Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-16
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
Narrative of the Battle of Buena Vista.
From the New Orleans Delta, March &c J

We had the pleasure Of an interview yestor-
day with Major Coffee, of the army, who brought
over General Taylor's dispatches This gal
liant oilicer-a son Of the distinguished General
who fought so bravely on the plains Of Chalmette,
and in other battles, by the side Of the illus rious
Jlckson-acted as aid of General Taylor in the
bloody fight of Buena Vista. We are greatly
indebted to him for many particulars of this hard
fought battle.
General Taylor had fallen in love, at first sight,
with the position at which he finally made his
stand-at Buena Vista. His movement towards
Aqua Nueva was merely a ruse to decoy the enc
my into the field which he had selected for his
battle-ground. AS soon as McCullochs men,
who were invaluable as scouts, informed him OF
Santa Anna approach TO Aqua Nueva. General
Taylor quietly broke up his camp, and fell back
to his first love-Buena Vista. This position
was admirably chosen. 1t was at the foot of II
mountain, or rather of two mountains, between
which ran the road through narrow valley. On
his right was deep ravne, which protected that
flank more effectually than half dozen regi-
ments could have done. The left OF General
Tayor's line rested on the base OF a mountain.
The road in the centre was entrenched and de-
Tended by strong battery In front the ground
was uneven-broken into hills and deep rayines
well pied to the mode of fighting suited to
our volunteers, and by its pecularities supplying
the disadvantage of great interiorty of num-
bers.
n, tLo o.. ,,o o,o,,,,. r,or, Jos,r;od
nroacbinr over the d;.tan, bills Al tbn;r m.
poarancn the volunteers raised =, oroat shont and
r., go tho ,rar,ondons cheers Irbo onr;noa-.
and ofI;ners u,ere seon f,,;na nver tho tiaid and
dr,nr;nr ,bor ,onnon about ,o oet tton into NO.
S;,iea IN, ,ha nat"ra IF tbe nr5,,nJ iii NO, "a.
,or ,ho rndartat;no os il wa lato in ,be dav bo.
Iore tho hi,t arns henan n omen
The enemy had With him 30 cannon. most.
~ of LARGO ca,Ehro Their fire though kent n,
vory hrislly and apnarentlv we'll manned did sn
l;t,Ia ovoc,or !, nnr r,nks that il was NOT con.
siderod necoss,ry 70 retnrn their fire Our cannon
uero tborof,re silent tho whole of the DIST =
XIX, or ,an kiIlad and sounded wore the ex.
tag, nr,ho caSnaI,ios sustained bv our orrnv nm
tho o1st Dnr;n,r Tho dov an oficor apnro,cbeJ
onr Inas With a. of inca and reones,ed ~
he sbown ~ Canersl T,vlor The hrava old
man ,u,s s;,,;rr ,u;o,Iy n, his old whi,e cbarcor
with his len ovar ,ha no;nmel ofthe saddle watch.
ino ,bo ne,oroonts pfthn onomy vhen,he Nov
,c,n Officer was nrese,ted In y very courteous
nd wa pnor tho of,;.or s,o,cd thar .he
h,J SSaan .o,, b., H.. rwnaIonc,, Con- Sar,a An
~, 10 h;s Ev.oIIancv 20, T.vIor IN inonira
in Tho ,nos, rosnao,sIi noar,or what ho IGan
~, ~ u.s.. 10, ,ho ;lonco ~
CO. ur,,, ha.,as;as and tho on;o, ,n,,rar in
,rhicb ho rooa;uod San,a Anr.,s terr;t;r cannon.
,J;nn tho Nov;car s',n,osod be was oskna !,
1913 ,"' bo,,oar old Ponah
pnd poat,f r.rr nar,;ner, ronIv that ..ba
nu 80! 80 ."c p San,a .nno ~ srr.
renJor y Tha Moy;c,n returned bas,iIv 70 his
, ,r,.: Nv '..,,oI 80 10 49, ~
" aN,s ms pp, nos;,;on nos
tor ,ha m''u,o f mo Mcy;r,p ocor 70 hi. own
~. he 'o'u' h 10 Mov;can h,,ories seemed r.
"nan ,e Gon Taviors nos;on and tha halls
Gpty o "P and ahouf him Ike hail Utterly in.
n osei anu "ooui '',' tioro
,h II " cue Pv III; bite borse
$500 liz en-, o,ss at tho Iona line NJ
TS '',.o"s" tho, p ouTi h, soon a, gr,a,
1870" ..' ,hn .,t W. narsnasio, ~ HE
u;I'anoe I'i ''G n' bangon bis taynr-
;,a .oa'H .Ot nor 70 Gve nm bs old
rI po'he ~, r. ,h nu of h s,aIYtba,
Tl.e Ho'se I,ie cha
Gu w., Mn',t I5 nJ ie ba r.neJ ,bat the od
GI I ,,,v UJ ;HSnd the fr At Morterev on ac