Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-10-11

fire slackcn- Tho smoke. which had envelopet
the TWO armies like thick veil, then lifted slowly
up and there was the field, blue with the uniforms
Of tho dead
HOW THE MissIssIPPIANs FOUGHT.
The aspect of affairs was now most gloomy, and
our condition most critical the scale for a short
tme appeared TO DO prepondera,ing against us, and
victory 10 be deserving our banners and wngng
her way towards those of the enemy. But the idea
OF yielding the day long as there was man lef,
10 hghi' never, Tor moment, came into the mind
OF our determined leader and, in his indomitabe
resolution 10 compel fortune TO favor our side, he
was seconded by men, true as the steel they wore,
and firm and unyielding as The mountains around
them.
COL Davis. as he passed by Cen Wool, WIN.
had now arrived at this part of the ground was
promised support and the General immediately
went IN person to hasten the third Indiana Regi-
ment from the rear of La Angostura to his aid But
still the hlIssissippans moved onward. A large
and deep ravine passed by their right, while at3-
iner entered this after coming diagonally across
.heir 'front.' from the left; the two embracing be-
tween them an inclined plane, which terminated
at point near their junction, Cat this moment but
short distance in advance of the regiment but
which was quite broad, and easy to be gained, ut
It's upper and further extremity near the mountains
On this plane, mos, of Ampudia's light division
was now moving down, fanked by cavalry and
supported by reserves of the heavy infantry. The
sd Indiana Volunteers had not yet had time to come
up, and 1t was all important that the enemy should
be checked before he could effect passage of the
only ravino which would seriously retard his course
onward to the road. Flushed with success and
apparently irresistible in numbers, he came down
like an avalanche. Then it was that Davis and
his followers surpassed all their former brilliant e
forts. They counted not the odds, they waited for
httffh lI,,,
they pressed forward like Spartans and although
the AR was filled with the sharp kissing of show
er OF lead, which came hurting on, and cutting
through their ranks with dreadful effect still they
did not pause until they had brought the enemy
within close range of their own unerring weapons
Then their little line bazed forth sheet of fire.
The shock given by it TO the head of the enemy's
column was most awful. Men went down before
II as ripe grain falls before the reaper Still the
enemy came onward over his dead, and still for
ward pressed the rifemen, the latter handful the
former host. At length they paused the Mis-
ssslppians on the brink of the ravine the Mexican
light infantry on the plain beyond, the cavalry
having been driven TO cover their left. But
there was no cessation in the struggle and Death
still continued TO gather in his bloody harvest II
was not enough for the Mssissippians simply to
hold such masses at bay their blood was up, and
the flight of the enemy alone could satisfy them
Giving one loud yell of defiance which rang on the
ear more like the roar of angry lions than the shout
of men, they again rushed forward A moment
and they were lost from the view of their antaro-
nlsts. II was only moment; but in it they had
dashed into the ravine, clambered up the opposing
wall, and now stood before the Mexicans upon their
own SIDE For few minutes more th, carnase
was terrible. AT length, bloody and torn the CO.
lumn OF Ampuda lost It's steadiness its fire slack
ened; then all organization was gone; its ranks
were resolved into confused multitude, which in
moment crumbled away, the whole fleeing pre-
cipltately back to the reserve.
The Mississippans then turned to the right, TO
beat up the cover of what had been the thanking
cavalry of this column. They found il attempting
TO cross the ravine on that hand, in order to attack
them In reverse. A few only had crossed their
commander among them, but they never went back;
and those who were pressing down to succeed them,
received fire it was impossible for them to with
stand. They too, gave way, and fled back to the
point whittier tho light infantry had retreated and
where they were now just forming again.
CHARGE AND A REFUSE
After tho Mexcans had failed in their attack on
Buena Vista, they made determined effort to force
their way TO the road at point the plateau.
They brought down from the mountains op-
poslte and to the left of the hacienda fresh bri-
gade of cavalry, covered by infantry in all its pas
sages of ravines. With this they advanced to en-
gage the Mississippi rifemen, the fragment of the
same, acting together, and who had near them one
howitzer under Capt Sherman The position OF
these troops was some five hundred yards nearer
the road than the point where Col. Davis's reoi-
ment was first engaged in the morning, but farther
down the same !avine. AS soon as this new bri-
gade indicated, by the manner Of its approach its
determination TO charge our riffcmen and infantry
they were rapidly formed TO receive it. The Mis-
sissipp regiment in line Of battle extended across
i he Da which ho;,
right being the ravine their front toward the
mountains the Indiana troops Were formed SO tina
their left rested on the right of Col Davis's repi
ment their right upon the ravine higher up, theil
| front being also toward the mountain, but more &c
the north. In this way, an obtuse re- en- ,erinp an
gle was presented toward the approaching cavalry
Shermans howzer being on its left The enem,
was formed in close column of squadrons and came
down the slope at an easy hand gallop. His ranks
were well closed his troopers riding knee to knee
and pressing handsomely on their guides. All the
| flags and pennOns were flying some fifteen hun
dred Of them the men in full uniform, an(
the horses elegantly caparisoned. Every ance
sat erect, and kept his charger well in hand ant
the whole brigade, preserving exactly its intervals
and the direction OF lis march, moved forward will
the ease and regularity Of the best drilled troops or
field-day. Had the commander Of this beautiful
brigade desired to win the applause Of both armies
ne could not have put it in better order, or led hi
men on with more of professional style. The tor
ensemble OF his column was most admirable.
had sort of air about it,-an easy, nonchalan
manner of going into the work which could no
but recall to ones mind his ideal pictures Of tn,
cavalry of the olden days. Those fine follows wer
the chlvalry Of Mexico, and, with the exception o
the Presidents personal guard regiment o
Hussars,-they were the most dashing troops tn
Republic had ever sent TO the field Opposed t
them were our men on foot,-a mere handful il
comparison, and having about them none OF tn
"pomP and circumstance" the glitter, and gold
and feathers, and tasses, Of their antagonists
They stood calmly and (earlcssy still, with thci
pieces at carry. Bit they, too, had an air ; on
that had mischief IN =, rI'bo;r r,rI,. Id H.