Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-09-22
JRIlNGTON FREE FRIDAY September

abel, as YOU know. On the 8th they fought nj
Palo Alto. and when night came on they bvon- |
ackcd in the open field and amid the giass, with
not n tent over them, the General himself wrap
ped in his blanket. and manv can assure you,
in not little doubt and gloom. Oar little ar
my did not feel sure then, that they could whip
three times their number. and them, the best
troops in Mexico. We had not tried oar mottie,
or measured weapons with thnm. Many an eye
did not close that night Rnggod had been
slain. bloody day was before them, aud many
IL the army went on, were sure TO bite Tue dust.
But nobody knew or could find ont what General
TAYLOR intended 10 do. There he lay, wrapped
in hi blanket. and sleeping. except when dis'
turbed by officers asking for orders Some were
anxious to ascertain his intentions. HIS only
answer was. Tel tie man to sleep. Keep
quiet. Sleep is the main thing necessary. -
Two or thrcn Officers were particularly anxious
to know whether he intended to 60 on, or bold
his position. Bat the only satisfaction that
could be got was sleep" lie disclosed to no
one his Intentions. There was Il prevailing
opinion that it vas t,o pnriions march TO 90
ON. Bat Gen. TJt,nr toward morning, disturb
ed by soinr person demanding orders. replied
allow the men to rest. Il is time en- 1ugh at sun
rise" Then tcrn;ng over in his bianket. he
said TO Az officer near My mind Is made up,
my mind is made up,''---bu nobody knew how
his mind was made ~ and yet they who knew
hin, knew ii his mind wls made up, it was NO
use 10 try TO change i.
In the morning council of war was SUN
mpned aud there were eleven officers present.
three only of whom advised advance. Mind,
cast no cen.ure upon any one. a difference OF
opinion under such circumstances might have
been expected. Bat they who knew the power
Of the Light Artillery, and had seen it play that
day. had confidence that it could cIeara way for
tie army back to Font Brown. "nii Iack,n-
Tor that is the name we call him, replied after the
consultation had broken up, Gentlemen, IRE
'cW ddro'tce IN fifteen minutes. and forward
they marched to itesaca de la Palma, the result
OF which Won all know, Old Itck kept his
word to Mai. Brown,-but alas. the brave and
Iamcntcd Major had received his death wound.
SO at Bucna Vista the personal Character of
Gen. Taylor had like influence on the army.
When the War Department dee.nc 1t ncces-
slry, in order TO form Il column to invade Next
co via Vera Cruz to take his Regulars from him,
he was surc,--thlt Santa Anna would attack
him. 81 am the weak point he often said,
"and know he will attack me-" But he de-
tcnnncd to defend his position, and in order
the best way to defend it, to advance. Gen.
Slnti Anna has taken a hundred, | shall
save a thousand. Gen. Taylor, kept well in
formed of the approach of the enemy by Gen.
Wools scouts, moved on to Saltilo, then on to
Aqua Nucva. 1t was proposed at one time to
meet the enemy in advance of Aqua Nueva,
but ascertaining by his engineers that their po-
sition could be turned, he resolved to fall back
to Bncnl Vista, as the enemy approached him.
I}ucnl Vista is military position that any sol
dcr's eye would lcct for defence To no
plricullr person the credit of its selection
due,-for it has been said, that even woman
picked it out as a place to rcpulse an enemy.
Various officers have had the credit of its Sc
lection, but whatever particular credit is due,
is certainly due to the Commander-in-C Chief,
who fought this battle. The Mcxicans them
selves had fought a battle there. Santa Anna
knew the ground so well, that he ordered his
Gen. (Minon) to take and keep possession of it,
in order to attack our rear. Gem Minon got
into our rear as ordered: but when h reached
Buena VISTA, he found Us i'll possession of it.
The 2!d of Feb, 1900 men, mostly raw troops,
opposed to 10000 Of the enemy. was certainly
not very encouraging day. We did not feel
quito so happy or so well, as over this bounti-
full table tonight We thought of home, and
of families AMI friends AMI our chance of
death was much better, we thought, than of cv-
or seeing them again. For several days prcvi-
euS Gen. Taylor was constantly engaged in
mlking his arrangements, ana in writing home.
1t is said also that he mrde his wiN But he
never s!irlnk from his duty. " my perish
was his thought, "but will perish in mpin-
tanning the honor of my country | have to
run a terrible risk in assuming the responsible
ity of mHkinr this onward mlrch; but it is the
only course that WILL save my army. To stay
in Monterey was to be sacrificed by the over
whclminr force of the enemy. To save all,
must here risk all ~
The battle was fought, You know the result
but you never can know the inf fence that tn
presence OF General TAYLOR had upon the army
III al me, so it has seemed to me-. could have
inspired, by presence every soldier in the ar.
my, as HE Volunteers were inspired. The con-
tidcncc in him was complete. lie had com.
mandrd Volunteers before. and had been sue
ces,Iul with them. lie had never surrendered
lie la never been whipped and the idea got
abroti. that he ncyorcond b.. Wnrn mtnnu-
vcr,nL M piece, athwart the gul,irS, | cite tAi-
"a an eXImplc Of that confidence, | saw cloud-
of dust about two les ir0m me ! WAS pain
iully aHNiuus. ] thought General Mmupu Ina,
fallen upon oar rear, and attacked our depots
AMI u meet him was my first thought. y nar
cane ..'lloping NJ through the dust into sight
screaming /" I'D Xica Is comiag." Every sol
der gave involuntary u'er,ucr TO his feeling,
Oh /irt Came,--ani IN fifteen inmates the It'd,
OF battle turned. loHr thousand i've hundred
men repul,ed twenty thousand,--and 10 the in
hucncc of that presence unlcr God, think
AIN alive here To dine with you this day.
4 G'nH-mrl How often did you discharg
pieces ihit dag
C"A BWI-. About go round, to each gun
f tH0tkr q .t'emtH. How near was the enc
f my To your pies, at any one time!
Cal BWae. Within fifty yards at one time
lnatler. w inrn was General Taylor!
OIL BFgg. Within forty yards
Col. Bragg closed his remtrks with saying
; "Unlers'ani M, gentlemen, am soldier am
no Politician. ! know General Taylor only a
a soldier and Il man | speak of him only a
Shc Commtndcr Chicl of our army in Mexico
Sel haze nothing 10 do with his politics, or yours
ktlt slhe duty Of soldier cheeriully 10 ODE
!. wIf3hisoever you put into power. ] could NJ
=. he 9.Speaking OF my Commander when thu
''toas,cd, as have been by you, for services IN
,s!er him have nothing To do with politics.
, The remarks Of Col. Bragg, which were NOR
extended than we have been able to give rot
: memory-(and Of their entire accuracy, as fror
/ memory We give them, there must be doubD-
. were received with great applause, and with III
most profound interest. His manner was mod
est in the extreme, and in no respect is Their
To-. H.. 4 / 4 0