The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-05
INTERESTING DETAILS
FROM THE
S e AT OF w A r A..
NARRATIVE OF THE
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA
Incidents Of the War.
AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.
&C., &C., SC.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE OF pUENA
VISTA,


From the New Orleans Delta, March 26l
Major Coffee Of the army who brought over General
Tayors dispatches This gallant oflcer-a son Of the
distinguished General who fought 80 bravcy on the
plains Chalmette and In various other battles by the
side Of the iustrous Jacksonacted aid of General
Taylor in the bloody fight of Buena Vista. We are
greatly indebted to him for many particulars OF this hard
General Taylor had fallen in love- at first sight with
the position at which he finally made his standat Buena
Vista. His movement towards Aqua Nueva was merely
to decoy the enemy into the field which he had
sslsctsd for his AS soon as i -
Santa Annals approach to Aqua Nueva General Taylor
quietly broke up his camp and fell back to his rstove
--Buena Vista This position was admirably chosen.
u was Mt the foot of mountain or rather oftwo noun
tains between which the road through val
that flank cffecually than half dozen regiments
could have done. The left of General Taylors line
entrenched and defended by strong battery
In front the ground unevenbroken into hills and
deep ravnes-wel adapted to the mode Of fighting suited
TO our volunteers and by its pecuaritics supplying the
disadvantage 81 great inferority of numbers.
On the 2lst the enemy were deserted, approaching
over the distant hills At their appearance the volun-
teers raised great shout and three tremendous
cheers The engineers and officers were flying
them into position but the nature of the ground aid
not favor the undertakings was late in the day before
the big guns began to open.
OF large calibre Their fire. though kept very brskly
and apparently well mannod did little execution In
our ranks that not considered necessary return
their fire. Our cannon therefore silent the whole
Of the 2lst Eight ten killed and wounded were the
2lst During the day officer approached our lines
with flag of truce and requested to be shown to Gen
Taylor. The brave old man sitting quietly his
old white charger with his leg the pommel of the
saddle watching the movements Of the enemy when the
Mexican officer was presented IN very courteous and
sent by his Excelency Gen Santa Anna to his Excel
ency Gen Taylor to inquire in the most respectful
manner, what he (Gen. Taylor] waiting for" From
the silence of Gen Tayors batteries and the quiet man
ner in which he received Santa Annals terrific
aiding the Mexican supposed he asking very pcrti-
nent question to which, however, old Rough and Ready
gave the very pertinent reply that he only wait
ing for Gen Santa Anna to surrender" The Mexican
returned hastily hslines This message proved to be
to ascertain where Gen Tayors position was for
after the return Of the Mexican officer to his ranks
aylors position, and the balls flew and about him
like hail Utterly indifferent to the perils of his stun
horse pcerng through his spy glass at the long lines
Mexican troops that could be at great distance
the march The persuasion Of his aids could not induce
him to abandon his avorte point for observation
to give up his old white horse TO the suggestion of his
staff that old Whitley rather too conspicuous char
ger for the commander he replied that the old fellow
had missed the fun Mt Monterey account of q sore
foot and he was determined he should have his share
this time"
At sunrise the 22d of February tho battle began
in earnest The Mexicans were drawn out In immense
numbers The dark columns Of infantry extended as
far as the eye could reach and the cavalry seemed
cover the whole view with their intermnabe lines At
intervals between the infantry and cavalry their big
up an incessant cannonade against our lines Their
forces were soon In motion Our artillery was thrown
forward to meet them. protected by the volunteers
Gen. Wool led the main body perron and was seen
every where raying and encouraging the Volunteers
rhS Two armies were soon engaged in hot conflict The
stead Of general engagement the regiments
PEELED in agreat measure to fight their hook
officers always in the advance leading their troops
hence the great mortality among them In this gene
raj melee one of small regiments Of four hundred
men, would be attacked by whole Mexican brigade of
several thousand, WAS nj
lacked at the foot of HILL in deep ravine, by inn
mense foce Of the enemy. large number Of the OFF,
GERS were killed hcre-anong them Col Mckee
who fell badly wounded and Immediately despatch
ed by the enemy who pierced him with their bayonets
ne he lay on the ground. Lieut.. Col. Clay shot
through the thing being unable to taken up
and carried distance by of his but owing
TO the stcepnes of the hill the men finding it very diff
cut TO carry him, aud the enemy in great numbers
pressing upon them the gallant Lieut. Colonel begged
them to eaxe him and take of themselves Forced
TO leave bin on the field. the last that was
Of this noble young officer he lying his back
fighting with his sword tho enemy who stabbing
him with their bayoncts. The veteran Captain WIN. s
Willis of the regiment at the head Of his company
with three alwart who fought at his side bad
ly wounded but still continued the fight until he
overcome with tho loss of blood.
