Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-10-05


kansas and Kentucky cavalry--followed
few days afterwards by the capture of de.
tachment of picked men under Capt. Heady
also of the Kentucky cavalry.
About the same time | received a com.
munica,ion from Gen. Wool, then comman.
ding at Saltllo, urging Inc TO join him with
all the troops at my disposal, stating that
Gen. Santa Anna was at least preparing, if
lie was not already en- route, to strike a
blow at SalliIlo! l Immediately joined
Gen. Wool with 700 or 500 men, and few
days afterwards concentrated all the troops
which were generally encamped by regi
ments, and took my position at Aqua Nue..
va, in order that all the officers might be-
come better acquainted with each other
and their duty, and that generally more
thorough system of discipline and instruc-
ton could be adopted to prepare all hands
for service. While here was advised by
the War Department and the General.n.
Chief TO occupy Monterey. This advice
believed then, as do now, was given a,
hazard, and in ignorance of my situation,
of that of the enemy, and Of the country.
| declined to adopt it, and determined TO
fight the Mexican General Immediately af. |
ter he crossed the desert country which lay
just in my front, and before he could have
time to refresh and reorganize his army,
which | knew would he much worn out
and disordered by march of $50 miles
across this desert without sufficient provis.
ions and supplies, and with great scarcity
of water. In this determination, so far as
know, was most cordially sustained by
the officers of my command. About two
weeks after taking my position at Aqua
Nueva, il was ascerlained by my advanced
parties that Santa Anna was at hand with
his army. We then fell back to Buena Wis.
to ranch some six miles in front of Satillo,
where we took up a strong position, and
where we could easily communicate with
our depot in the latter place. Upon this
ground determined TO give battle. The
enemy arrived in our front on the morning
of the 22d, and summoned me to surrender
at discretion about o'clock of the same
day. The summons was declined, and about
4 o'clock on that day the battle of Buena
Vista commenced. The result of that affair
is known to you all, and shall not, there.
fore, trouble you with its details. All tried
, to discharge their duty to their country on
; that occasion, and some even did more than
their duty. 1t would then, perhaps, be in.
; vidious TO draw comparisons but must be
permitted TO say that, led on by their distin-
guished commander, tie gallant Mississippi
D Volunteers, of whom you have just spoken
: so highly and justly, performed well their
j part. They were the only volunteers with
} me who had met the enemy before-having
d acted as would become veteran troops in
= the conflicts about Monterey. l therefore
!. calculated much upon their assistance on
s that cven'ful day, and am happy here to
}. say that my expectations were fully reai-
1t zed. Theirranks thinned by the enemy's
n bullets are much more conclusive as 10 their
II good Conduct than anything that could
IS now say.
If The battle af Buena Vista, under the cir.
r. cumslances under which it was fought, was
e one of the most trying occasions in which a
N soldier can be placed. may say indeed
ID that fought the battle with halter about
c. my neck. had been advised 10 fall back
i. and occupy Monterey, which as before
IN stated, declined, and had been unsuccess
il full this advice would have been brought uE
st in judgement against me. l declined, tha
i, advice because believed the result would
W have been as disastrous as defeat Had
ii. fallen back to Monterey, the whole coun
H. try about me, upon which was greatly de
he pendent for forage. would have flown II
in arms. Once confined in Monterey, th
eff volunteers, to say nothing of The effects o
CT the retreat upon them, won Id have become
ly sickly and disprited, and deprived of a
n means of obtaining supplies. and par'icu
ne larly forage, | should not have had dra
SIS, COON or artillery horse in my command
ct, and would therefore have been compelle
sw ultimately to surrender, unless the selg
ng could have been raised by the return c
g.. Gen. Scott from Vera Cruz with III
yer troops, under his command.
ofI The battle of Buena Vista was fougt
ute on our side by about $50 regular trooI