Washington telegraph., 1847-04-21

1
ness we are indebted for copy;
cAMr MAR SALrILIo, MEMco,
February 25, lsi1. \
Beaf SRI take the earliest opportunity to
inform you, and through you our friends gcner.
ally, OF some OF the most glorious irumphs ever
obtained by American arms. Gen. santa Anna,
nj the head of 10000 Of his choicest troops aided
by the hest generals OF the country, according 10
his own statement, has been whipped and driven
from the field by Gen, Taylor, with command
of less than 1000. Although il is rumorcd that
he may renew the attack, yet we have no doubt
of his entire defeat-he having retired the night
alIar the battle solue ten miles Distant and Is
doubtless NOW on the highway TO San Luis Potosi,
Sir, have not means 10 express the qualification
nj the result, the battle being Warmly contested
from the beginning, aud you will see from the
various reports officially made that il was one of
the hardest fought on record But to the fight,
We were warned OF his approach by our piqueis,
aud took favorable position at this place on the
alsi. The enemy enennpcd within about mile
OF rs on tho morning Of the 22d, and the two
Armies were drawn up IN battle array on that ever
memorabe day-,he birthday OF Washington
itself enough to inidse new vgor in the breast Of
every American Santa Anna sont white flag
stating thai he had 10000 troops aud that he
Understood Gen, Taylor had only about 5000, but
II he would surrender he would treat our forces as
Z pfisaRefs Of irif Gracious conloscenson, In.
deed, as the result proved. Gen Taylor replied
fihai il he wanted Us he might ADVANCE. Accord
iugly the two armies gradually approached, but
there was only sonie iiung upon our loii Hank
during the evening, and Few pieces Of artillery
fired by the enemy without effect; during which
timr they made their way up the mountains TO a
YeTg considerable height one rive regiments Of
inlantfy being met by some ol oug troops among
thsm 9ur rifle companies, commanded by Lieut..
Gol Roane, both retaining their positions during
the night Early the next morning both armies
were IA the field and Ia active motion, and IN a
ahnft while, can assure you, Ihe battle ragged
! ilfously Artillery, cavalry and Infantry were
/ all brought TO bear in every way that experienced
generals could devise, aud 50 fearful was the odds
/ against rs in numbers, that tho most uonidoni
wefe made to doubt ia the former part oi the
a.iion
In the short space Of letter you could moi
f expect me to give YOU the details Of battle des.
tined 10 form a conspicuous appearance in the
passs Of our history knowing that you feel
nofa particularly Interested, II possible, In our
] rselnsHt, will say something more especially as
f 10 the part II sustained -Four Of the companies
being rife companies, acted as sknnshers aud
were eatly engaged Ia the ir0n, Of the battle.
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Roane. -Four other
companies commanded by Col, Yell, acted at the
commencement, on the len lank, and in support
Of enc ot the baiieres was soon exposed to heavy
iifu Of infantry well a. the range Of tho encmy's
haiieaes As their Infantry fna adc their way over
lhe mountains, which covered our lea lank, ge
changed onf position, 20 meet them as eifcum.
stances dictated, their cavalry gradually advancing
On aaf leIt. supported By hravy bodies Of iafiuiy.
In the meantime heavy iirc wa. kow up by the
aflillafy On both sides, well as the various
frglaeais Of iaianiIy, Col MlrsAall, with part
ai a regiment q keulaoky cavalry, was acting
IN eanesd with ouF four companies, Lieut. Col,
kaane having also joined our cavalry, as the rifle
companies wefs detached from place to place
continuing IA lhg heat Of The coale't by chang.
M our plslan, We managed TO draw OF body
ol s1mh fifteen hundred cavalry from the support
Of then Infantry. Ours, including Matshall's was
not mafa lhan three hundred at that time, bu, We
gave them shaTge, aud sen, them back 10 great
dsinaY, tie iilal 81 eli that had been made by The
enemy dnung The day, Their cayA.y .ll hover.
ed Around tho infinlTy, which we d.l nol attack,
or oSn Infantry being elfcwhrfc engaged, aud
W. stt continued changing our posili0n until they
concluded to give " a Charge - we drew up IN
line ol battle uny about three hundred strong, Col
Yell commanding ihr lsil, Col Marshall the night
Wig, oa they came, with slbTcs aud ances,
nnd shcn ia good distance were me, with hearty
reception from oar raihinrs, Soon, however thcFr
was a general mclcc, aud there was cutting aud
slasl,iag on III sdesi The charge beng well met,
the fasaaIa were sooa routed inl urui curling 4
over he mountains, not again to BE- seen on he
field Of battle. Several regiments Of their nian-
toy, having Lost the support Of i, began to retire,
" ich bf1ush, about ah advance Of ouT rnuFe
column upol the enemy, aud after bot aud
uccalni hfr Of all corps iofflui. time longer, the
enemy were compelled 10 retire from the field
Mdh such Igfee % contend with who, Il i
admitted BY hll, fought yahuutiy, Il e. ud not b.
cap ciud that a ,lolVy slioud be h0OIlrss We,
however, were especially unfortunate ~ losing
Col Yen, who was killed hard fighting and cheer.
ing hn men In the charge On nll occasions he
siiowrd the hiEhna, drgrcc uf yalof, and was ever
found IN the thlckgH ol the dlti encouraging hs
m-u 60 Their duly, aud 10 prove thcmlrlyta worthy
Of ihslf eouu,y. Capt. Porter commanding the
company from Independence, alfa irl fighting,
leading HE mrn On in tho charge Their los s
/ truly 10 be regretted, as well a. many oihcn the
victory cost u.s. Those from our regiment were,
/ bcsulra Col, Yell and Capt poHtr-liiehar VI.
Y sandsu, William Phpps lInffson pcntor Green
/ n Higgins, members ol Capt rorirr's comppny-
I killed. Andfcw league and George Norwood,
. Of Cspt Ia, lof's company George W. Martin
/ aud Wilson rombpril, ol Capt ". &, Prcslon's
compiuy John u Pelham anl Tlos g. Row.
land, Capt. Danlcyf company DAVID Hogan
and Pleasant William, Of Capt paincks CON.
pany. Darwin Stewart and Hammond Wynn, Of
Capt Dllafd's company, aud Jacob Ray aud
William Robinson, OF Capt lnglShH company,
Thcre wrtc sho woundyd--ldcut Thomas 4.
Header, George \. Latham. Moses Kelly. Benz
I. Nicholson, u o bog William u. Lcafey,
Joseph Pcnief, Claibom Taylor Lloyd MeGuder,
A. T. Hamilton, VI =. Poplm, Juincs T. Alien,
Moses Graham, David Logan, Alfred G, Hairs,
Jackson Nilmouih, Franklin W. Brown, oaore
Jonci Elias McCool, Jacob Williams, l.. u. Beck.
With, Jacob Ray, L. 4. Tufouski, William Turner,
JUhn Bluistf, William G,b'on, Ralph Arnold,
John l.5uallrn, John W. Adams, Bsnjpmin =
Ross aud Joshua Dnnlcy-niany Of them but
slightly wounded There are also The following
mtssiug--llayetie Little Joseph Greer aud Mer.
tdlth Parker Making from the Arkansas rcgi-
ment " Killed, 2 wounded and missing The
L.. uf gHfF Il a