Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-10-05


one. A difference of opinion, under such
circumstances, might have been expected
But they who knew the power of the Light
Artillery, and had seen il play that day, had
confidence that it could clear way for the
army back to Fort Brown. odd Zack--
for that is the name we call him, replied af-
ter the consultation had broken up, Gen
temen, zoe wiU Advance in fifteen minutes,
and forward they marched to Resaca dc
la Palma, the result of which you all know.
Old lack kept his word to Maj Brown
but alas, the brave and lamented Major had
received his death wound.
SO at Buena Vista the personal character
of Gen Taylor had like influence on the
army. When the War Department deemed
it necessary, in order to form column to
invade Mexico, via Vera Cruz, to take his
Regulars from him, he was sure that Santa
Anna would attack him. | am the weak
point he often SAID, and know he will
attack me- But he determined to defend
his position, and in order the best way to
defend it, to advance. Gen. Santa Anna
has taken hundred, | shall save thous-
aud. Gen. Taylor kept well informed of
the approach of the enemy, by Gen. Woods
scouts, moved on to Saltlllo, then on to A
qua Nueva. 1t was proposed at one time
to meet the enemy in advance of Aqua Nu-
eva, but ascertaining by his engineers that
their position could be turned, he resolved
! to fall back to Buena Vista, as the enemy
approached him. Buena Vista is militia
ny position that any soldiers eye would Sc
lect for defence. Tono particular person
is the credit of its selection due for it has
been said, that even a woman picked it out
as place to repulse an enemy. Various
officers have had the credit of its selection,
but whatever particular credit is due, is GER
tainly due to the Commander in Chief, who
fought this battle. The Mexicans themselves
had fought battle there. Santa Anna knew
the ground so well, that he ordered his Gen.
| (Minon) to take and keep possession of it,
in order to attack our rear. Gen. Mlnon
got into our rear as ordered; but when he
reached Buena Vista, he found us in pos
session of it. The 22d of February, $500
men, mostly raw troops, opposed to 10000
of the enemy, was certainly not very en-
couraging day. We did not feel quite so
happy or so well, as over this bountliu table
Tonight We thought of home, and of ia
miles and friends and our chance of death
was much better, we thought, than of ever
seeing them again. For several days pre-
vious, Gen. Taylor was constantly engaged
in making his arrangements, and in writing
home. 1t is said, also, that he made his
piW But he never shrank from his duty.
may PERISH he thought, but will per-
ish in maintaining the honor of my coun-
try | have to run terrible risk in as
Stunning the responsibility of this onward
march but it is the only course that will
save my army. To stay in Monterey was
to be sacrificed by the overwhelming force
of the enemy. To save all, must here
risk ALP
The battle was fought, you know the re-
isult, but you never can know the intlu-
ence that the presence of Gen. Taylor had
upon the army. He alone, SO it has seem
ed to me, could have inspired, by apresence,
every soldier IN the army, as the Volunteers
were inspired. The confidence in him was
complete. He had commanded Volunteers
before, and had been successful with them.
He had never surrendered. He had never
been whipped and the idea got abroad
that he never could be. When vancouver.
ing my pieces athwart the gulies, cite this
as an example of that confidence. | saw
clouds of dust about two miles from me-
| was painfully anxious. thought Gen
Minon had fallen upon our rear, and attack
ed our depots, and to meet him was my first
thought. A man came galloping up through
the dust into sight, screaming Old Zack Il
coming p Every soldier gave involuntary
utterance to his feelings. Old Zaok came
and in fifteen minutes the tide of battle
turned. Four thousand five hundred men
repulsed twenty thousand and to the in
1uence of his presence, under God, l think
| am alive here to dine with you this day.
A Gentleman. How often did you dis
charge pieces that day.
Co.. Bragg. About $50 rounds to each
gun.
another Gentleman. How near was the
enemy to your pieces, at any time!
COL Bragg. Within fifty yards at one
time.
Another. Where was Gen. Taylor!
Col. Bragg. Within forty yards.
Col. Bragg closed his remarks with say
ing Understand me gentlemen, | am ;
soldier, and no politician. know Genera
Taylor only as soldier and man. speal
of him only as the Commander-in-Chief o
our army in Mexico. | have nothing to dc
with his politics or yours. 1t is the duty o
a soldier cheeriully to obey whomsoever yor
put into power. | could not help speaking
of my Commander when thus toasted, as
have been by you, for services under him
have nothing to do with politics.
The remarks of Col. Bragg, which wer,
more extended than we have been able t.
give from memory-(and of their entire ac
curacy, as from memory we give them, there
must be doubt)-were received with grea
applause, and with the most profound inter
est. His manner was modest in the eX
IRENE, and in no respect is there any simi
larity between his character and his name
lie is North Carolinian by birth, with
bright, black, restless, keen eye, that woul'
seem to indicate the best sort of Ligh
Artillery officer. His figure is slight, an'
one capable of great activity in the field.
70 Ole BULL is said to be now workin!
in the manuiactory of a celebrated Partisan
Musical Instrument maker as journcynan
in the hope of being able to make Violin
- Al. l.. 4