The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-07-12


very little prudence, and less profit to their
party-on the stale charge that Gen. Taylor is
responsible for the reproach, if there be any,
that attaches to the 2nd Indiana Regiment for
its conduct at the battle of Buena Vista. The
fact that Gen. Taylor made up his account of
that battle and Of the conduct of the different
troops engaged in it from the reports of others,
is not needed by these defenders of Indiana's
honor. 1t is of no consequence with them
that Col. Bowles reported his regiment as hav-
ing ran away, while he with only 20 men, all
that he could rally, continued to fight bravely
throughout the day; or that Col. Davis sustain
ed the account of Bowles; or that Gen. Wool
so reported the facts to Gen. Taylor; or that
Gen. Lane-who sat on his horse in the thick
est oil the fight, almost grasping victory, saw
them turn and disappear so suddenly that he
had barely time 10 mark it-reported their de-
lection and declared that unless they speedily
sought opportunity 10 wipe out the stain they
must forever be held as recreant 10 their counrys
honor. Ii matters not, we say, that epery Off
corning them, felt called upon to speak harsh
| ly of the 2nd Regiment, Gen. Taylor is held by
these sapientjudges responsible for the sins,
whether Of commission or omission, of all 9TH
ers; and notwithstanding his repeated DECLARE
ton that he had not lost confidence in the
bravery of the men, and intended, and so ex-
pressed himself, had the fight continued next
day, 10 have "placed them in action with the
full conviction that the officers and men, uni
tedly and individually, would have acquitted
themselves with steadiness and gallantry," he
still continues a mark for their abuse and vir-
tuperation.
We can very well appreciate the feelings OF
Gen. Lane, when he believed he had the Mex
leans cornered and whipt, upon witnessing the
, hasty retreat of the men, who up to that mo-
ment had stood firm and unfinching, and we
can readily overlook the severe things he in
his report says of that portion of the regiment
who would not and did not rally, because h
could not account for such conduct-he did not
tnow ,rhen he ma le up his report that Boiules
tras the on,I coIUGrd in all that eommand-he
was imposed upon-not as Taylor was by the
reports of all the under officers--but by his
own eyes,-he saw them fly after having de-
livered 81 rounds with the enemy and he could
not account for il for he did not hear Bowles
give the order to ''cease firing and retreat"
1t was our intention % have gone into a
history of the whole matter when the following
in the New Albany Bulletin met our eye
This covers the whole ground, and we copy SC
much we think necessary to answer the full
some TRADES made against Gen. Taylor by the
locofoco press Of this STATE.
E Now, for the purpose Of disposing of these
things regularly, and so that they may be per
fectly plain and easily understood, and for the
purpose of doing justice to the real heroes o.
Buena Vista,--the 2nd Indiana Regiment
!, We have the reports of Gen. TAYLOR, Gen
Wool, Gen LANE, and Col. JEFFERSON DAVIS
and have made extracts from the report of eacl
officer named, which will be found below
z The first extract we give is from the report o
I Gen. TAYLOR, and contains all he says in re
fere nee 10 the conduct of the Regiment. Ii
speaking Of that part of the battlefield occu
pied by the 2nd Regiment, Gen. TAYLOR
says:
i "Brigadier Gen. LANE being in the imme
y l"diate command, in order TO bring his mel
Is "within effective range, Gen. LANE ordered th,
ARTILLERY and 2nd Indiana Regiment forward
"'The artillery advanced within musket rang,
J. ''of heavy body Of Mexican infantry, ant
u "was served against il with great effect, bu
without being able TO check its advance. Tn
Is ''iniantry ordered TO its support had falel
n I'back in disorder, being exposed as well as tn
lgglx ..~fa
- ''from their front, but also murdeIous cross
rs ''fire of grape and canister from Mexican bat
h ''tery from the left. Capt. O'Brien found j
# impossible to retain his position withou
''support, but was only able to withdraw tw
:. ''of his pieces, all the horses and cannoneer
L. ''of the third being liled or disabled Th
DR. Second Indiana Regiment, which had fallei
''back as stated, could not be rallied, and too
''no further part in the action, except hand
''ful of men, who, under its gallant Colone
: 'Bowles, joined the Mississippi Regimen
''and did good service, and the fugitives at
m ''later period in the day, assisted in defendin
is ''the train and depot at Buena VISTA"
D. In the foregoing extract, we admit that Ger
a TAYLOR done the ID Regiment injustice, bu
ID how did he come TO do il? Hisreport was -four
ic did upon the reports made TO him by Geners
Or Wool, Gen. Lane, and Col. Davis. What di
Gen. Wool say? Read the following from hi
repor; to Gen. TAYLOR:
d. Gen. Wool says: "Gen. Lane agreeably
''my orders, wishing to bring his infantry
1.-The I'd Indiana Regiment,-withins trikin
u "distance, ordered his line TO moveforward.-
T. '.This order was duly obeyed by LieutenaI
~ "O'Brien. The infantry, however,-the
n' Regiment, instead of advancing, retired
y disorder; and in spite OF the utmost effort
90 their General and his officers, left the arill
"ry,-O Electromagnetic fed the field
''bGttie. Some of them were rallied 0y Co
''Bowles, who, with the fragment, fell in Il
n ranks of the Mississippi Riflemen, and durir
$, 1.-The day did good service with the regimen
! 81 deeply regret to say that most Of them d
u ''Hot return TO the feld, aud many of them COZ
IS "tiHued their flight to Saltillo."
,ly Compare the above language of Gen. Wo
e. with what Gen. TAYLOR said, and see which