Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-10-11
Nj | S C Il l. l. A N Y.
BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.

We gave last week some extracts from Capt.
Carleton's Volume descriptive of the Battle of Blu
ena Vista. We suhjon one or two additional ex-
tracts.
After 1t. O'Brien was driven from his guns by
the writer follows up his account Of the onslaught
THE WAY THE BATTLE BEGAN
No calculations could have had results more for
tunate than those of Gen. Taylor Santa Anna
had cherished the vain belief that his antauonist
remained totally ignoran, of his movements and,
by his extreme solcitude TO keep up that ignorance
until the moment of attack, he permitted himself to
be completely ut-gencraled, even OH this very
point. For his own place and condition were per
fectly known, while he himself remained. as he
unwingly admits, entirely in the dark as to those
OF Zen. Taylor, whose retrograde and apparently
confused and hurried march decoyed him into what
ne has since termed Thermopyle. 1t is very
doubtful if, with all his superiority of numbers, he
could have been induced to venture to this spot.
had not his elation at the prospect of our speedy
destruction borne him so far forward before he was
undeceived as to our flight, that he could not re-
cede, nor avoid battle, without disgrace
He was, therefore, singuary unfortunate in thus
having the scene of his anticipated engagement so
suddenly, Unexpectedly, and as it were mysteri-
ousy changed from known to an unknown pont
Nor was he less SO as 10 the time he had selected
for 1t. If, in The whole year, there be one dav a.
bove all others, when the heart OF an American is
naturally animated by the purest sentiments of pa
triotlsm, when all that is greatest and best in his
country's history is brought most wildly to his
mind, rs an example that should strengthen his
purpose, and nerve his arm, to emulate the gor-
GUS deeds of the st,--that is the day which gave
birth to THE FATHER OF HIS Country But it
was on the morning Of Washington's Birth day,
that Santa Anna INDUCED in the deIusive hope.
| ar Of Atno iplE ,l,
lime associations, and recreant their country and
| their name, had basely fled before him.
1t was eight O'Clock when the "ung roll" call
ed our men'to arms. No one, who there witness
ed the cheerful aacri,y with which they seized their
weapons, and sprang to their places in the lines
who saw the firm resolve impressed on every coun-
| tenance in that determined little band can ever
| forget the sight.
| Every banner was unfurled 10 the bright sun
and enlivening breeze ; and, as the various bands
of music struck up the national air Of Hail Co
! tumbia," the sacred battle-cry ,-"THE MEMORY
OF p'-passed from regiment to reg
Iment and from corps to corps, amidst the most en-
thusiastic shouts.
OLD TACK IN THE HOTTEST OF THE FIGHT.
While those of the Mexican army nearest the
! guns closed in on them, and, having cut the dead
and dying horses clear, Numbered up, and them by
hand, rolled the pieces away, the rest continued
rapidly on, their speed being accelerated to q
run. Captain Bragg had appealed to Gen. Taylor
for support. There was none TO give him. That
which had been in front the enemy were now cut
ting to pieces in the gorge 10 which it had been
driven, while that in rear had not yet come up
| "MAINTAJN THE POSITION AT EVERY HAZARD.'-
was the order. And noby was it executed That
magnificent battery which had encountered the
enemy i'll every battle from Palo Alto up, and be-
fore which the Mexican ranks had wited away
as if breathed upon by the Angel Of Death now
belched forth storm Of iron and lead, which pros
trated every thing in its front Nothing could
withstand its terrible fury. In few moments
Sherman placed his battery alongside and took W
the fire the Dragons ordered to a position
within supporting distance and, at the same IN
slant, Washington at La AngostuTa began TO tea
open the gate of lancers from the gorge below
Davis and Lane, with the Mississippi rifemen anC
Indiana volunteers, having come upon the plateau
at some distance TO the left of the artillery poured
volley after voley Cto the enemy, striking him il
flank and eniladiDg his repleted ranks from rich
to left. The cannonade on both sides was now 81
incesSant, and the roar of musketry so loud ant
continuous, that it was impossible above the gen
eral clan9or and din, TO distinguish the repor, o
any single gun. The struggle was most desperate
The whole air vibrated with the rushing curren
of balls The Mexicans fought as they had neve
fought before and with an utter disregard ofIife-
Our men were falling on every hand Gen Tay
loT himself was in the midst Of the hottest Of TN
fight calmly giving his orders, his clothes torn AM
riddled with bullets and wherever the fury of IN
> battle was greatest, there was Gen. Wool, ridiu
from point to point, encouraging and stimulating
the men to still greater exertiOns. Each momen
our fire seemed to grow more and more destructive
AT length, the head of the Mexican column bega
TO fall back not by retreating, but by being she
! away. Others pressed on to supply the places
the fallen; but they, too went down. Finding
utterly impossible, notwithstanding all were ad
yancing to gain even rod Of ground against sue
| tempest, the whole column finally falteIed mo