The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-05-01

rear in great force. Al this moment
Iarrived upon the field. The Missis-
slppi regiment had been directed to
the left before reaching the position,
and Immediately came into action a.
gainst the Mexican infantry which
had turned our flank. The cd Ken.
lucky regiment and section of artil-
lery under Captain Bragg. had previ-
eusly been ordered from the right to
reinforce. our lett, and arrived at a
most opportune moment. That regi.
ment, and a portion of the lst Illinois.
under Col Hardin, gallanLy drove The
enemy, and recovered a portion Of the
ground we had lost. The batteries Of
Captains Sherman and Bragg were in
position on the platau, and did much
execution, not only in front, but partic-
ularly upon the masses which had gain
ed our rear. Discovering that the en-.
emy was heavily pressing upon the
Mississippi regiment, the Sd Indiana
regiment, under Col Lane, was de.
spatched to strengthen that part of our
line, which formed crotchet perpen.
dicular to the first line of battle. Ar
the same time Lieut.. Kilburn, with a
piece ofCapt. Bragg's battery, was di.
rected to support the infantry there en-.
gagged. The action was for long time
warmly sustained at that point--the
enemy making several efforts both
with infantry and cavalry against our
line, and being always repulsed with
heavy loss. had placed all the repu.
lar cavalry and Capt. Pixies squad rom
of horse under the orders of Brevet
Lieut.. Col. May, with directions to hold
in check the enemy's olumn, still ad.
vancing to The rear along the base of
the mountain, which was done in con.
junction with the Kentucky and Ar.
kansas cavalry under Coils. Marshall
and Yell. In the meantime our left.
which was still strongl y threatenedby
a. superior force, was furtherstrength-;
ened by the detachment of Captain,
Bragg's, and a portion of Capt. Sher.
mans batteries, to that quarter. The
concentration of the artillery fire upon
the masses ofthe enemy along the base
of the mountain, and the determined,
resistance offered by the two regiments
opposed to them, had created confi,-,
SION in their ranks, and some of the
corps attempted to effect a retreat up.,
IN their main line of battle. Hj,IsfW
The squadron Of the 1st dragons. un.
ler Lieut.. Rucker, was now orderedg
1P the deep ravine which these retreat.
ng corps were endeavoring to cross
q order to charge and disperse them. g
The squadroned proceed to the point
Indicated, but could not accomplish tho
'b]ect, being exposed to a heavy fire
rom battery established to cover the
etreat OF those corps. While tho
quadrOn was detached on this services.
large body of the enemy was observ.
d to concentrate on our extreme left.
pparently with the view Of making :
escent upon the hacienda of Buena
is!a, where our train and baggage
'ere deposited. Lieut.. Col. NAV wasas
rdered to the support of that point
nth two pieces of Capt. Shsrman's
artery underiLleut. Rey ynolds, In the
ean time the scattered forces near
le hacienda, composed in part of Ma.
RS Trail and Gorman's commando
Id been to some extent organized un.e
er the advice Of Major Munroe. chief =
artillery, with the assistance Of Mai "a
lorrison, volunteer staff, and WERE a
'sted to defend the position. Before
lr cavalry had reached the hacienda.
at OF the enemy had made its attack. ~
wing been handsomely met by the /
entucky and Arkansas cavalry under
OILS. Marshall and Yell. The Mexi-
IN column Immediately divided, one
'rtlon sweeping by the depot, where ii
received a destructive fire from the
rec which had collected there, and
the mountain opposite, un-
r a FIRE from Lieut.. Reynolds section,
remaining portionregaining the base
the mountain on our left. In the d
arge at Buena Vista, Col. Yell fen S
llanty at the head of his regiment: i
also lost Adjutant Vaughan, Of the -
entucky cavalry--a young officer Of -
lch promise. Lieut.. Col. May, who
d been reJoined ,by the squadron of
|. lst dragons and by portions Of the "a
kansas and Indiana troops under
cut. Colonel Roane and Major Cor. "
IN, now approached the base OF the 10
'untain, holding in check the right %
nk OF the enemy, upon whose mass-a
crowded in the narrow gorgss and s.s
zines, our artillery was doing fearful
scution. a@dl aB@ asGSs1i aeasa