Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-01

mined leader and, in his indomi,able res.
olution TO compel fortune to favor our side,
he was seconded by men, true as the steel
they wore, and irm and unfolding as the
mountains around them.
Col. Davis, as he passed by Gen. Wool.
who had now arrived al this part Of the
ground, was promised support; aud The
General Immediately went IN person 10 has
ten the third Indiana Regiment RIM the
rear Of La Angostura, to aid. But stlll
the Mississippian. moved onward. A large
aud deep rayine passed by their right, while
another entered this after coming diagonal
ly across their front from the left the
two embracing between them an inclined
plane, which terminated at a point, near
their junction (at this moment but a short
distance in advance of the regiment,) but
which was quite broad. aud easy to he gain
ed, at its upper and further extremity near
the mountains. On this plane, most oi
Anpudla's light division was now moving
down, flanked by cavalry aud supported by
reserves Of the heavy infantry. The 3D. In.
diana Volunteers had not yet had time to
Nph'N bBf ullh ~ was W llipOFNdHl tudA lnt
enemy should be checked before he could
effect a passage Of the only ravine which
would seriously reiard his course onward
TO the road Flushed with success, and ap-
p%arenily irresistible IN numbers, lie came
down like an avalanche. Then II was that
Davis and his followers surpassed all their
former brilliant efforts. They counted no,
the odds, they waited for no support but
thrown rapidly into order Of battle, they
pressed forward like Spartans; and al
though the air was filled with the sharp his.
sing Of a shower Of lead. which came hurl-
ing on, and cutting through their ranks
with dreadful effect, still they did not
pause until they had brought the enemy
within close range of their own unerring
weapons. Then their lutte line blazed
forth a sheet Of FIRE. The shock given BY
ii Ia the head Of the %eneIny's column was
most awful. Men went down before il as
ripe gram falls before the reaper. Still
the enemy came onward over his dead, and
still forward pressed the rife men. the latter
n handful, the former a host. Al length
they paused the Mississippians on The
brink of the %ravine, the Mexican light in.
fanlry on the plane beyond, the cavalry
having been driven 10 cnver on their left.
But there was no cessation in the struggle,
aud Death still continued tn gather IN his
J bloody harvest. Ii was moi enough for the
Mi-sissippians simply TO hold such masses
at bay their blood was up, and the flight
of the enemy alone could satisfy them
! Giving one loud yell Of defiance which
rang on the ear more like the roar OF an.
! rushed forward. < moment aud ihey wei,
lost from the view Of their antagonists
II was only a moment but in II they hat
dashed into the %rayine, ~clambered np IN,
opposing wall, and now stood before IN,
Mexicans upon their own side. For a few
minutes more the carnage was terrible
AT length, bloody and torn, the column oil
. AmpudIa lost its st~eadiness its fire slack.
ened then all organization was gone il.
ranks were resolved into a confused multi.
tude, which in a moment crumhled away.
the whole fleeing precipitaiely back to the
reserve
The Mississippians then turned to the
; right, TO beat up the cover Of wha, had
, been the f~anking cavalry Of this column
They found II attempting to cross the "a
vine on that hand, in order 10 attack them
: in reverse. A few only had crossed, iheir
commander among them. but they never
went back and those who were pressing
: down 10 succeed them. received a fire II
, was impossible for them 10 withstand
: They too, gave way, and fled back to the
J point whittier the light infantry had retreat.
ed and where they were now Just forming
l again.
CHARGE AND A REFUSE.
After The Mexicans had failed in their OF,
tack on Buena Vista. they made a deter.
mined effort TO force their way 10 the road
at a point near the plateau. They brought
down, from near the mountains opposite
and TO the left Of the hacienda, a fresh
brigade of cavalry, covered by infantry in
all its passages Of %rayines. With this they
advanced TO engage the Mississippi rife.
men, the fragment Of the I'd Indiana Vol.
n%nteers, and the Sd regiment Of the same,
acting together. and who had near them
one howitzer under Capt. Sherman. The
, position OF these troops was some FIVE hun.
dred yards nearer the road than the poinI
where Colonel Davis's regiment was frsI
engaged IN the morning, but farther down
the same rayine. As soon as this new brig,
ade indicated. by the manner Of its ap.
4 proach, its determination to charge our ri.
tiemen and infantry, they were rapidly
formed TO receive il. The Mississippi reg.
iment, in line Of battle. extended across
the linle plain upon which they now were,
, their right being near the rayiue, their
font toward the mountains; the Indiana
troops were formed so that their left rested
on The right Of Col. Davis's regiment, their
right upon the rayihe higher up, their front
being also toward the mountain, but more
to The north. la this way, an ohluse re.en,
terlng angle was presented toward the ap,
, preaching cavalry, Sherman's howiizer be.
ing on lis leh. The enemy was formed IN
close column Of squadrnns, and came
down the slope at an easy hand-gallop,-
His ranks were well closed. his troopers ri
, ding knee TO knee, and pressing handsome
! y on their guides. All the flags and pen
|, mons were aying,-some fifteen hundred o.
= them the men were in full uniform, ant
.. the horses elegantly caparisoned. Every
: lancer sat erect, and kept his charger vel
= l.. k.nI ..l A. .,lal, l..xoIo ....