Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-09-25

former place, where it was expected I
would remain on the defensive, with the
small force then under my orders. A few
days after reaching that point l learned
that the greatest alarm prevailed among
the advance at Saltillo, in consequence of
the capture at Encarnacion of Majors Bor-
land and Gaines, with their party of about
eighty picked men from the Arkansas and
Kentucky cavaIry-followed a few days
afterwards by the capture of a detachment
of picked men under Capt. Heady, also of
the Kentucky cavalry.
About the same time / received a COM
munication from Gen. Wool, then COM
manding at SaltiIlo, urging me to join
him with all the troops at my disposal,
stating that Gen. Santa Anna was at least
preparing, if he was not already en- route,
to strike a blow at Saltillo! ] Immediately
joined Gen. Wool with 700 or 500 men,
and "a few days afterwards concentrated
all the troops, which were generally en-
camped by regiments, and took my po-
sition at Aqua Nueva, in order that all
the officers might become better acquaint-
ed with each other and their duty, and
that generally a more thorough system of
discipline and instruction could be adopted
to prepare all hands for service. While
here, l was advised by the War Depart
ment and the General-in- Ghetto occupy
Monterey. This advice / believed then,
as | do now, was given at hazard, and in
ignorance of my situation, of that of the
enemy, and of the country. I declined to
adopt it, and determined to fight the Mexi-
can General Immediately after he crossed
the desert country, which lay just in my
front; and before he could have time to-
refresh and reorganize, his army, l knew
would be much worn out and disordered
by a march of $50 miles across this des-
ert without sufficient provisions and sup
plies, and with a great scarcity of water.
In this determination, so far as l know,I
was most cordially sustained by the off,
GERS of my command. About two weeks
after taking my position at Aqua Nueva, it
was ascertained by my advanced parties
that Santa Anna was at hand with His ar
my. We then fell back to Buena Vista,
a ranch some six miles in front of Saltillo,
where we took up a strong position, and
where we could easily communicate with
our depot in the latter place. Upon this
ground l determined to give battle. The
enemy arrived in our front on the morning
of the 22d, and summoned me to surrender
at discretion about | o'clock of the same
day. The summons was declined, and
about 4 o'clock on that day the battle of
Buena Vista commenced. The result of
that affair is known to you all and / shall
not, therefore, trouble you with its details
All tried to discharge their duty to their
country on that occasion, and some even,
did more than their duty. 1t would then,
perhaps be invidious to draw comparisons,
but l must be permitted to say that, led on
by their distinguished commander, the
gallant Mississippi Volunteers, of whom
you have just spoken so highly and 30
justly, performed well their part. They
were the only volunteers with me who
had met the enemy before-haying acted
as would become veteran troops in the
conflicts about Monterey. I therefore
calculated mnch upon their assistance ON
that e%ventful day, and | am happy here to
say that my expectations were fully reali-'
zed. Their ranks thinned by The enemy's
bullets are much more conclusive as to
their good conduct than anything that I
could now say.
The battle of Buena Vista, under The
circumstances under which it was fought,
was one of the most trying occasions in
which a soldier can be placed. Imay say
indeed that l fought that battle with a
halter about my neck. ! had been ad-
vised to fall back and occupy Monterey,
which, as before stated, / declined, aud
had / been unsuccessful, this advice would
have been brought up in judgement
against me. / declined that advice becauSe
/ believed the result would have been ~
disastrous as a defeat. Had ! fallen back
to Monterey, the whole country about ma
upon which ] was greatly dependent
for forage, would have flown. to arms.
| Once conf ned in Monterey. the ~y0luntAaps