary de-
mand was translated, the Mexican
raised his hands and eyebrows in utter
astonishment, and replied, that he ex-
pected Gen. Taylor to surrender in one
hour, or he would destroy all his troops.
The reply Of Lieut.. Crittenden was
.GEN. TAYLOR NEVER SUR
RENDERS!w This terminated the
interview, and the battle RECOMMENDED
and continued until night.
Santa Anna took three small pieces
of artillery, which, under Lieut.. o.
Brien, had beer posted too far in nd
vance TO be covered by our infantry
All the gunners were shot down. and
when the guns were captured there
was not soldier left to man them.
All the officers on our side, in this
hard Tough, battle, distinguished them.
selves. The details Of the battle were
confided to Gen. Wool, who nobly
justified The confidence OF his comman'
der and brother veteran, by the mos'
active, efficient, jealous and gallan,
conduct.
The old General-in-chiei remained
at his original and much exposed pos
experimenting the battle, and narrow
ly watchdog the events. An escopett,
ball passed thro' his overcoat-tha
same old brown, so familiar TO all tn,
officers and men who have ever beer
under his command, and which ha,
seen several campaigns in Florida, IL
Texas and Mexico.
On the night Of the esd, both armies
drew of from the field Of battle. Oul
men were engaged all night in bring
ing in the wounded and taking care o
them-thc Mexieans as well as thei
own men. There were, however, bu
few Of our men found on the fel
wounded. They were TO use SAINT
Annals significant words, in his des
patch, "all dead" the coward,
miscreans having killed every maj
whom they overlook, wounded ant
helpless on the field. With like tur
,,studa and treachery. they left thei