Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-08-17
GEN. TAYLoR,s DETAILED REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Annna MEM Mar1.h 6 1917


Augua Nueva. March 6, 1917.
SIR. have The honor to submit a detailed
report of the operations of the forces under my
command which resulted in the engagement of
Buena Vista, the repulse of the Mexican army
and the reocupation of this position.
The information which reached me of the adj
vance and concentration of heavy Mexican
force in my front, had assumed such probab Bile
form, as TO induce special examination far be-
yond the reach of our pickets to ascertain its cor
rectness. A'small party Of Texan spies, under
Major McCulloch, despatched to the Hacienda
of Encarnacion, 20 miles from this, on the route
to San Luis Potosi, had reporteda cavalry force
of unknown strength at that place. On the
Both of February strong reconnaissance under
Lieut.. Col. May was DIES patched 10 the Hacien
da of He clonda, while Major McCulloch made
another examination of Encarnacon. The
suits of these expeditions left no doubt that the
enemy was in large force at Encarnacion under
the orders of General Santa Anna, and that he
meditated forward movement and attack up
on our position.
AS tile Camp Of Aqua Nueva could be turned
on either flank, and as the enemys force was
greatly superior TO our own, particularly in the
arm of cavalry, determined, ai.er much con
sideration, to take up position about eleven
miles IN rear aud there await the attack. The
army broke up its camp and marched at noon
on the 2lst, enCamping at the new position a
lille In front of the Hacienda of Buena Vista.
With small force proceeded to Sal6llo TO
make some necessary arrangements for the de-
fence of the town, leaving Brig. Gen. Wool IN
the Immediate coy mand OF the troops.
Before those arrangements We're completed
on the morning of the 22d, ! was advised that
the enemy was in sight, advancing. Upon
reaching the ground it was found that his ca
airy advance was in our front, having InarcheC
from Encarnacion, as we have since learned a
IL o'clock on the day previous. and driving II
d mounted force left at Aqua Nueva TO cove
the removal of public stores. Our troopswert
in position occupying line of remarka biz
strength. The road at this point becomes mar
row defie, the valley on its right being render
ed quite impracticable for artillery by system
of deep and impossible gulhes, while on tn
left a succession of rugged ridges, and precipt
Gus ravines extends far back towards the noun
tain which bounds the valley. The features o
the ground were such as nearly to paralyze tn
artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while hi
infantry could not derive all the advantage Q
his numerical superiority. In this position W
prepared 10 receive him. Capt. Washington
battery (4th artillery was posted to commas
the road. while the lst and 2nd Illinois regi
ments under Colonies Hardin and Bissell, eac
eight companies, (o the latter OF which wa
attached Capt. Corners company OF Texas vol
unteers,) and the I'd Kentucky under Col. Nc
Kee, occupied the crests of the ridges on To
left and in rear. The Arkansas and Kentuck
regiments of cavalry, commanded by Coils. Ye
and H. Marshall, occupied the extreme lei
near the base of the mountain, while the Ia
diana brigade, under Bngadier General Lane
composed of the ID and 3D. regiments unde
Coils Bowles and Lane,) the Mississippi riff,
men under Col. Davis, the squadrons of the i
and I'd Dragons under Capt. Sleen and Lieu
Col. May, and the light batteries OF Capt. She
man and Bragg, 3D. artillery, We're held In II
serve.
At IL o'clock received from General SAM
Anna a summons TO surrender at discretion
which, with a copy of my reply, have alread
transmitted. The enemy still tor5ore his a
tack evidently waiting for the arrival of h
rear columns which could be distinctly sen
our look-outs as they approached the field.
demonstration made on his left caused me
detach the I'd Kentucky regiment and a sectic
of artillery to our right in which position the
bivouacked for the night. In the mean tin
the Mexican light troops had engaged ours. {
the extreme left, Composed of parts of Il
Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry dismounte
and rifle battalion from the Indiana briga
under Major German. the whole command
by COL Marshall J and kept a sharpfre, elm
ing the mountain side, and apparently endea
sring to gain our flank. Three pieces OF Car
Washingtons battery had been detached to I
left, and were supported by the 81 Indiana re
inent. An occasional she'll was thrown
the enemy into this part of our line, but Wi
out effect. The skirmishing of the light troc
was kept up with trifing loss on our part |
Ill dark, when became convinced that no 5
ious attack would be made before morning, a
returned with the Mississippi regiment a
squadron of ID dragons to Saltillo. The tro'
bivouacked without fires, and laid upon tn
arms A body of cavalry, 1900 strong
been visible all day in rear of town, having
tered the valley through narrow pass east
the city This cavalry commanded By 6
Minon, had evidently been thrown in our
to break up and harrass our retreat, and !
baps make some attempt against the tow
practicable. The city was occupied by f
excellent companies of Illinois Volunteers
der Major Warren of the lst regiment. A
work, which commanded most of the approa
es. was garrisoned By Capt. Websers comps
LIST artillery, and armed with two "A POI
bowitzers, while the train and headqnal
camp was guarded by two companies Miss
ippi riAemen under Capt. Rogers and