Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-09-01
Battle Of Bsena Vista.

Battle oil Buena Vista. We subjoin one
or W additional extracts.
Aher Ii. O'Brien was driven from his
guns by the overwhelming pressure Of the
Mexican army, the writer follows up his
account Of the onslaught -
TnE a THE T BEGAN.
No calculations could have had results
more fortunate than those OF Gen. Taylor.
Santa Auba had cherished the vain belief
that his antagonist remained totally ignO-
rant OF his movements and, by his eX.
IRENE sollcitude TO keep up that Ignorance
until the moment OF attack. he permitted
himself to be completely ou%t.generaled.
even oil this very point. For his own
place and condition were perfectly known,
while he himself remained. as he unwilling
Iy admits, entirely in the dark as to those
Of Gen. Taylor. whose retrograde and APP
parently confused and hurried march de-
coyed him into what he has since termed a
Thermopyle. Ii is very doubtful il. with
all his superiority Of numbers, he could
have been induced to venture TO this spot,
had not his citation at the prospect Of our
speedy destruction borne him so far for
ward before he was undeceived as 10 our
6ight, that he could not recede, nor avoid
a battle, without disgrace.
He was. therefore, sngularly unfortunate
in thus having the scene Of his anticipated
engagement SO suddenly, Unexpectedly.
and as ii were mysieriously changed from
known IN an unknown poiat. Nor was
he less 50 as TO The time lie had selected
for it. II, in the whole year, there he one
day, above all others, when the heart Of an
American is naturally animated by the pur-
est sentiments Of patriotism. when all that
is greatest and best in his couniry's history
is brought most windy to his mind, as an
example that should strengthen his purpose,
aud nerve his arm, 10 emulate the glorious
deeds Of the Past.-ihai is the day which
gave birth TO the FATHER OF MS Country.
But it was on the morning Of W~ashlngion's
Birthday. that Santa Anna indnleed in the
decisive hope. that an army of Americans,
unmindful Of its sublime associations. and
recreant to their country and their name,
had basely fed before him.
II was eight O'Clock when the 'long roll"
called our men 10 arms. No one, who
there witnessed the cheerful alacrity with
which they seized their weapons, and
sprang to places in the lines-who saw the
firm resolve impressed on every counte'
nance in that determined little band,-can
ever forget the sight,
-.Esey ,hNPTVG. XPslunlpIled.k9 , NE, hi SAl
rious bands or music struck up the national
air Of "HaR CoiUm6ia," the sacred battle.
cry,-"THE MEMoRY OF WAsHISGroS p
passed from regiment to regiment, and
from corps to corps, amids, the most enthu.
siastic shouts.
OLD Jack IN THE oTTEs OF THE FIGHT.
While those Of the Mexican army near.
est the guns closed in on them. and, having
cut the dead and dying horses clear, lin.
bered up, and then, by hand, rolled the
pieces away, the rest continued rapidly on,
their speed being now accelerated 10 a run.
Captain Bragg had appealed 10 Gen. Tay.
Tor for support. There was zone 10 give
him. That which had been in front the
enemy we're now cutting to pieces in the
gorge 10 which il had been driven, while
tina, in rear had not yet come up. "MAIN-
TAIN Tue POSITION AT EVERY HAZARD
was the order. And nobly was it executed
That magnificent battery,--which had en-.
countered the enemy in every battle from
Palo Alto up, and before which the Mexi.
can ranks had wilted away, as if breaihed
upon by the Angel OF Dealh,-now belch.
ed forth a storm Of iron and lead, which
Frustrated every thing in its front. Moth,
ing could Withstand lis terrible fury. In
a few moments Sherman placed his battery
alongside. and took up the fire the drag.
oons were ordered TO a position within sup
porting distance and, at the same instant,
Washington at La Angostura began to tear
open the gate of %lancers from the gorge be-
low. Davis and Lane, with the Mississippi
riiemen and Indiana volunteers, having
coine upon the plateau at some distance 10
the lett OF the artillery, poured volley after
volley into the enemy, striking him IN flank
aud enhlading his repeated ranks from right
to left. The c%annonade on both sides was
now so incessant, and the roar Of muskelry
so loud and continuous, that il was impos.
sible, above the general clangor and DIN, 10
distinguish the report Of any single gun
Tho struggle was most desperate. The
whole air vIbrated with the rushing current
oil balls. The Mexicans fought as they had
never fought before, and with an utter dis.
regard of life. Our men were falling on
every hand. Gen. Taylor himself was in
the midst of the hottest of the fight. calm.
y giving his orders, his clothes torn and
riddled with bullels and wherever The fu.
~ of the battle was greatest, there was
Gen. Wool. riding from point TO point en-.
cournGing and stimulating The men 10 still
greater exenions. Each moment our FIRE
seemed TO grow more and more destructive,
Al length, the head of the MEXICAN column
began to fall back not by retreaiing, hui
by being shot away. Oilers pressed on to
supply the places Of ihe fallen; but they
Too, went down. Finding il utterly impos-
sible, Notwithstanding all were advancing
10 gain even a rod of ground against suct
a tempest, the whole column finally ~falterec
a moment, then gave way, and in confusion
retreated TO the cover of the deep ravine
Not till then did our fire slacken. Tit
smoke, which had euyeloped the two armie.
like a thick veil, then lifted slowly up. anc
there was the field, blue with the uniforms
Of the dead
now THE MIssIssIPPIAHs FOUGHT.
A