The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-04
THE BATTLE OF BUENA vIsrA-INCIDRNrs
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sion Of the public respecting the battle of Busna Vista
serves to sneance the glory Of that sangunary action
Az more 10 known OF ii more 10 thought Of It, Az
achievement arms stands prominent amongst
OF chivalry as an illustration Of military skill 1t places
the gallant commander Of the American forces amongst
the great captains known We have listened to
the recital Of the incidents which occurred during the
two days fighting without knowing which most to APP
paud the courage and constancy Of the soldiers the
professional wisdom Of Gen Taylor What "A change has
been wrought in the public mind within the last few
days The best that was hoped Of the little army In
Coahuila was that had cut its way Monterey where
1t might rest in comparative security But instead Of
pursuing this course, General Taylor awaited the
approach Of Santa Anna and overwhelmed vast army
with unparalleled slaughter Not inch of territory
has by the enemy and now there are none
10 oppose tue progress OF in the direction Of San
Luis Potosi
Az have before stated the fighting on the 22d of
Februaryan unfortunate day upon which to attack an
American army-was confined principally to
nonading and diminishing with light troops Tho bloody
business was done on the 23d which opened by an
attack from side under the direction Of Gen Wool
numbers but was supported by Gen Taylor, who
brought forward the and decided the day by
resistiess change What ia here said in words re-
CURED DAY To consunmate and recital Of the Incl
dents and man@uvres which ended triumphantly
would demand many columns for space An eye witness
one who was near General Tayors person all the time
with the exception of those intervals during which
was carrying his orders the hednforms that
not man. with the exception above noticed of the
American lines wavcrcd for instant whilst facing the
most CALLING fire and receiving the repeated charges of
the enemy, which 1t il but candor to say,
Quoted with spirit and address
As an instance of the desperation with which both
armies fought Mr. Crittenden. who acted Cen Tay-
or aid throughout the fight when asked whether the
Mcxcnns had taken three pieces of ordnance from us,
IA Santa Anna reported replied In the affirmative and
sad that the guns were not given up till every man at
them was shot down and every horse killed them
and, moreover that In bearing them Off the Mexcans
suffered a loss of some six hundred men They inter
fered mady between the retreatng guns and our men
seeking to regain them. These guns were n part of
Capt Washlngtons battery under the command of
Lieut. O'Brien Lieut. OBI was wounded before his
md ,yhe rtiporh hi, IL
Gen Taylor was complimented for his bravery-t was
no faut Of his Capt Washington in another part
OF the Held and sustained himself with great GOODNESS
and intelligence, a. did Capts Bragg and sherman,
with their respective bsteres-n all but fourteen guns
1t may be here proper to explain the circumstances
upon which report was founded that Gen. Taylor had
sent santa Ann o. flag of truce during the action 1t
occurred tina body of Mexican infantry about thou
sand strong bad become detached from Santa Annals
army and were being moved down with terrible slaugh-
Ter Gen Taylor sent Mr. Crittendenlwith flag say
to them that if they would surrender he would stop
Nlhng them. When Mr. Crittenden got amongst them
nc was taken by them to Santa Anna with his eyes blind
I35ded This he demonstrated against without effect
mission lie told him he had message for him; that
was sent to ask detached force to surrender to
1 he demanded to be sent back to his general 1t
''n nat santa Anna requested him to tell Gen Tay
.l II he would surrender he would be protected
ana Won cared for Mr. Crittenden replied that he had
no commission to speak with him Santa Anna) upon
that or any other matter but it send any
such message as Gen Taylor never surrendered
Domingo Martinez an old, intelligent and wealthy
citizen Of Natamoras reached here Saturday evening
last from the Mexican encampmcnt in the neighbor-
hood OF Cerravo e Is plunged into the most profound
grief in consequence of the loss of his pro-
missing youth, the pride Of the town among his own
people, and very popular with the American portion of
the population He rejects all consolation, and in tho
present distracted state of his mind can give no distinct
