Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-10-13
Mineral Point, Oct. 6, 1s4s.
CAPTAIN BRACES TESSIMONY-

Capt. Bragg spoke of the brilliant SER
vice of the flying artillery at Buena VISTA
The man who can read his response, as here
reported by the Express, without emotion, is
not worthy TO be an American citizen:
Col. Bragg modest,y rising, and in some
embarrassment said it was well known that
he was only soldier, and that, therefore, no
fitting speech could be expected from him in
reply; for, Whatever merit gentlemen chose
to award him, or whatever reputation, if any
he had undeservedly, the whole tit was due
tosthe gallant General under whom he served.
and to the soldiers in the service he command
EDS; nay, more, for the brilliancy of that SER
vice he was indebted to the training of the la
meated Ringgold and Ridgely, ffom whose
hatds he had received the corps in that full
efficiency that enabled it to immortalize itself
| c..she periious and bloody field of Buena
| Vista
To the General-in- Chief his acknowledge
ments were especially due. He inspired the
whole army with valor and confidence by his
presence, not only at Buena Vista, but from
the opening of the war the Rio Grande.-
It's almost impossible for you gentlemen, he
saId,) TO understand the character of that man
az commander of an army. There is a res
olutlon, frmness, a determination, in his
manner and in his purposes that go a great
ways In leading men to victory. 1t was new
er better illustrated than on the field of Palo
Alto. He said to Major Brown, when he left
him with his small force opposite Matamoras:
" Maintain your position. | aoiH (not | hope
I to be back, | shall try to be back, butt l will
/ be back, on the 10th. Expect me, then, and
maiutain your position" Every body that
| knew him knew he would be back, if alive to
come. The army returned to Point Isabel, as
you know. On the 8th they fought at Palo
Alto, and when night came on they bivou-
acked IN the open field and amid the grass
with not tent over them, the General himself
wrapped in his blanket, and many, can as
sure you, In not little doubt and gloom
Our little army did not feel sure then that they
could whip three times their number and
those the best troops in Mexico. We had not
tried our metal, or measured weapons with
them. Many eye did not close that night
Ringgold had been slain. bloody day was
before them, and many, if the army went on,
were sure to bite the dust. But nobody knew
or could find out what General Taylor intend
| cd to do.
! There he lay, wrapped in his blanket, and
! sleeping, excepting when disturbed by ask
! ing or orders. Some were anxious to ascer-
/ tsln his intentions. His only answer was.
'sTell the men to sleep; keep quiet; sleep is
t9e main thing necessary. Two or three Of
| fcers were particularly anxious to know
whether he intended to 90 or hold his po-
/ s3ton. But the only satisfaction could be got
was, :. sleep. He disclosed to none of them
| his intentions. There was prevailing opin-
/ ION that 1t was too perilous march to go on.
lsut Gen. Taylor, toward morning, disturbed
by some person demanding orders, replied:
Allow the men rest; it is time enough at sun
rise" Then, turning over in his blanket, he
said to officer near: 81 My mind is made
ups; my mind is made up" But no body
knew how his mind was made up, and yet
these who knew him knew, if his mind was
made up, 1t was no use to try to change it.
In the morning council of war was sum-
moned, and there were eleven officers present,
three only of whom advised advance. Mind,
| cast no censure upon anv one. A difference
Of opinion, under such circumstances, might
hsvo been expected. But they who knew
tss power of the light artillery, and had seen
it-play that day, had confidence that it would
CLEAR way for the army back to Fort Brown.
/" old lack" (for That is the name we call
hIm) replied, after the consultation had bro
ken up, tUiH dduGnce an fifteen minutes
and forward they marched to Resaca de la
Palma, the result of which you all know
Old lack kept his word to Major Brown
But, alas, the brave and lamented major had
received his death wound
SO at Buena Vista, the personal character
of Gen. Taylor had a like influence on the |
army. When the War department deemed it |
necessary, In order to form column in Mex
leo via Vera Cruz, to take his regulars from
him, he was sure that Santa Anna would at
tack him, s. am the weak point" he often |
sad :" and know he will attack me- But |
hts determined to defend his position, and in |
order the best way to defend it, to advance
Ghn. Taylor, kept well informed of the ap-
pis)ack of the enemy by Gen. Wool's scouts. |
n3ved on TO Saltillo, then to Aqua Nueva |
Itfwas proposed at one time, to meet the enc |
m IN advance Of Aqua Nueva; but ascertain |
irsg by his engineers that their position could
be turned, he resolved to fall back to Buena |
VISTA, as the enemy approached him. Buena |
Nssta Is a mIlItay position that any soldiers |
eye would have selected for a defence To |
ncs particular person is the credit of its selec-
ton due; for it is said that even a woman |
picked it out as place to repulse an enemy |
Various officers have had the credit of the Sc |
lection, but whatever particular Credits due |
is certainly due to the commander-in-chief
who fought the battle. The Mexicans them |
selves had fought battle there. Santa Anna !
knew the ground so well that he ordered his |
general (Minon) to take and keep possession
of 1t in order to attack our rear.
Gen. Minon got into our rear as ordered /; |
but when he reached Buena Vista he found us |
in possession of it. The 22nd of February,
4 500 men mostly raw troops, opposed to co.
600 of the enemy, was certainly not a very
encouraging day. We did not feel quite so |
happy. or so well, as over this bountiful table |
tonight. We thought of home, and of fam
lilies and friends; and our chance of death was |
much better, we thought than of ever seeing
them again For several days previous Gen. |
Taylor was constantly engaged In making his |
arrangements and in writing home. 1t is |
said, also, that he made his ,ciH But he new |
er shrank from his duty. Il may PERISH |
was his thought, - but | will perish in main |
tanning the honor of my country. I have to |
run a great risk In assuming the responsible |