Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-09-04


We have before description of the battle g isaen,
&sa with the operations Of the Army Of OccupaiiJn
FIR month, by Captain Carleton. o. The IL Oaguons
1t Is accompanied By accurate plan Of the battle. a..
map Of me country about Buena Vista extending from
North 10 South, far enough to include mercy ana e.
carnaCl II.
This work gives grsphic and highly n,.res ing ac
count uf the battle and movements which led 10. and e
loWed It, which ufie il has all the details tl., are de
mandei by sdler. End the references .Itho,iies
demanded BY the Astdrian ; i'll 81 thal il sjcleIr
language that the general reader carried .y il ~ by
highly wrought romance. We give few extracts to
Slow something uf is yle anl If is contents -Boston
ldrcitiser
Perilous position ofMe Illinois end xcn'uciy Rec;
ment. ny hile the ~. caral.y and .nfar,y which
etl had bus sgnally defeated were moviu. in e.rea,
alagg The mead OF Tie plaeaa CEri.n = and rhoIaa,'.
pieces ;dvsrced we'll font. and then came
Into action, and opened heavy fire on them ald c.
lonels Nlrdih, Bis,el., and Mckee. w,h their lH,s
aud keatucky troops. das'Iel gtllsny t,rHMI in hn
pursuit. The powerful Of ti.e Mexican army
va. just then elner4ln, from me sa.'s hey. i. had been
organized, and cDmng forward on The patran opposite
the head ;lie third gorge Those who were ,iy.n.
way rallied quickly up)nt when III. l.o. turcr thus
increased 10 over J.! UUU men, cane forward in perc.
blaze of fire Il was single column. compose. II tie
best soldiers Of the rpubc, and having fT lis ad sncd
battali'ns the veteran reg uenis The Kentucky and
ILLINOIS troops were obliged to give ground Dt.re
IL. ard 10 seek the shelter ofihe secnad gorge. A. ihe
.sAirans pass d on. U!fen ana In"ala- opened ny u,
'bem with ca Ists instead ut sornI gu; ...pl sho,.
Being very close, the destruction u He, caused rs i.e
three pieces. inHense. The adSaac- .: .hs c !.
unn. however. was retarded f1r they ',r,ps
o: 's Old .l!~. and were omsd 10 blood: Arvln.
opp ste :e heal 0: the second 70. bali OF this
clHnn sIIl-ulY eRrcluped il, while he o. her half
pressed ,.s g.s.is. having ~. ;.e lula-nt
nohlng TOP >ls he" bat l.s three guns :. their .ran
The portion. thai VA. immediately opposed tn Ken
sncAy Al. Illinois Tonps an d~n slon. each side q!
The csce in "hch thy had sou. Int ehrlter, and AS.
c'cled around rs head and then there possible.
way Of escape so,'hem except rs Is a.,I.i,. "Hch
pened upon .he ,o,d. is sides vese ss.p-.' !.as',
an ansle tJry degrt.s-weTe covered Hs i,o5. pc.
I DIES ana stj.fs. Ara ven. t. DHR - the btli,H-
OJvp there We.e poor rllpws.-nesrly ;h... ....
r,sn's .: '..m.-wllh but little oYl. rinny 10 i.,i
&c gun. b4iH. 'ardy able even t, k.-, 'seir i.e,.
Abovs. 'e u.e edge OF the sr.. al the was a: ~
darkened by He .ered mas.4. Of 'ae .neDy and
GTIstin- NJ, muske:s directed upon the csO.t
nelth J. 'me to pau--, ;ose Who we'e nor sI
lNedlte .hJ. down rushed on toward III. .o.d, 'l.
numbers gown. less and less as ,hey vent: NentYck
lans and iuo;ans ofcers an! men. q. .Gixe ~. in
cousJn aud all Tsessns ono.s! de loose I-bbles and
rolling stnnes OF those shelving. perpit han... and
having lines and lines Of the sneRy 6rn1 do~n from
each side and in rear, they went. Just then tie IN,
euy cavalry "hlch had gone the et Of the reserve,
had line spur thai divides the Mo.:h L, The
second goree from that # the third, aal we're nov
closlrg w He only door through which there was the
Least shadow ola chance for their lives Many Of os.
ahead elledvoel to force their way out but few sue
ceeded the ianc5rs were fully six to one, and tn !r
long weapons were already reeking with blood. Il was
at this time that those, no sill back in that dread
ful gorge, heard, alb We the da Of he musketry and
the shi's Of the enemy around Them. The suar Of
Washingtuns b4ery. No music could have l<en more
grateful 10 their moment only, AMI he whole
opening, where the lancers were busy. runr witt. the
repeated explosions Of spherical shot Ihey gave
wayS Inc gate. as 1t We're. clear. and out upon
the road ST ram of our poor fellows ssned. Yhe ran
painting down towards the battery. and directly under
the fl ght Of iron then passing their head. into the
rrIrealing cavay Hardin. Mckee, Clay, Wills.
ZI5rlskle. ll'ushun,-bnt why 90 On Il would be
sad task indeed 10 all who sell during This
twenty mnu'es slaughter. The hole gorge, fr,n the
plateau 10 lis mouth was sirewed with dead; all dead
~ wounded there not man; for the infantry had rush
Ell down The Sides and Completed the work with The bay
Gallant Resistance Of It. O'B,ien-Simulianeousl
with all his, the other portion Of tile enemys immense
force continued 10 advance dlagonay down the plateau
towards the very point occupied by the c,u,maudIny
General. There was nothing To impede their rrogres,
but the artillery under Li4nienants OBriAn and Yhon
as. The former Of these officers with his two pieces
was abul hundred yards Ia the right and in advance
Of the latter; and bJih though unsupp- fpd fell back
lhey knew our hoops were hnfIyug up from The rear
and that. II hey cOuld rrtard the enemys course hui a
few minutes longer. the iie Of ba tle now setnu 6,
heavy against might more turn In our yor-I
Sherman a"d Bragg were urging their batteries with
whip. spur, and even with drawn sabres the drauon,
Were eomaS with them; while TO The lrfr. DAVIS an
Lane. with hels riiienen and intantry-the men viii,
Iraed arms, were adT1ncng. at run, over the riJres
and ravIes. the awful fire of mliskery on The plateau
aud down around that dismal gorge, proeaimus with
earu eloquence the necessity Of their speed CLser
and closer pressed the Mexicans- O'2rien saw that
t he llibered mp in time 10 his guns the enemy
Nould carry the pa teau oeure other gt artillery
;uld get it, but that if he stood his ground and touph
hem until they lost there was still chance re
naming retrieve the fortunes OF the day. Il was
most critical moment. and his most perilo,s situation
his choice there rested Infinite responsible His
iecision. under the circumstances, stamped with
uore of heros'n than any other act during the war
He eleced to lose his Guns. ..-.-.
Sill onward the Mexieans, O'Bren's men
we're falling around him. he was himself wounded
ready horses had been killed under him. and the
bird bleeding; besides those attached 10 his peces
nd caiSsons nearly All down. and Struggling in
heir harness. He looked back, and saw that he troors
were now nearly up, and encouraged his lille
aI.sful ii continue their exer,ons The eunl and
Intrepid Eomas Ils LETT kept bu.ily 4. his work