Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-22
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
General Tavior's detailed report OF the
Battle OF Buens Vistn.
AIRS, Amy Oh oocurArioN,

al the
iesn army ana the re.oeeupsuon OF this position.
The niormauon which reached me of the advance and
concentration OF heavy Mexican force in my front, had
assumed such probable FORM to induce special
inaton Tar beyond the reach of our IN N.
correctness small party OF Texan Spies under Major
eIuoeh despatched 10 the Hacienda ot Encarnacion
80 miles from this, tho route 10 San Luis Poo. had
reported cavalry force Of unknown strength At that pace
On inc yum ol February strong under
Col Mag was despatched to the Hacienda of u,elond,
"h'o hSlor MeCulloch made another examination OF En-
eaFnaeion The results ct these expeditions left no doubt
ha 'ne enemy was in large force Eucarnacion under
the orders ct Gen santa Anna aud that he cdiaed for
ward movement and attack upon our position.
As the Camp Aqua Nucva could be turned on either
N' au 's 'ne ehemys force was greatly superior
""n particularly IN the arm of cavalry, determined after
much consideration take up position about eleven
miles m rcar and there the attack The army broke
up Us camp and marched At the 2lst. eneampng
at the now position lc front OF the Hacienda Of
Vista. With n small force proceed to Salulo to make
some necessary arrangements for the defence of the town
leaving Brig Ten Wool in the immediate command OF the
troops.
Before those were completed on the morn
ing o the 2Sd was advised that enemy WIS IN sight
advancing Upon reaching the ground Il was found that
hls cavalry advance 'front.' having marched from
Encarnaciun have since learned AT n o'clock ON
,he DAY Previous and driving IN mounted force LETT Aqua
NueVato cover the removal ct public stores Our ruops
were m position occupying line OF remarkable strength
lie toad At this point becomes dchlc, the valley
On IT. night being rendered quite Tor artillery
by system oi deep and impossible sules while ON the
let succession ol rugged ridges and PERCEPTIONS tavnes
tends TAT back towards the which bounds val
paIaEe the artillery and cavalry at the enemy while his
infantry could not derive all thc advantage its nun.t-
cal superiority In this position prepared receive
him. Capt Wnshngton's battery ih artlcryl was post.
ed 10 command the road, while the ls and 2d Illinois re-
gmcnis under Colonies Hardin and Bsscl each eight COM
pancs. Ito the latter which attached Cant Conner.
company ct Texas voiunocrs aud the ID Kentucky un-
der Col Mckee, occupied the the ridges ON the
lett and in The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments
OF cavalry, commanded by Coils ell aud III Marshall oc-
euped the extreme left near the base OF the mountain
while the Indiana brigade, under Brgadier General Lane
composed OF the % and I'd regiments under Co.'s Bowe
anu Lane the Mississippi themcn under Col DAVIS, the
squadrons OF the ls and ID dragons under Can't Scen
aud Lieut. col May, and the light batteries OF Caps
sherman and Bragg 81 artillery, held reserve -
At III o'clock received from General Santa Anna sum-
mons 10 surrender discretion, which, with a copy Of
nv reply, have already transmitted The enemy still
iorbore hrs attack, evidently waiting for the arrival Of
ms rear Columns which could be distinctly by our
look-outs they approached the field A demonstration
made on his left caused dotach the ID Kentucky
regiment and section of artillery our righ, IN which
position they bvouacked for the night In the mean time
the Mexican light troops had engaged on the extreme
lett, Composed OF parts OF the kentucky and Arkansas
cavalry tsmountcd, aud rifle battalion from the Ind ana
brigade under Major German, the whole commanded BY
Col Ma'shal) aud kept up a sharp iire, climbing the
mountain side, and apparently endeavoring TO gain our
flank. Three pieces OF Capt Washugon's battery had
been detached the left and were supported nv the 81
Ind ana regimen. An occasional she'll was thrown bv
the enemy into this part OF lne but without effect
The sktmishng OF the light troops kept up with lin
loss until dark, when became COW need that
no serious attack would be made before the morning and
reinrsed with the Mississippi regiment and squadron OF
"a Dragons 10 Salullc. The troops bivouacked without
hres and laid upon their body OF cavalry some
5uO strong had been visible all day of the town.
