Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16
CAPTAIN BRACES TESTIMONY.

| HoNE, who presided toasted him as Capt BRAGG,
better known by that than any other name-"A
little more grape, Captain Bragg and spoke at
length Of the brilliant service Of the flying artillery
at Buena Vista. The man who can read his re-
spouse, as here reported by the Express, without
emotion, (says the Newark Daily AdvertiserD is
not worthy to be an American citizen:
COL BRAGG modestly rising, and in embarrassment,
said it well known that he only soldier, and that
therefore, fitting speech could be expected from him in re-
ply for whatever merit gentlemen chose to him. or
whatever reputation, if any he had undeservedy the whole
Of due to the gallant General under whom he served
and to the soldiers in the service he commanded nay more
for the brancy of that service he indebted the train
ing of the lamented RSeooID and RlDsEIY from whose
hands he had received the corps in that full efficiency that
enabled it to immortaze itself on the pelous and bloody
field of Buena Vista.
To the Genera-n-Chief his Acknowledgements were espe
cay DUE He inspired the whole army with and
ience by his presence, only Buena VISTA but from
the opening Of the the Rio Grande II is almost i'm
possible for you, gentlemen, Che sad to understand the
character OF that man commander of army. There is
resolution, frmness, determination in his and
in his purposes that go great ways in leading vlcto-
y 1t was never better illustrated than the field Of Pao
Alto. He said to Major BRowS, when he left him With his
small force opposite Matamoros Maintain your Iosion
wH (not hope to be back shall y to be back bu)
will be back on the 10TH Expeo. me, them and MAINTAIN
your position. Every body that knew him knew he would
be back, if alive to The army returned to Point sa
BEL youknow. On the 9Th they fought Pao Alto and
when night they bvouacked in the open field and
amid the grass with them the General him
self wrapped in bis blanket, and many, you,
not little doubt and gloom. Our little army did not feel
hnt,h
and them the best troops in Mexico We had tried
metal measured weapons with Them. Many eye did
not close that night. RrssGoLp had been slain. bloody
day was before them, and many if the army went on,
sure to bite the dust But nobody knew could find out
what Gen. TAYLOR intended to do.
There lay, wrapped in his blanket and sleeping, except
when disturbed by officers asking for orders Some
ious to ascertain his intentions His only answer was "Te
ne men to sleeps keep quiet; sleep the main thing
sary Two or three officers were particularly anxious to
know whether he intended to 60 hold his position But
the only satisfaction that could be got was, seep He dis
closed to none of them his intentions There prevail
ing opinion that too perous march to go But
Gen. Taylor toward morning. disturbed by some person de-
handing orders, replied Allow the rest; time
enough SUNRISE" Them turning in his blanket he
said to officer My mind is made up my mind is
made up" But nobody knew hoU his mind was made up,
and yet those who knew him knew, his mind made up,
it was use to try to change it.
In the morning council of was summoned and there
eleven officers present. three only of whom advised adj
Mind, censure upon any sne. differ
of opinion under such circumstance might have been
expected But they who knew the power of the light arl-
ery and had play that day, had confidence that
could clear way for the army back to Fort Brown "Od
lack (or that is the cali kim) REPLIED after the
MI rfp1
es and forward they marched Resaca de Ia Palma the
result of which you all know. Old lack kept his word TO
Major BnowS But alas the brave and lamened major had
received his death wound
So at Buena Vista, the personal character Of Gen. Taylor
had like influence on the army When the War Depart
men deemed necessary, order to form column Mex
leo via Vera Cruz to take his regulars from him. he
that Santa Anna would attack him. am the weak point
he often said and know he will attack me-" But he de-
termncd to defend his position, and in order the best way to
defend it, to advance. Gen. Taylor kept well informed Of
the approach Of the enemy by Gen. Woos scouts moved on
to Salo then Aqua Nueva. Il was proposed at one
time, to meet the enemy in advance of Aqua Nueva but
ascertanng by his engineers that their position could turn
ed, he resolved to fall back Buena VISTA the enemy ap
preached him. Buena Vista is military position that any
soldiers eye would have selected for defence To no par
ticuar person the credit Of its selection due for said
udt even woman PICKED out as place 10 repue an enc
my Various officers have had the credi, Of the selection but
whatever particular credit is due certainly due to the CON-
mander chief who fought the battle The MeSicans them
selves had fought battle there. Santa Anna knew the
ground well that he ordered bis general Mnon to take
and keep possession Of it in order attack rear
Gen. Mlnon got into ordered but when he
reached Buena Vista he found possession Of it. The
22d Of February $500 men, mostly troops opposed TO
10000 OF the enemy, certainly very encouraging
day We did not quite happy WELL over this
bountfu table tonight We thought Of home and Of ami-
lies and friends and chance of death much better
we thought than Of seeing them again For several
days previous Gen. Taylor constantly engaged in making
his arrangements, and in writing home II is said also that
be made his ciH But he shrank from his duty 81
may perish" his thought shut will perish in maintain
ing the honor Of my country have great risk in
assuming the responsibility of making this march but
Is the only that will my army To stay in
Monterey to be sacrificed by the overwhelming Of the
enemy. To ALL / must here risk all 7"
The battle fought you know the result but you neper
can know The influence that the presence Of Gen. 7ayr
had upon The army. He alon., has SEEMED 10 me,
could hare inspired by presence, ereyy soldier The army
complete He had commanded volunteers before and had
been successful with them He had He had
never been whipped and the idea got abroad that he never
could be- When manuGvering my pieces ahwar the gules
cite this as an example Of that confidence saw clouds
dust about two miles from me- | painfully anxious
thought Gen Mnon had fallen upon rear and attacked
our depots, and To meet him my FIRST thought man