Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-08-17

men, Approaching the town they were fred
upon by Capt. Webster from the reboubtoccu
lcupled by his company, and then moved off to-
wards the eastern side of the vale +, and obi
qnely towards Buena Vista. At this time, Capt
Shower moved rapidly forward with his piece,
supported by miscellaneous command of
mounted volunteers and fired several shots at
the cavalry with great effect. They were dri-
ven into the raylnes which led to theiower val
ley, closely pursued By Capt. Shower, who
was further supported by piece ofCapt. Web
ster's battery; under Lieut.. Donaldson. which
had advanced from the redoubt, supported BY
capt. Wheeler's company of Illinois volun-
teers. HE enemy made one or two efforts to
charge the artillery, but was finally driven
back IN confused mass, and did not again ap-
pear upon the plain.
In tbs meantime, the firing had partially
ceased upon the principal field The enemy
seemed to confne his efforts to the protection
of his artillery. and had left the plateau for
moment, when was called thither by very
heavy muslSetry fire. On regaining that posi-
ton, discovered that ouriniantry illinois and
I'd Kentucky had engaged a greatly superior
force OF the enemy-evidently his reserves
and that they had been overw helmed by num-
bers. The moment was most critical. Capt.
O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this
heavy charge TO the last, and was finally OBJ
liged TO leave his guns on the field-his infant
ry support being entirely routed Captain
Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was
ordered al once into battery. Without any in
fantry to support him, and at the imminent
risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapid
~ into action, the Mexican line being but a
few yards from the muzzle of his pieces. The
first discharge OF canister caused the enemy to
hesitate, the second and third drove him back
in disorder, and saved the day. The ID Ken
lucky regiment, which had advanced beyond
supporting distance in this affair, was driven
back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavaI-
ry. Taking ravine which led in the direction
of Capt. Washngton's battery, their pursuers
became exposed TO his fire, which soon check
ed and drove them back with loss. In the
meantime, the rest of our artillery had taken
I position on the plateau, covered by the Missis-
sippi and 81 Indiana regiments, the former of
which had reached the ground in time to pour
a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and
/ thus contribute to his repulse. In this last
conflict we had the misfortune to sustain very
heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, LIST Illinois, and
Colonel Mckee and Lieutenant Col. ii. Clay,
ID Kentucky regiments fell at this time while
galantry heading their commands.
No further attempt was made By the enemy
to force our posilion,and the approach of night
gave an opportunity TO pay proper attention to
\ the wounded and also TO refresh the soldiers,
who had been exhausted by lncessant watch
fulness and combat. Though the night was
severely cold, the troops Were compelled foI
the most TO bivouack without fires, expecting
that morning would renew the conflict. Du-
/ ring the night the wounded were removed tc
Saltlllo and every preparation made TO receive
! the enemy should he again attack our position
I Seven fresh companies were drawn from the
town and Brigadier Gen. Marshall, who haC
made forced march from Rinconada, will
a reinforcement of Kentucky cayalry ant
four heavy guns under Capt Prentiss. LIST art.
was near hand, whenit was discovered that
4 theenemy had abandoned his position durin;
the night Our scouts soon ascertained tina
he had fallen back upon Aqua Nueva. Thl
great disparity of numbers and the exhaustion
of our troops, rendered it inexpedient and haz
ardous 10 attempt pursuit. A staff officer wa
despatched TO Gen. Santa Anna to negotiat
an exchange OF prisoners, which was satisfaC
turily complet ted on the following day Gu
: own dead were collected and buried, and tn
Mexican wounded, of which large nambe
had been left upon the field, were removed t
. Saltillo, aud rendered as comfortable as circum
: stances would admit.
On the evening of the 18th, a close recon
| noissance was made of the enemys position
which was found TO to be occupied only By
; small body ofcavalry the infantry and ar;iller
: having retreated in the direction OF San Lui
Potosl. On the 9Th, our troops resumed the
2 former canpat Aqua Nueva, the enemy,s re5
q guard eyacuating the place as approached
leaving considerable number of wounded.
= was my purpose to beat up his quarters at Ell
: carnacion early the next morning, but upon e.
/, animation, the weak condition of the cayah
Il horses rendered it unavaiab bic to attempt
+ long a march without water. A comman
> was finally despatched to Encarnacion on I'll
e lst of March, under Col. Belknap. Some tw
+ hundred wounded, and about sixty Mexica
n soldiers were found there, the army passed q
i in the direction of Malehuala, with greatly r
II duced numbers.au suffering much from hung
n The dead and dying were strewed upon II
$ road and crowded the buildings of the haciel
e da.
n The American force engagedin the action
l. Buena Vista, is shown by the accompanyiI
Ii field report, to have been 334 officers, al
D. i ,425 u:en, exclusive of the small comTar
ID left in and near Saltillo. OF this number, tv
ne squadrons ofcavalry, and three batteries
light artillery, making not more than 453 me
n composed the only force of regular troops. 4
th strength of the Mexican army is stated by Ge
n Santa Anna, in his summons, to be 20, 900; al
= that estimate is confirmed by all the inform
as ton since obtained Our loss is 267 killed 4
30 wounded, and % missing OF the numero
II. wounded. many did not require removal to /
" hospital, and ii is hoped that comparative
of small number will be permanently disable
adj The Mexican loss In killed and wounded IN
d. be fairly estimated at 800, and will probat
tn reach 2,000 AT least 800 of their killed we
er left upon the field of battle. Wehave no mea
n of ascertaining the number of deserters al
la, dispersed men from their ranks, but il is know
ng to be very great. SOW
n Our loss lrus been especially severe in O.
Ii. GERS twenty-eisht hevitg been killed upon I
ID, field. We have 10 lament the death CAPITA
ii Geo. Lincoln, assistant adjutant general, Sc
oh ing ON the staff of Gen. Wool-a young O
~ Ger Of high bearing and approved galantry,w
~ fell early in the action. No loss falls nj
in heavily upon the army in the field than that
In Coils Hardin aud Mckee, and b. Coll Clay
al Possessing in ID remarkable degree the coi
Dst drnre of tlieir commands. AHA the last
"a ha wing enjoyed ti4c adVaHiagt ola military I'll
ol. cation, / had i0uked partlruia 10 them
on support ia case We met the enemy need
II, ..I,, mo auip no :