The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-10-06

0 speaking oil these services TO the galar
men whom | commanded on those occs
.lons, and to whom feel deeply indebte
Tor our success. Iclaim nothing save N
good fortune Of being the leader Of sue
men on The occasions referred to and L
their zeal in sustaining me, and to thei
bold hearts and strong arms, are we indie b
ted for our victories. The manner !,
which you have alluded to my being strip
PED oil my troops on the Rio Grande, ant
to my being left, as it might seem, q, The
mercy OF the enemy, just before the bat,
iIe OF Buena Vista, renders il proper, pro.
badly, that | should make few remarks
IN relation to that matter. received a,
Victoria, while on my way to Fampico-
movement which had advised the War
Department ! should make, for certain
reasons-an order from the General, in
Chief Of the army, stripping me of the
greater portion Of my command, and par.
licu'arly OF regular troops and volunteers
well instructed. This order was received
by me with much surprise, and | mus,
confess, produced the strongest feelings of
regret. modification, and disappointment,
as knew hat Gen. Santa Anna was with
IN striking distance Of my line, with an ar.
my OF $4,000, probably the best appointed
men ever collected in Mexico. After put.
ing most Of the troops then with me q,
Victoria en- route for Tampico-,he larg.
er portion Of the commands at Monterey
and Sa.iillo having been already with.
drawn for the same ultimate destination-
! was instructed to return to tho former
place, where it was expected | would re.
main on the defensive, with the small force
then under my orders. A few DAYS after
reaching that point lesrned that the
greatest alarm prevailed among the I'D.
vance at Sa'iillo, in consequence Of the
capture, at Encarnacion, Of Major. Dor.
land and Gaines, with their party of abou,
eighty picked men from the Arkansas and
kentucky cavalry-followed few DAYS
afterwards by the capture OF a detachment,
OF picked men under Capt. leady, also Of
the Kentucky cavalry.
About the same time received CON.
muulcaton from Gen. Wool, then commsn
dung a! Saltlllo, urging me 10 JON him with
all the troops a, my disposal, stating iha,
Zen. Santa Anna was q, least preparing, If
ne was no, already en- route, to strike blow
al Saliillo | immediately joined General
" DOL With 700 or 500 men. and few DAYS
concentrated all The troops
which were generally encsmped by regi.
ments and took my position at A qua Neu.
", 10 order that all the officers nigh, be
come better acquainted with each other and
their duty, d that generally a more thorough |
'ys'em OF discipline aud instruction could
'e adopted 10 prepare all hands for service.
While here, l was advised by the War De.
'ariment and the General in. Chief to oe.
'uPg Monterey. This advice | believed
hen, - | do now, was given st hazard,
md IN ignorance Of my situation, Of ;ha, oil
ne enemy, and Of the country. declin.
d 10 adopt il, snd determined TO fight the
Mexican General Immediately after he
crossed the desert country which lay jus, in
ny front, and before he could have time to
efresh and reorganize hls army, Which
new would be wuch worn ou, and t,sor.
Tered by a march of $50 mlles across this
esert ~ilhou, sufTicien, provisions and sup.
Ines, and with groa. scarcity Of water
q this determination, so far as ! know, |
'as most cordially sustained by the officers I,
| my command. About two weeks after
aking my position at Aqua Neuvs, i, was I
scernined by my advance parties lha, San.
Anna was at hand with his army. We $
hen fell back to Buena Vista, q ranch some q
* miles in front OF SdliiIlo, where We took !
p a strong position, and where we could .
asi'y communicate with our depot 10 The I
liter place, Upon this ground de,ermin. Q
to give battle. The enemy arrived in c
1r front on the morning Of the 22d and
Immoned me TO surrender at discretion a.
on, o'clock Of the same day. The sum
IONS was declined, and abou, 4 o'clock on
IA, day the battle Of Buena Vista common
ed. The result Of lha, affair Is known to
ou all and shaI! not. therefore. trouble you
18th its details. All tried to discharge their k
uty TO their country on that OCCASION aud C
,me even did more than their duty. Il S
ould then perhaps be inv.dious to draw II
'nparIsrns, but must be permitted TO say a.
al, led on by their distinguished comman h
n, the gallant Mississippi Volunteers, OF
HON you have jus. spoken SO highly and b
justly, performed we'll their part. They W
ere the only volunteers with me who had IN
ct the enemy belore-hsvlng acted as al
ou'd become veteran troops IN the con. I
cts about Monterey. | therefore csIcu bl
ted much upon their assistance on that q:
entful day, and am happy here to say "
at my expectations we're fully realized.- pit
heir ranks ,hlnned by the enemy's bullets
e much more conclusive as to their good III
nduct than anything tina, could now say. m
The battle OF Buena Vista, under the OF
under which it was fought, ar
rs one Of the most tfyin occasions IN ii,
,ich soldier can be placed. | may say gr
deed tina. fought that battle with hal. Sc
around my neck. had been advised w
fall back and occupy Monterey, which,
before stated, | declined, and had been SCI
successful this advice would have been u
ought up IN judgment against me. de. de
Al koI, Al