detailed account OF what took place ut the attack
Ccrralvo-but his statement, far II goes may be
relied on correct
Martinez, on the 9Th Of the present month, placed
companies of Ohio Volunteers, who were detailed to
escort train Of one hundred and ten wagons to Ca
MARCO On the sth, when within leagues march Of
Cerravo they were attacked by large body Of Mexican
cavalry, commanded by Gen. Urea, with Romero and
Ponce de Leon. Martinez and his were in a close
bodied carriage and the old gentleman can tell but
little about the fight only that the Mexicans
on As they sat in the carriage, his pierced
through the body by u lance. and himself slightly
wounded, dragged away prisoner. He pleaded hard
for his ercprescntcd his perfect neutrality from the
breaking out Of the war and finally saved through
on former occasions. He was told that he might
turn to Matamoras but, as he had been found in
companions again, he might chaunt his Ave They
then took from him one hundred doubloons, having
previously robbed his carriage Of nine thousand
In exchange few old rags and returning him a
single doubloon-and guarded him a long way from
the spot, cautoning him not to attempt return to
the wagon train These precautions were adopted to
prevent his carrying any intelligence OF their real
strength to forces So great their this
power OF observation that had he returned he could
have reported nothing Martinez from the retired and
unexceptioDabe manner in which he lived among us,
was thought to be inimca to cause and as furnish
ing information to the Mexican generals His msfor-
tunes have awakened the sympathies of many very
oellent citizens.
When 1t was thought Mexican army was approach
ing Matamoras and little gunpowdcr would have to be
burned in its defence. great many tmid men with
whole army of retreaed to the ranches twenty
or thirty miles south of this The men poor fellows
afraid to risk their lives and property 80 near the
When hpfrh lpo,iy
dear creatures thought bolts and bars paps and
mas could not shield their lovely persons from insult
Precisely what they apprehcnded by remaining here
befaen them at the ranches. Bands OF maraudng
Mexicans, who live by plumber have combined and
From AN undoubed source learn that robbery muir
der and violence to females have been day
FENCES for the last week One wayaid and shot
couple OF hundred yards from rancho for the small
sum OF five dollars IL is to be regretted that the
sve caution Of these deuded creatures should bring
uo %h. upon them the evils they so much dreaded
this place for few days, left here sunday morning
Iher orders instruct them to proceed directly to Mon
tcrey.
The regiment originally numbered $50 present
strength, $50 dead 1885; discharged, IS. or the 800
all eager for the Fray
Speaking of the Mlssissippans, Matamoras CORES
pendent says -
Matamoras has settled down into quiet again All
apprehension Of attack from the Mcxcans has died
away During the excitement nearly the entire Mexican
population removed, and still remain away The Mis-
sssippians a wild set Of bhoys and would frighen.
people with stouter hearts than the Mexicans Their
first appearance in the Plaza struck terror to every
Mexican heart. Their drill IL peculiar to themselves
and In performing their evolutions they thrown into
all sorts of pastures and attitudes throwing themselves
on their backs, crawling their bellies, and lodging
and cavorting about in manner perfectly original Az
to their lighting there can be doubt but that they
would run tilt against the devil backed by whole lc
gion of his mps
Three companies Of the Virginia regiment reached
hero on Sunday evening the l4th nstant-two compa-
MES passed up the river some five days agothc ba
lance are yet Mt One of the companies in Matamo
ras, Is commanded by Capt Alburtis printer Of
the eutenants Is printer, the orderly sergeant Is
printer and IL Of the prvatcs Mcxcans look out for
these boys The dagger and the shooting stick have
been their paythings almost from infancy and their
balls always make impression to the tune of Yankee
Doodle
[Capt =. q. Alburts mentioned In the above para
graph was for number Of years resident of this city,
and Is brother to the late Capt VIM Alburtis I'd in
fantry, U. $. A., killed in the attack on Vera Cruz
Six companies Of the Massachusetts, regiment we arc
informed, were landed at the Brazos on Monday.
. The traitor Riley who deserted ut Fort Brown for
the Mexican service in April last and pointed the first
cannon that was fired, perceive by extract from