Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-10-12
MisfelIan
BATTLE OF BITENA VISTA.

DAl LIE VI DQENA v lOl A. sN
We copy some extracts from Volume issued by
the Iiarpers, under this tile II is written BY Capt
Carleton OF The lst Dragons who was aid TO Gen
Wool, and an active and: prominent parilcpator in
the stirring sciences Of that bloody field Its style is
clear and concise, yet every scene is drawn as with
pencil. a a
pEEiLoUs POSITION OF THE ILLINOIS AND KENTUCKY
sts REGIMENTS. psfa eaEs
Whilethe enemy s cavalry and infantry, winch our
left had thus signay defeated. was moving ia retreat
along the head oil the plateau, 0 Bren's and Thomass
pieces Were advanced well 10 The 'front.' and then came
into action. and opened heavy fire on them; and
Colonies Hardin, Bisse, and Mckee, with Then lii
nois aud Kentucky troops, dashed gallanty forward
IN hot pursuit. The powerful reserve Of the Mexican
army was just then emerging from the rayine where
II had been organized, and coming forward on the
plateau, opposite the head Of The thlrd gorge Those
who were giving way rallied quickly upon it, when
the whole force, thus increased TO ~ 900 men,
came forward in perfect blaze of fire. Ii was sin
gle column. composed of the best soldiers of the Re-
public, and having for IT'S advanced baaions the vet
eran regiments. The Kentucky and Illinois troops
were obliged TO give ground before IT, and to seek the
shelter OF the second gorge As the Mexicans press
ed on. OBrien and Thomas opened, upon theta with
canister, instead of round and hollow shot. ssTBeng
very close, the destruction of HE caused By the three
pieces, was immense The advance Of this cSlumn.
however, was not retarded; for tty were troops of
the old hne and were accustomed 10 blood, Arriving
opposite the head Of the second gorge onehaf Of this
column suddenly enyeoped IT, while the other half
pressed on across the plateau having for the
nothing 10 resist Them but the ,hreein their 'front.' The
poruan, that was Immediately opposed TO the Keniuc-
Ky and Illinois troops, ran down along each side Of The
gorge in which they had sought Shelter and also cir
ced around its head; and thenthere was possible
way OF escape for them except by its mouth, which
nna Tho It~o
atan angle OF forty degrees, were covered with loose
pebbles and stones and went TO point at the bottom.
Down there were our poor fellows. nearly three re-
giments o. them with but lutte opportunity 10 load
or i.ie gun, beng hardly able to keep their feet
Above the whole edge OF the gorge all The way a
round was daraened by the serried oflbe
envy, and hristhns with muskets directed upon the
crowd beneath. 1t was no lime 10 pause; those who
We're not Immediately shot down, rushed toward the
road, their numbers growing less aad less as they
vents kentuekans and lllinoians, officers and men,
all mixed up eonusion and all pressing on over the
loose pebbles and rolling stones of those shelving. pre-
cpious banks, and having lines and lines OF the enc
my firing down each side and in rear, as they went.
Justthen the enemy's cavalry, which had gone 10 the
left oflhe reserve had over the spur that divides
the mouth ofhe second gorge from that OF the hifd,
and Were now closing up the only door through which
there was the eas, shadow OF chance for their lives.
Many Of those ahead endeavoied 10 force ihelrTway
out; but few succeeded the lancers fully SIX TO one,
anu ,'s', ions msapo ~, w s,Ir
back in that dtcddful gorge, heap above the din OF
'.ne nushe.y "o1 w ~ 1850
''e' n na 'G'' W " 81
.oe'' nse osy' 'lo,y - MY IA
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. 80 s"os .y So " $50 &c an
w"s eou uus afr i,, arJ
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a,sr ,%;s h,ads ;n, ,hs ,eyea,,na cavajry
Hsra;e Mesas Claw Wills Zabr;sk;e' Hopgbloa
I'm, wbv 90 on . i, would be a sad TASK indeed 10