Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-04-08

, SANTA ANNA's ARMY CUT TO PIECES BY GENERA
TAfLoR-Loss OF COILS. YELL, M'KEE,
HARDIN, HENRY CLAY, &C., &c.
From the N. o. Picayunc. of March o. ,sa7
Gen Taylor pictorious-IHe Mexican .7rnv Ie
by Sanfa Anna defeated at Bt,cna Tista ,oit
great slaughter.
we lay before our readers, in advance of ON
regular publication, the glorious tidings from tn
army, brought by the schr. John Bell Our repor
ter left the vessel in the river and came nm 4, tow
by express with the news. The following accom-
was prepared for US by an officer of the army.
may be relied upon.
We publish also Gen Santa Annals account O
the battle, from which it will be seen that he ha,
suffered defeat, though he covers up his re,rea
with flourish Of words
1t will be seen that victory has been won at ,
sacrifice of many brave men. To. morrow we viii
give further particulars.
MEMORANDUM Of THE BATTLE OF
BUENA VISTA.
Prepared for the Editors Of the Picam.ne hi
Lieut.. j. J. G. Bib, IT, s. Il.
Dr. Turner, u. S. A., who arrived at Matamo-
ras on the 9Th inst from Monterey brought the rlo
rious intelligence of another brilliant victory over
the Mexican army. The scene of action was Bue
ma vista, hacienda about six miles west of Sal
tlo. The fighting commenced on the Odd of Feb
ruary and ended on the 23d Santa Anna retired
to Aqua Nueva, distance of ten miles. leaving
4,0OO killed and wounded upon the field. Santa
Annals Adjutant General and many other officers
ana men are prisoners The loss on our part was
IOO killed and wounded. Santa Annals f,rc,, a
mounted to at least l5, 900 men that of General
Taylor to about 5000, almost entirely volunteers.
Ills army is composed of Washington's Bragp's and
Thomas Batteries, one squadron of the lst and
inc "a Dragons, the Arkansas and Kentucky Ca
valry, brigade of Illinois and one of Indiana Vol
unteers, the LIST Mississippi and I'd Kentucky Regi-
ments, and one company of Texas Volunteers.
DIR. L. brought list of 63 officers killed and
wounded. left in such haste that was unable In
obtain copy. but recolfect among the killed Capt
Lincoln Asst Adj't. Gen, u. S. A.. Col. Yell. of
the Arkansas cavalry, Capt. Moore. Adj't. Waugh
an and three others mot namely of the Kentucky
cavalry, Col. Mckee, Lieut. Col. CLAY. Can't
Willis, I'd Kentucky Infantry. Col Hardin and
MAJOR German, Illinois brig. many of the Indiana
9rigaae' several Of the Mississippi regt, and two
ed remember Gen. Lane. Col jefferson Davis. Ist
MISS reSyt, Capt. Stein. LIST U. S. Dragons,
Capt. Conner. Texas Volunteers, Its. s. G.
French and O'Brien, u. S. Artillery. It. Barber.
"a Ky Infantry, 1t. Cor&in. LIST Miss. Rer't.. and
LIT; =, Whlteside, of the Ind. brigade.
The official dispatches of Gen. TAYLOR have
been cut of. Col. Morgan's reg. Ohio vol. having
been reinforced by command from MONTEREY had
reached that place in safety
Coi. Curtis, OF Ohio, with one company. + Cant
Hunters of the I'd u. $. Dragons, his own reui
ment, one of Indiana Volunteers. the Virginia REQ
ment. and think some Texas rangers, in all abont
2OOO men, was about TO leave Cariargo to attack
uen. Urea, who is said to be about thirty miles
south OF that place with an army OF from To 5OO0
men. principally ratcheros He is believed to have
with him only 1900 regular troops A great many
IL not all or these rancheros, soon as they hear
OIL the discontinue of Santa Anna army will dis
perse, and the gallant Colonel will no doubt Obtain
the victory. This news from above proves that
the various reports which had before been received
OF uen. layors retreat upon Monterey, and the
advance OF large force to attack our depots At the
hrazos and at the mouth of the Rio Grande 10 be
untrue. vi the defences at the mouth of the river
KNOW nothing, but have been told that they are
sufficient to make strong resistance The fortif
cations at the Brazos, with the force of artillery and
persons IN the quartermasters employ, which can
De raised as garrison, is sufficient to drive back
command of at least $500 or 5000 Mexicans
The work. which may be technically termed a
continued liDe encoses all the quarerInas;er's and
commlssary's stores in depot. The parapet is
formed OF barrels of damaged commssarv Stores
with sand bags for the superior slope the sand
from ditch In front, thrown up against the barrels
forms the exterior slope. The armament of the
fort consists of four pieces Of arlery-two II and
two opounders, in barbette-which sweep the foot
OF and across their fires upon the level plain over
which the enemy would be compelled to advance
and about three hundred muskets to line the parapet
This was thrown up when an attack was dailv ex
pected. Nothing having reached us from General
Taylor for many days, we believed him surrounded
as was reported, and gave degree of credit to
the ruror of the advance of large force upon our
depots. After waiting three or four DAYS aDxior,sv
expecting the approach of the enemy, we received
the glorious news above-understood of course
that the battle of Brazos Santiago was emo 0o -,
and when sailed, the artillery of Fort Harvey,
instead ofInowing down the Mexicans was peal
Ing forth salute in honor of cold ROUGH and
Ready" and his gallant little army at Buena Vista
We annex Santa Annals own account of the ac-
tons of Buena Vista; as translated from the Tam
pco Sentinel. We have the original Spanish ac-
count In our possession.
CAMP NEAR BUENA VISTA, FEB. %, 1917.
Excellent Su--After two DAYS Of hattie. in
which the enemy, with a force OF 5000 to ZOO
men and twenty SIX pieces ofartery lost five of his
positions; three pieces of artillery and two flags,
have determined to go back to Aqua Nueva to
provide myself with provisions not having SINGLE
biscuit or grain of rice left Thanks 10 the 20
sltion occupied by the enemy, he has not been com
pletely beaten but he left on lheield about 2 900
dead Both rmieshave been cut to pieces bit the tro
phles OF war will give you an idea on which side
has been the advantage.
We have struggled with hunger and thirst du-
ring forty hours, and if we can provide ourselves
with provisions we will go again to charge the en-
envy. The soldiers Under my command have done
their duty, and covered the honor Of the Mexican
nation with glory. The enemy has seen that nei-
Their his advantageous position nor the broken MA
ttre Of the ground the fgor Of the season flor
it has been rafting during the action, could pre-
vent the terrible charge with the bayonet, which
left him terrified. SANTA ANNA.