Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28

vant Il. TAYLOR,
Mai. Gen. u. S. A. Commanding.
The AD,urANr GENERAL OF the Army,
- Washington, D. C.
HEADQUARTERS Army or OCCUPATION,
Camp near Monterey, April II. lS47
Sir: respectfully transmit herewith the MI
nor reports Of The battle Of Buena Vista, with &C.
comnauying documents, and those Of the affairs
with Gen. Urrea's cavalry on The road hence 10
Camareo-all for file 10 your office.
also transmit, 10 several packages, The pro-
csed;nes of n court of inquiry called al Aqua
Nueva, March 4h, al The request OF Captain "
Rr;eu Assistant Quar,ermaster, and The proceed
inc. Of three general courts martial; OF which
Mai. (pow Bfeye. Lieut. Col.) Craig, ordnance
department Col. Roane. Arkansas cavalry, and
Lieut.. COL Weller, Isl Ohio regiment, were pre-
sidenls respectively.
am sir, very respectfully, your ob 3D. o ,s,v''
Mai. Gen. u. S. A. Commanding.
The ApJurANT GENERAL oflhe Army,
Washington, DC.
ps,pou.erERs CAMP TAYLOR, AQUA NuEvA,
20 miles South of Sallillo, Mexico,
March 4lh, l847. }
Major Agreeably 10 the orders from the COM
manding general, have The honor 10 report that,
on The 2lsl ult., the troops al Aqua Nueva broke
up their encampmeni, and, preceded by the sup
piy and baggage train, marched tor Bnena vista
and Sallillo, except Col. Yelps regiment OF Ar
kansas volunteers, which remained to look out
ior The enemy, reported 10 be advancing on Aqua
Nueva in great force, and to guard some public
stores LETT at the hacienda until transportation
could be obtained to carry them 10 Buena VISTA
On the arrival Of The commanding genera al
Encanlada, he directed that Colonel Mchees re-
eiment, 2l Kentucky volunteers, and section
Il Captain Washington's battery. be Kept al mat
place TO give support 10 Colonel Yell, IN case ne
should be driven in by the enemy. Between En-
can,ada and Buena Vista, called the pass, Colo
mel Hardin's regiment, first Illinois volunteers
was s,auoned. The rest of my command en-
camped near the hacienda of Buena Vista. The
major general commanding, accompanied by
Lieutenant Colonel Mays squadron, I'D dra-
eoons.) Captain Sherman's and BragsS batteries,
I'D artillery, and the Mississippi regiment, COM
manded by Colonel Davis, proceeded 10 Saltilloio
provide against the attack meditated by General
hiinon, with cavalry force reported TO be 5000
strong. As many wagons as could be obtained
were ordered to return forthwith 10 Aqua Nueva,
and bring of what remained OF the stores al that
place.
In the course of The evening, agreeably to the
instructions OF the commanding general, trans
mi!ted from Satillo, Colonel Marshal, with his
regiment and the first dragons, were ordered TO
Aqua Nueva, TO reinforce Colonel Yell, VINO was
directed, in case he should be attacked, 10 destroy
everything at that place he could not bring on
and 10 retire before IL o'clock, P. M. Colonel
Mckee, al Encantada, with The section OF arlllle-
~, was directed to join Coone! Yell on his re-
treat. and the whole TO fall back TO Buena Vista,
should the enemy pursue them TO that place. BE-
fore leaving Aqua Nueva, Colonel Yell's pckets
were driven in by the advanced parties OF the
Mexicans He then retired with the reinforce
men,s, under the command of Colonel Marshall,
alter destroying small quantity Of corn yet re-
naming The hacienda, and leaving few wa
CONS which had been precipialely abandoned by
their tramsters.
An the advanced parties came into Buena
Vista, except Col. Hardin's regiment before day.
light on the morning OF The I'D.
AIS o'clock, a. M, on The I'D, received no.
tice that the Mexican army was at Aqua Nueva,
and ordered a section OF Capt Washington's aril-
lery to move forward and join Col Hardin
Shortly afterwards | repaired 10 that position
where it had been determined 10 give battle to
the enemy. During The previous night, agree
ably TO NV orders, Col. Hardin's regiment had
thrown no a parapet on the height, on the left OF
The road, and had dug small ditch, and made
parapet extending from the road around the edge
Of The gully, on the right OF the road. They were
then directed to dig ditch and make paraPe'
across the road for The protection OF Capt. WASH.
inglon's artillery, leaving narrow passage mex
10 the hill, which was To be closed up by running
into it TWO wagons loaded with stone.
About o'clock our pickets, stationed at The
Encanlado, 81 miles distant, discovered Inc enc
INV advancing. Word was Immediately des-
PATCHED 10 The commanding general al Sallilo;
and ordered the troops at Buena Vista iorlh-
with 10 be brought forward.
Captain Washinglon's battery was posted
across the road, projected on its left by com
handing eminence, and on its right by deep gull
lies. The ID Kentucky infantry, commanded by
Col. Mckee. was stationed on hill Immediately
in rear of Washingion's battery. The six COM
panies OF Isl Illinois regiment commanded by
Col. Hardin, took post on the eminence on Inc
left, and TWO companies, under Lieut. Col. Wea-
iheiiord, occupied The breas,work on the right OF
Washington's battery. The 81 Illinois regiment
was stationed on the left OF the Kentucky regi-
ment The Indiana brigade, commanded by Brig.
Gen. Lane, was posted on ridge Immediately In
rear Of the from. line, and Capt Stems squadron
in reserve, in rear Of The Indiana brigade. The
Kentucky regiment OF cavalry, under The COM
mand Of Col. Marshall, and the Arkansas regi-
$50 a"uSi uhc Sullliiduu OOl Acti, WCiS S'as'~aA-
ea 10 The le OF The second line towards The noun.
1ains. Shortly afterwards the rife companies oil
these Two regiments we're dismounted, and, with
Toe cavalry companies Of The Kentucky regiment,
ana battalion Of riaemen from the Indiana bril-
gaze, under Maj. German, under the command
Of Col. Marshall, were ordered TO take post on the
extreme LETT, and at the foot Of the mountains.
These dispositions were approved by the ma.
rgenera commanding, who had now returned
from Salo, bringing with him Lieut.. Col Mays
squadron Of the ID dragons, Capt. Shermans
and Bragg's batteries Of artillery, and the Mis-
sHsippi regiment of riacmen.
The enemy had halted just beyond cannon
sh, and displayed his forces on either side of The
Toad, and commenced pushing his light infantry
in'o The mountains on our left. Atthe same lime,
Indications OF an attempt on our right induced
The commanding general to order the I'd Ken
lucky infantry and Capt. Bragg's battery, with
detachment Of mounted men, 10 lake post on the
Tight Of The gullies, and at some distance in ad-
Vance Of Capt. Washngtons battery, in The centre
Capt. Sherman's battery was held 10 reserve in
rear OF the second line. re,rs
The enemy was now seen pushing his Infantry
gu his RICH, towards the heights, showing evident
an intention 10 turn our left in order 70 get pos
session Of the key 10 our positon-the eminence
Immediately ON the left Of Washington's artillery
and thus open free passage TO Sal,illo.
Col. Marshall with his regiment, the Arkan-
,as rlfemen, under Lieut.. Col. Roane, and the
indiana rife battalion, under major German
was charged with meeting This party, and check
'aS their movement on our lett. Brigadier &c.