New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-21
General TayIor's detailed Report OF the
Battle OF Buena Vista.
HEADQuAaTKRs. AMY OF OCCUPATION.
Acfa Nr-rvA March Il l-4T

repuse Of the Mexican army and the reoccupafon Of
this position.
and concentration Of heavy Mexican force IN my front
had assumed such probable form, as 10 induce spe
cs examination far beyond the reach Of our pckets TO
ascertain its correctness small party OF leHsn spies
under Mai McCullOch dispatched 70 the hacienda OF
Encarnaciou 30 miles from this on the route 70 san
Luis Potosi had reported cavalry force Of unknown
reconns.snce under Lieut. Col May was dispatched 70
the hacienda Of Heclionds while Maj McCulloch made
another examination Of Encsrnston The result oil these
expedition. left doubt that the enemy was 10 large
force At Encsrnacion under the orders OF Gen santa
Anna and that he medtsted forward movement and
attack upon our position.
sthe Camp OF Aqua Nueva could be turned on either
snk and as the enemys force was greatly superior 10
our own particularly in the arm OF cavalry determined
after much consideration 10 take up position about
eleven miles in rear and there await the attack The
army broke up ito camp and marched 81 noon on thr
Dist encampng at the position little IN 'front.' OF
the Hacienda Of Bucus Vista With small force pro
ceeded to Ssltlo 20 make some necessary
for the defence OF the leaving Brig Gen WOOL In
the immediate command OF the troops
Refore those arrangements were completed on the
rnoTning Of the 22d was advised that the enemy was
in sight advancing Upon reaching the ground II was
found that mis- cavalry advance Wss IN our 'front.' hAslD
marched from Encs7nac0n, az we have since learned a.
n o'clock on the day previous and driving IN mounted
force left AZ Aqua Nueva 20 the removal OF public
stnres Our troops were in position occupying line Oi
remarkable strength The road al this point becomes
valley us being rendered quite
impraccabefo for artillery By ssystem OF deep and impas
sable gullies while the left succession OF rugged
ridges and precipous ravnes extends lar back toward
the mountain which bounds the valley The features oil
the ground were such nearly 10 parsyze the artillery
ga cavalry of the enemy while his infantry could not
derive all the advantage OF lie numerical superiority 10
this position prepared to receive him capt wash,
ine.ons battery 4th artillery was posted 10 command
H. road while the Is, and ID Illinois regiments under
Cols Hardin and Bsse, each eight companies, 10 The
latter of which was attached Capt Conners company
of Texas volunteers) and the % Kentucky under Col
Mckee occupied OF the ridges on the lett and
10 ,esr The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments Of
cavalry commanded by Co.'s Yell and H. Marshall, oc'
cunied the extreme left the base OF the mountain,
while the Indiana brigade, under Brig Gen lane com
nosed of the % and Sd regiments under Co.'s BOwles
and Lane the Mississippi rifemen under Col Davis the
,ousdrons of the s and ID Dragons under Capt steen
and Lieut. Col. May and the light batteries OF Capts
Sherman and Bragg 81 artillery were neid IN reserve
A, II o'clock received from Gen. Santa Anna sum
mons 70 surrender at discretion which with copy Of
nv reply have already transmitted The enemy still
forbore his attack evidently waiting Tor the arrival oil
his rear columns which could be dsuncuy seen by our
Iookouts As they approached the field demonstration
made on his left caused 10 detsch the 20 Kentucky
regiment and section Of artillery to our right in which
nostion they bivouscked for the night In the meen
time the Mexican light troops had engaged ours on the
,,reme left composed of parts of the Kentucky and
Arkansas cavalry dsmOunted, and rife battalion from
the Indiana brigade under Major German the whole
COMMANDED by Col Marshsll and kept up sharp FIRE,
climbing the mountain sl1e anu
TO gain our flank Three pieces OF Cspt Washington 8
battery had been detached 10 the left and were support
ed BIZ the "a Indiana regiment An occasional snel vas
thrown by the enemy into this part OF our ne out"h
an, ,yect The diminishing Of the light troops was kept
M v,h traine loss on our part until dark, when be
came convinced that no serious ataek woui1 De uaoe
before the morning and returned win 'ne MshssRpl
regiment and squadron OF "a Dragons 70 5aio. ne
Rooms bivouacked without hres, and lsd upon tneir
srms A body of cavalry, come l,5OO strong hsd been
Visible ali day 10 rear Of the town, having entered lhe
valley through narrow pass sase % an 49,
cavalry commanded by Gen Minon had eVidenuy oeen
thrown in our rear break up and harass our retreat
and perhsp. make some attempt against the town u
| practicable. The city was occupied oy ioui eNOehen
romnanies of Illinois volunteers under Maj Warren OF
| the lat regiment heldwork which COMMANDED
