Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-09-30

ticuiaf credit Is due, Is CertalnIy uuo w "S
in. Chief who fought the bat
lie. The Mexicans themselves had fought
a battle there. Santa Anna knew the
ground so well, that he ordered his Gener.
al (Mnon) to take and keep possession OF
il, in order to attack our rear. Zen. MI
non 90, into our rear as ordered; but when
he reached Buena Vista he found us in pos
session of it. The 22d Of February. $500
men. mostly raw troops, opposed to 20'O0o
of the enemy, was certainly not very en-
couraging day. We did not feel quite so
happy or so well as over this boun'iful Ia.
bic tonight. We thought of home and OF
families 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 en-.
gagged in making his arrangements, and in
writing home. !, is said, also. that he
made his piH. But he never shrank from
his duty. IL may perish" was his thought,
" but will perish in maintaining the honor
of my country! have to run terrible
risk in assuming the responsibility OF ma
king this onward march, but it is the only
course that will save my army. To stay
in Monterey was to be sacrificed by the
overwhelming force Of the enemy. 10
save all | must here risk allF'
The battle was fought, you know the re-
sult-but you never can know the int1u-
ence tina, the presence of General Taylor
had upon the army. He alone. so i, seemed
to me, could have inspired, by presence
every soldier in the army, as the Nolun
teers were inspired. The confidence in
him was complete. He had commanded
Volunteers before, and had been success
full with them. He had never surrendered
He had never been whipped, and the idea
got abroad, that he never could be. Wher
maneuvring my pieces a,hwart the gnl
lies, | cite this as an example of that conf
dence, l saw clouds of dust about two mile!
: from me. was painfully anxious.
thought Gen. Minon had fallen upon ou
rear, and attacked our depo,s, and to NEE
him was my first thought. A man came
galloping up through the dust into sight
screaming" old Zack is coming !"- Every
soldier gave an involuntary uiterance to hi
feelings. Old lack came--and in fifteer
minutes the tide of battle was turned
Four thousand five hundred men repulset
twenty thousand--and to the influence o
that presence, under God. think am allv'
here TO dine with you this day. ..
A gentleman. How often did you dis
charge your pieces that dayl
COL Bragg. About $50 rounds 10 eacl
:, gun.
Another gentleman How near was tn
enemy to your pieces, at any one time7
Col. Bragg. Within fifty yards at ON
time, when we moved them down.
Another. Where was Gen. Taylor!
}, Col. Bragg. Within forty yards.
Col. Bragg closed his remarks with say
ing: Understand me gentlemen. am
soldier, and no politician. know Ger
4 Taylor only as soldier and man.
speak Of him only as the Commander-iu
Chief of our army in Mexico. | hav
nothing to do with his politics, or yours
1t is the duty of soldier cheerfuly /
obey whomsoever you put into power
: could not help speaking Of my comman
= der when thus toasted, as have been b.
you for services under him. have moth
ing TO do with politics."