The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-10
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SAT- U RID AY, A PR IL 10, IS47
The Great Battle.

Inc Great BATTLE
The official intelligence from Gen Taylor,
published this week, goes to confirm, in many
purtc ulars, the accounts previously published.
severe and sanguinury battle has been
fou glt, and though the leader of each army
claims the victory the advantage was evident
ly gained by Gen. Taylor and his gallant
troops, The fact seems to be, that Taylor
stood we'll his ground, and Santa Anna fought
him so long as he thought it cxpcdient and
then retired voluntarily unpurgucd by our mr.
my, In hard fight rather an indecisive vic
tory was won by Gen. Taylor.
Though Santa Anna boosted, in his demand
to Gen. Taylor TO surrender, before the fight,
Of having 10000 men, accounts say, that Il
portion, and the best portion, probably, Of his
troops had not arrived in season to participate
in the fight, and that the actual number en-.
gagged under him was about $4,000, while
Taylor's force was a little less than $500
The Mcxicans fought we'll for Mexicans, bet
ter, beyond doubt, than they have in any pre-
vous engagement since the war commenced.
This is doubtless true, for they attacked Tay
onets, with the courage, it is said, of veteran
soldiers. The loss on our side, too, indicates Sc
we're and resolutc assaults from them. The
Mexican loss of officers is very great, in pro-
portion to that OF privatcs: also it is on our
side
Gen Taylor had the advantage taking his
own positions, and they were judiciously cho.
n
Anna would have opened upon him, under
the circumstances, with portion OF his best
troops absent, but for his starving condition,
He was, apparently, compelled to fight in or.
der to keep his army together. In letter,
written after the battle, he complains bitterly,
of the disadvantages of the ground, rendering
the service of his cavalry in manner useless.
Cunning as he is represented to be, he found
it a hard matter to outwt old CROUCH and
Ready"
Among the list Of officers killed and wound
ed, and ofthose belonging to Taylor's army,
wil be noticed the names oCseveral who are,
lnorc than some others, loss indeed to the
nation. Col. Clay, son of Henry Clay, Col,
Hardin, late wing member Of Congress from
Indiana, Captain Lincoln, acting as Adu-
tant, and son of En- Governor Lincoln of
Mass, Yell OF Arkansas, and several less
known TO fame-are among the fallen.
The victory has been dearly bought Hun
dreds have been called to mourn. Many have
been the tears of the widows and many the
cries of the fatherless-a long will sorrow
dwell with the bereft-the price ever paid for
victories won upon the battle ficld-I'In the
midst ofgeneral rejoicing over the brilliant
victory of Buena Vista, chieved by our gallant
little army, under the lead Of the nations IA
vorite, there are many that mour0. Such is
ever "the purple testament of war" Fame
blazons alike the names of those who survive,
and the memory of those who have fallen. 1t
is pleasant to contemplate the success Of our
arms; painful to stand at the grave ofthe fall
en- and youthful brave"
Lieut., Ferguson, named in the list of the
killed of the I'd Regiment of Illinois Volun-
tcers was native of Lyman, n. H., and has
relatives residing in Barnet. Capt. Wood
ward of the same Regiment, also killed, was,
we are informed, native of Norwich, this
State, and graduate of the military Acade-
my there.
Full and particular accounts of the late bat
tie, and other affairs pertaining to the war
will be found in our columns to day.
The reader will plainly infer from these ac-
counts that "Rough and Ready" is able to
take care ofhimself, and that Mr. Polk by with
drawing nearly all the regular troops from his
command and leaving him with an inadequate
force, has not been able yet to involve him in
nextricable difficulty sacrifice the man or
his military fame. But for this measure of
the administration in weakening Taylor's
command, Santa Anna would never, probably,
have ventured battle, and the many precious
lives sacrificed would have been saved Taylor
asked ofthe Government larger force than he
had .Sowith that amount he could have pursued
Santa Anna, if attacked by him, and destroyed
or taken his armv