mos, of the approaches, was garrsoned oy Capt "eo
ster's company, lst artillery, ana armed win TWO -
mound bowitzers while the train and headqusrer CAM
txss Guarded by two companies Mississippi rhemen un
der Capt Rogers and fed piece con manded by Capt
shower "a artillery Having made these olsposihon'
Tor the protection OF the proceeded on the morn
Ing of The ga 10 Buena Vista ordering forward all the
other available troops The action had commenced De
/ fore my arrival on the held . -
During the evening and night OF the I'D the enemy
had thrown body Of light troops on the mountain side
win puroose Of outhankng our left and II was her
thai the action of the 23i commenced at early hour
Our rifemen under Colonel Marshall who had been re
inforced by three companies under msJoI ran "a III
nos volunteers maintained their ground Handsomely
aganst greatly superior force holding themselves un
der cover and using their weapons with deadly ehec'
About o'clock astrong demonstration was mace agshs
the centre of position heaVy Column moving aon
The road This force soon dispersed by few RAPID
and well directed shots from Captain Washingtons bat
tery Ia the meantime the enemy was concentrating
large force of infantry and cavalry under cover OF IN
ridges with the obvious intention OF forcing our lei
| which was posted on extensive plateau. The 2
Indiana and "a Illinois regiments formed this part OF GU
line the former covering three pieces OF light artillery
under the orders of Captain o Brien-Brg Gen Lan'
heps in the immediate command In order 10 bring hi
men within effective range Gen Lane ordered the art
lery and I'd Indiana regiment forward The artillery I'D
ysnced within musket range OF heavy BODY oil MeXica
inf>nry and served against with great effect bu
ythout being able 10 check its advance. The niantr
ordered TO support had fallen back IN disorder BEN
.xposed az well ss the battery not only 10 severe m
OF small arms from the front but also 10 murderou
c,osssrs Of grape and canister from Mexican batter
ON the left Capt OBrien found II impossible 10 I'd
tain his position without support but was only able
withdraw two OF his pieces all the horses ana cannon
GERS of the third piece Being killed OF disabled In
"a Indiana regiment which had fallen back ss stated
could not be rallied sud took farther part In the a
ton except handful Of men, who under It's gallar
Colonel Bowles joined the Mississippi regiment and al
good service and those iuguycs who AZ later peno
In the day assisted in defending the train and depot
Buens Vista This portion Of our line having give
way and the enemy appearing IN overwnelming lore
sgsinst our left Hank the ght troops which had render
"a such good service u the mountain. were cOmpee
10 withdraw which hey did for the most part In goo
order Many however we're not rallied until the
reached the dep6. al Buena Vista 70 the defence q
which they siterward contributed.
Col Bissells re imeut ca Iinois) which had bee
Joined by section of Capt Shermans battery had BE-
come completely outasnked, and was compelled to Ia
back being entirely unsupported. The enemy was nos
pouring masses OF infantry and cavalry along the base
the mountain on our left and was gaining our rear
great force Al this moment arrived upon the field
The Mississippi regiment had been directed 10 the LEI
before reaching the position and immediately lot
action against the Mexican inisnuy which had turue
our aAnk The I'd Kentucky regiment and section q
artillery under Capt Bragg bad previously been ordere
from the righs TO reinforce left and arrived At
opporiune moment That regiment and a portion o
the Is, Illinois. under Col Hardin, gsllAnty drove n
enemy, and recovered portion OF the ground We ha
lost The batteries Of Capt. Sherman and Bragg wei
Ia position on the plSiesu, and DID much execution
no, only in front but particularly upon the mssse
which had gained Discovering TIA
the enemy heavily pressing upon the Ms
sissppi regiment the third Indiana regiment IN
der Col Lane dispatched TO strengthen that pal
Of our line which formed crochet perpendicular
the frst line Of battle Al the time Lieut. hourl
with piece of Capt Brsgg's battery, was directed
support the infantry there engaged The action was 10
long tine warmly sustained AZ that pointthe enem
making several eEHts both with infantry and cavalr
against line, and being always repused with heav
loss | had placed al the regular cavalry and Cap
Pixies squadron Of Arkansas horse under the orders
Brevet Lieut. Col May, with directions bold In chez
the enemys column, sui advancing 10 the rear along IN
base Of the mountain. which done IN cOnjuncto
with the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Cob
Marshall sud Yell In the meantime our left which VS.
still strongly threatened by superior force, ta
Their strengthened By the detachment of Capt Bragg