Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-03-02

personal observation to get information
Of the .enemy's position. He, like
Gen. Taylor, saw the importance Of
gaining the road to SallilIo, and fully
favored the movement Of Gen. Worth's
division 10 turn their left, SC. Worth
marched Sunday, September 20'h, for
this purpose, thus leaving Twigg's
and Buffers divisions with Gen. Tay-
lor. Ger. Butler was also III favor Of
throwing his division across the ST..
Johns riyer,and approaching the town
from The east, which was at first deter
mined upon. This was changed, as
tit would leave bat one,and, perhaps the
smallest division TO guard the camp,
and attack in front. The goth the gen
eraI also Recommended the enemy's po-
si'ion. Early the morning Of the 2lst
the force was ordered QUIT 10 create a
diversion in favor of Worth, that he
might gain his position; and before our
division came wt'l:in Tong range of the
enemy 5 principal battery, the foo, Of
Ywiggs' division had been ordered
down to the northeast side ofihe town,
to make an armed reconnaissance Of the
advanced battery, and TO take ii if is
could be done without great loss. The
volunteer division was scarcely formed
in the rear of our howi,zer and mortar
battery, established the night previous
under cover Of rise of ground, before
the infantry sent down to the northeas,
side Of the town became closely and
ho,ly engaged, the batteries Of that di.
vision were sent down, and ace ,rere
then ordered TO support the attaek.-
Leaving the Kentucky regiment to
support the mortar and howiIzer bate
ry, the general rapidly pu. in march, by
a flank movement, the other three iegi-
ments, moving for some one ana a half
or two miles under heavy fire of
round shot. AS further ordered, the
Ohio regiment was detached from Quit
mans brigade, and led by tie genera!
(a' this time accompanied by General
| Taylor into the town. Qul,man car.
rieG his brigade directly on the battery
first attacked, and CALAMITY carried it.
Before this, however. as we entered
the suburbs, the CHIEF engineer came up
and advised US to withdraw, as the OBJ
ject Of the attack had failed, and if we
moved on we must meet with great
loss. The general was loa'h 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
Q'ii,man had carried the battery, and
General Butler led the Ohio regimen,
back 10 the town at different point.
In the stree, we became exposed 10 a
line of eattetirs on the opposite side of
a small stream, and also from tete de
pont (5ridge head) which en6laded us.
Our men fell rapidly as We moved up
the street to get position to charge
the battery across the stream. Com
ing to a cross-stFeet the general recon.
noitered the position, and determined
to charge from thatroint, sent me back
a short distance TO stop the firing, and
and advance the regiment with the
bayonet. had JUS, left him, when he
was struck in the leg, being on foot,
and was obliged to leave the field"
Con entering the town, the general
and his troops became al once holly
engaged at short musket range. He
had TO make his Reconnaissance under
ia heavy fire. This lie did unAinching-
y, and by exposing his person-cn
one occasion, passing through a large
gateway into yard that was entirely
open to the enemy. When Ike was
wounded, at the intersection of the two
streets, he was exposed to cross fire
Of musketry and grape.'
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
msn."
The narrative Of MAJ. Thomas con-
tinues:
"When Gen. 'Taylor vent on Ills ex
petition TO Victoria, in December, he
placed General Butler in command of
the troops left On the Rio Grande, and
at the stations from the river on to Sal
! tillo-Worth's small division of reeu.
lars being at the latter place. General
Wool's column had by this time reach :
Ell Parras, one hundred or more miles
west Of Sal:illo. General Butler had
so far recovered from his wound as to
walk little and take exercise on horse.
back, though with pain.to his limb
One night about the 10Th December, J
an express came from General Worth
! at Saliiflo, stating that the Mexican
forces were advancing in large numbers
from San Luissde Polosl, and that he
expected to be attacked in two DAYS.
His division all told did mot exceed
1900 men, if so many. and he asked
reinforcements. The general remained
I up during the balance oflhe night sent