The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-25

was posted the ID Indiana regiment and upon their left
the Mississippi riiielnen and ARTILLERY.
As as the enemys cavalry backed by large masses
OF infantry came in view, it was perceived that they de
signed charging MS successive squadrons, and that the
head of their column directed obiquely upon the
right of our line Immediately directed Captains Gibson
and Conover throw their companies sufficiently back
from the line present their front directly the charge
which Immediately done thus giving those TWO com
panies direct while the of the line had obique
IRE upon the approaching column. The enemy came
down upon an easy gaop and in admirable order,
and were permitted to approach within about thirty PAGES
Of the front OF the companies thus thrown back before
gun fired Our fire was then delivered and the en-
enys column Immediately broke and He'd IN the utmos'
confusion and we're closely pursued by our whole orce
In relation to the same subject Capt Gibson, of the Sd
Indiana regiment, gives the following description;
There about $500 infantry and 900 hncers the
Mississppians left. In this position we ex
changed twenyonc rounds OF cartridges dong fearful ex
the same time more injury from grupe-sho fired at Us
from a Mexican battery, than from their musketry See
ing the enemy cavalry filing out from their rear to charge
ns, and being in II bad position receive cavalry, Col
Lane ordered retire by the right flank and we fell
edge of the ravine immediately left part OF
the I'd Indiana regiment, and the LETT of that the Mis-
Our regiment having into position by the right flank
left rank next the enemy and having Time TO
company on the extreme right. The lancers in
position, advancing; behind them came the whole body
of Mexican infantry in column OF baalions. The
charge was directed obliquely upon ne and pointed
extreme right. Seeing this, Col Lane directed me
square front to their advance This was done when they
We're within about one hundred yards of our lines On
breadth OF their column just covering my company Every
sound was hashed along The line except the low tones OF the
given. At length Col LIZ voice was beard, Ready so still
every thing that you could hear the clicking of the gun
locks from end OF the line the other Right, obque
aim, and down came every musket moment OF terrible
within thirty yards OF our me aud looking into the very
muzzles muskets, still singing, their bright lanceS
poised above their heads and the leading squadron already
rising in their stirrups onslaught When the head
the charging column within thirty feet OF the line the
order was given to fire and so hastily followed the
nei's voice mingled with the roll OF the musketry
Down they went and horse toSeher-thc head OF the
column disappeared rs if by magic The whole line ex-
tending back alpios out OF the range of muskey We're
thrown into confuson-sone receding, some advancing
Brave might be squirting their unwilling horses
the dead and dying where they lay in struggling
es and vanity endeavorng get the column in
motion. Almost fire had died away the left, and
before had believed possible for reload, It com
meneed gain right scattering first like the first
drops of thunder shower and then bursting like the thun
der bolt itself upon the devoted column Human nature
could stand longer and they broke up the ravne
full speed, followed by shouting and firing at them
long they remained in musket range 50 soon as the
ancers epused the infantry that moving TO the
attack their fell back to their former position. This
repue TUNED the tide of battle and settled the fortunes OF
the day in our favor"
General Taylor, in his report, page 100 and l6l OF
your book) is made say, sOur infantry illinois and
I'd Kentucky had engaged greatly superior force OF the
enemy, evidently his reserve and that they had been
overwhelmed by numbers. Iae moment lcas most c'ati
cal The ID Kentucky regiment which had advanced
beyond supporting distance III this affair was driven back
and closet pressed by the enemys cavalry Our artillery
had taken position upon the plateau covered by the Mis-
sssppi and Sd Indiana regiments the former of which
had reached the ground in time TO pour fire INTO the
right flank OF the enemy and thus contributed to his re-
pulse" This is mistake of General Taylor's-uninen,
tiona, doubt; for it would be both unreasonable and
unnatural to suppose General Taylor would desire TO
force aures upon the brow OF Colonel Davis, son-in-
law that had been won by Colonel Lane The error Is
in the use of the word "ormer when it should have
been the "laer The truth is, and the proof is demon
srative that Colonel Lane and his regiment not only
arrived before Colonel Davis and his Msslssppans but
in time 10 pour two rounds Into the right flank of the
enemy, and this contributed to his rcpulsc' AS tull
and conclusive proof of this mistake, we tender the
certificate signed by twenty commissioned officers,
dated " Camp Buena VISTA May 10, 1917" all of whom
were present-eye and witnesses OF the scene--the
original of which is on file in the War Department. and
is accompanied with letter from Gen. Lane of the same
date, confirmation of this fact, both OF which read as
follows
"We the undersigned, captains and leutenants of the
Sd regiment of Indiana volunteers, that at the time
the Mississippi and I'd and 81 Indiana regiments We're
dcred the support of the Illinois and Kentucky voul.
who retreatng before the charge OF the enemy
in which Coils Hardin and Mckee and Lieut. Col. Clay
killed the plateau, the 3D. Indiana regiment
The first regiment that arrived the ground, and the
enemy discharges Of muskety before any other reg
arrived; that the Sd Indiana the left
of the line the enemy about one hundred yards
distant; and here the 81 Indiana regiment lost
than during the rest OF the day and here fell the last man
who killed at $ Buena Vista-Capt; Taggar, OF com
pany Of the 81 regiment OF Indiana volunteers The 3D.
regiment the only men that lost in that
gagcment"
Col Lane says:
From the time that the 3D. regiment of Indiana volun-
sssipp and that portion Of "a who had rallied the
number OF 200 upwards, was all the time wit The
and that know that, ut the time they moved oil TO
the support the st and 81 Illinois and 81 Kentucky rcgi-
men who n2bIy attacked tie enemy aud Were driven
back by overwhelming numbers, the three regiments
moved suddenly up the bank OF deep avne, and that,
owing the shap OF the ground, the 3D. Indiana got
the hill advance of all Others and opened the fire The
2l indiana up next, and the Mississippi last Daring
the whos time that the 3d engaged, Colonel Lane
proved himself brave and efficient oicer and his oti-
GERS and men acted with great co3Iaess and bravery
''JOSEPH LANE, Brig Gen.
I,,smuch tho AMI If This
of cavalry and reaching the plateau in relieve tho
retreatng Illinois and Kentucky regiments, and the bat
teres upon which the whole body of the Mexican army
were rushing like an avalanche already at the very
muzzles of cannon, have been and justify tool con-
sdered among, not only the most skiliul, bold, and
daring deeds of the day, but decisive OF it, at most
critical moment" we have been thus particular in at
tempting TO place the Sd Indiana regiment in its true char
acter claiming for it more than its due proportion OF
the dangers and honors of battle which if if shall
be recorded by the pen of honest and faithful hsto
rian can but brighten the annals of American glory.
Nor do desire to pluck one laurel from the brow of
Colonel Davis and his more than gallant Missssppans,
who won at Monterey and Buena Vista, for themselves
and their State, above all praise that Colonel
Lane and his brave lndanlans did than their duty,
or than any other regiment would have done placed in
ed more courage than those who rereated On the
trary, among those who believe IT required the
united efforts of all aided by the influence and skill of
their general, to win the battle of Buena Vista. And
that the of the few 10 the rancho and SaltQ is
rather be attributed to their position and the cIrcum
stances by which they surrounded than to the want
OF patriotism courage.
Yours respectfully
AMOS LANE, OF Indiana.
w ,sutNcroN CIry. Auy 1SI7