having entered the valley through narrow pass OF the
city. This cavalry, commanded by Cen Minop had ev,
DENLY been thrown to break IN and batr,ss
our retreat and perhaps make some attcmpt AGAINST bo
town practicable The CITY occupied by four excel
lent companies OF Illinois volunteers under Major Warren
oi the let regiment. a ield-wOrk, which commanded
most OF the approaches, garri,oned by Capt Web
'ers company list artillery and armed with two 2i-popnd
ne nd haar.r
cd by two companies Mississippi rdemcn under Cant
Rogers, and a he!d-Plece commanded by Capt Shower
81 artillery Having inside dispositions for the po-
lechon OF the rear proceeded the morning the 23d 10
Buena VISTA ordering forward all the other available ops
The action had commenced before my arrival on the field
During the evening and night Ut the 22d the enemy had
thrown body OF light troops the mountain side with
the purpose Of cuitanhng left aud here that the
acton OF the I'd commenced al early hour. Our rifle
men under Colonel Marshall who had been reinforced bv
three companies under MAJOR Trail ID Illinois volunteers
maintained their ground handsomely against greatly sr
ptror force, holding themselves under cover and using
tneif weapons with deadly effect About o'clock strong
demonstration was mace against the our position
heavy column moving along the road. This force was
soun dispersed by few rapid aud wrdrected shots from
Captain W1shngton's battery. In meantime the enc
my was concentrating large force OF infantry and cavalry
under cover of the ridges, with the obvious intention Of
ofcng our lei, which posted extensive plateau
The % Indiana aud % Illinois regiments formed this part
ui our line, the former covering three pieces light aTt.
ery under the orders Ol Captain OBen-lirigad.r lie;
neral Lane being ~ the mined command. In order TO
pIhs MS men "liuu elective General Lane
81 the artillery aud 2d Indiana forward The ar
uoy advanced within musket range OF heavy body Of
h"Ncan infantry, and was served against with great ef
cc but without being able 10 check IL advance The IN
being exposed, we'll the battery not only 10 syere
IRE o. small arms from the front, but also murlerous
cro-re grape and canister from Mexlc an battery an
the left Captain o'Bren found 1t impossible 70 retain his
position without support bu only To Withdraw two
m his pieces all the horses and cannoneers Of the third piece
being Killed oroisabled. The % Indiana regiment which
mai fallen back stated. CuuId he lied
further part the action. except handful OF men yh,
Hader rs gallant Cpoue BOws, Joined the Mississippi re-
gimout aud do good service and those ugyes who At
later period IN the day, assisted n defending the train and
depot az Buena Vista THIS portion o our line having civ
en gay, ond the enemy appearing n overwhelming force
against et Hank the light tro,Us which had rendered
such good the mountain were CONNIE. ed ta with
draw, which they did, for the most part m GOOD order
Many, however, H1t rallied until they reached the de,
pot al buenl VISTA TO the defence OF which they afterwards
contributed
Co,onc B-cl- regiment ~ Ilinoisl VIII ic had been
I'nsd oy section Of Capt Shemln- battery, h,d become
completely oulanked. and was compelled 10 fall back
being entirely unsupported The enemy now pouring
masses al Infantry aud cavalry along the base the noun
leii, aud gaining fe1r 10 great force Az
'l' moment arrived upon the field. The Mississippi
regiment had been directed a. the VET, bsOrc reaching the
position, and Immediately into action against the
Mexican infantry which had turned flank. The , |
Kentucky regiment and section OF artillery under Can't
Bragg, had previously been ordered from the right 10 rein
orc- our left, aud arrived opporune mJmcnt-
That fcgment, and portion of the st Illinois under Col
tlhflIn' gai1uty urrVc aud
u NE ground We had issi. The batteries Captains
sHern1n and Bragg were position the plateau aud |
dd much execution only 'front.' but particularly upon
me mnssss which had gained our rear Discovering |
hn The enemy was heavily pro.sng upon the Mlrsi..pp
regiment the third Indiana regiment under Col Lane was
deBpa cUcd O. strengthen Iat part of line which Termed
CROCHET perpendicular the hst line Ot battle At the
same time Lieut. kbuTn, with piece o Capt Bragrs bat
tefy was directed 10 supper! tie iui1Hy ho,s ongagcd
The action long warmly sustained Al that
point-he enemy making several efforts both with nlan-
10y and cavalry against our line, and being always repuod
~h htay loss had placed all the regular cavalry nnd
Capt fko squadron Of Arksnsae horse under the orders
ci Bfeyci Lieut. Col May, with directions 10 hold In check
he cncmy column, sI advancing the rear along the
base Oi Doe mountain, which done in conjunction
with the Kentucky and Ars1n'as cavalry under Colonies
Mlrshai aud Yell Ia the meantime loit which was
su strongly threatened by superior force was further
strengthened by tho detachment OF Captain Bragg's and
portion Of Cap; Shormans batteries that quarter The
concentration Of artillery ire UPON the Of the enc.
my along The base Of the mOUutiu, and the determined
fes4iauce sh3rcd by ;hc two regiments opposed rn
had created confusion their rlnk and some of fle