The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-01

noitered the enemy's position. Early
the6morning Of the 2lst the force was
ordered Quito create a diversion in ia.
vor Of Worth, that he might gain his
position; and before our division came
within long range of ;he enemy's prin.
cipal battery, the foot Of Twiggs's divi-
sion had been ordered down 10 the
northeast side Of the town, to make an
armed reconnaissance Of the advanced
battery, and to take h if it could be
done without great loss. The volun.
teer division was scarcely formed in
rear of our .howitzer and mortar battle.
lry--estab bIished The night previous, un-
der cover Of a rise Of ground-belore
the infantry, sent down to the
northeast side of the TO wn became close.
Ily and holly engaged; The batteries Of
that division were sent down, and ,Oe
,Ders then ordered 70 support The attack.
Leaving the Kentucky regiment TO
support the mortar and ho witzer Bate
ry, the General rapidly put in march,
| by flank movement, the other three
regiments, moving for some one and
a half or Two miles under heavy fire
of round shot. As Iurlher ordered, the
Ohio regiment was detached from Quit
mans brigade, and led by the General
(at this time accompanied by General
Taylor) into the town. Quitman car
ried his brigade directly on the battery
first attacked, and gallantly carried it.
Before this, however, as we entered
the suburbs, the chief engineer came
up and advised US to withdraw, as the
object of :he attack had failed; and if
we moved on, we must meet with great
loss. The General was 10th to fall
back without consulting with General
Taylor, which he did do-the General
being but short distance off. As we
were Withdrawing, news came that
Quitman had carried the battery, and
General Butler led the Ohio regiment
back to the town at different point.
in the street we became exposed to a
line Of batteries on the opposite side Of
small stream, and also from a tcte de
point bridge.head) which en6laded us.
Our men fell rapidly as we moved up
the street to gel position TO charge
the battery across The stream. Com.
| ing 10 cross street, the General recon.
noi,ered the position, and, determining
to charge from that point, sen, me back
a short distance to stop the firing and
advance the regiment with the bayo.
net. / had just left him, when he was
struck in the leg, being on foot. and was
obliged TO leave the field"
s.On entering the town, the General
and his troops became at once holly
engaged at short musket range. He
had 10 make his reconnaissance under
heavy fire. This he did unfinchingly,
and by exposing his person --on one
occasion passing through u large gate
way into a yard, which was entirely
open TO the enemy. When he was
wounded, at the intersection Of two
streets, he was exposed TO cross-fre
| oimuskelry and grape" ~ N,
!, :sIn battle the Generals bearing was
truly that Of soldier; and those under
him felt the influence Of his presence.
He had the entire confidence Of his
men, 91sis s.,is l.ne bae,a a,,aor
The narrative Of Major Thomas con.
unues:s ss,}, ssa,tt a,r7a,., :, s,e.,,
,"When Gen. Taylor went on his ex-
pedition to Victoria, in December, he
placed Gen. Butler in command Of the
troops lett on the Rio Grande, and at
the stations from the river on TO Saltil-
Worth's small division Of regulars
being at the latter place. Gen Wool's
column had by this time reached Paris,
one hundred or more miles west Of Sal.
tiho., Gen., Butler so. far recovered
from, his wound as to walk little and
take exercise on horseback, though
with pain to his limb. One night Ia
bout the 18th December) an, express
came from Gen. Worth at Saftilo, STA
ling that The Mexican forces were ad.
yancing in large numbers from San Luis
de, Potosi, pnd that he expected to be
attacked in two days, His division,
all told did NOT exceed 500 men, il
so many, and he asked reinforcements.
The, General remained up during the
balance Of The night, sen! off the neces-
sary couriers to the rear for reinforce
( Inen,s, and had the Isl Kentucky and
lst Ohio loot, then encamped three
miles from town, in the place by day
light; and these two regiments, with
Webster's battery, were encamped that
night ten miles on the road to Saltillo.
| This promp,ness enabled the General
| IL -f