In the meantime, the Indiana brigade. who
drawn out and ordered to charge the enemy,
seized with panic and displaying some hesitation As
sisant Adt Gen. Lincoln rushed TO their front and
whilst upbradng them for their cowardice, shot
this brigade it should be stated that they subsequently
rallied aud fully redeemed their reputation by the
gallant ana effective lighting.
Col Hardin led the Illinoisans in very handsome
style and the sturdy suckers fought like lions Their
intrepid Colonel fell wounded and experienced the fate
Of Coils Mckee and Clay and killed by the enemy
not however before he had killed Of the cowardy
miscrcants with pistol which he fred whilst lying on
the ground.
Col Ych led the foremost man. charge of his mount
cd volunteers against large body Of lancers and
killed by lance, which entered his mouth and tore off
side of his face.
The Mississippans, the heroes of Monterey after
doing hard duty as skrmsher were ordered into line to
receive charge of cavalry which they did with their
rifles delivering at the same time most destructive
fire among the crowded columns Of cavalry. The enc
my were completely repulscd The distinguished com
mander OF this gallant regiment, Col Jefferson Davis.
was badly wounded an cscspeHe ball having entered his
foot and passed out Of his leg He however doing
McClung was prevented from doing his share of the
brave deeds Of this brilliant fight, by the grievous
wound received ut the battle of Monterey which still
confines him to his bed and from which IL is mucb
feared by his best friends he will never recover
Col Humphrey Mnrshalls splendid regiment of Ken
lucky cavalry were impatient for opportunity of
showing their metcand avengng the capture of their
brethren then in the hands of the enemy They were
preach Of force Of than 1000 ancers and hssar
who CALAMITY charged them. Tho Kentuckians stood
their ground with mmoyable stcadness, and receiving
the enemy with fire from their carbincs. charged in
the most gallant style through the column the right
and. wheeling. fell on their left dispensing and killing
great many Of them. like charge made by Col
May at the head of squadron of dragons and of
Arkansas cavalry against large body of the cnemys
cavalry. with like results.
During the engagement on the right Santa Anna
teonS that General Taylor force not well protected
on the left flank sent large force Of cavalry around
that point and outhanking Taylor succeeded in throw
ing 1000 men into his But General Taylor imme-
dinfey sent Capt Bragg with his artillery against this
force who succeeded in cutting them off from the main
ooay Lieut. Crittendcn despatched, with flag Of
truce TO demand the immediate surrender Of this force
me Mexican officer, pretending not to understand the
rnaracter OF his mission insisted that he should be
hndiodcd according to the rules of war and thus had
the Lieutenant carried into the camp of Santa Anna
himself This was ruse to get time cxtrcatc the
McMcan cavalry from their dangerous position, and,
pending this truce they all drawn of by different
road from that by which they had gained this position
Lieut. Crittcndcn was conducted blind-fodcd to the
tent OF tho hexican Gencral-in-chef which he found
long distance from the scene of action and which Inc
thouSn te safest place he had been in during the whole
d9y as nc approached Santa Anna's tent he greet
cd WITH n most tremendous flourish of trunpets which
might nave been heard mile off but produced very
Hrc. Terror IN the mind Of the kcntuckian His blind
was taken on aud he found himself the presence of
the famous Mexican Chief surrounded by u brilliant
stan OF oedizenencd gildcd and moustachcd officers
santa Anna apoogzed to the Lieutenant for the act of
his officers in having him bndfocd saying that so far