Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-25

we copy some extracts from q volume is
sued by the Harpers, under this title. Il
is written by Capt. Carleton of the LIST
Dragons, who was aid 10 Gen. Wool, and
an active and prominent participaior in the
stirring scenes Of that bloody field. lis
style is clear and concise, yet every scene
is drawn as with a r pencil.
We have room this week for only two
extracts
PERILous POSITION OF THE ILLINOIS AND
KENTucK REGIMENTS.
While the enemy's cavalry and infantry,
which our left had thus signally defeated,
uas moving in retreat along the head Of
the plateau, O'Brien's and Thomas's pieces
were advanced well TO The front. and then
came into action, and opened a heavy FIRE
on them aud Colonies Hardin, Bisscll,
and Mckee, with their Illinois and Ken
lucky troops, dashed CALAMITY forward in
hot pursuit. The powerful reserve Of the
Mexican army was just then emerging
rom the rayine where il had been organ.
lied, and coming forward on the plateau,
opposite the head Of the third gorge
Those who were giving way rallied quick
" upon il when the whole force, thus in
creased to over ~, 900 men, came forward
in a perfect blaze of FIRE. Il was a single
column. composed Of the best soldiers OF
the Republic, and having for its advanced
battalions the veteran regiments. The
Kentucky aud Illinois troops we're soon
obliged TO give ground before it, and to
seek the shelter Of the second gorge. As
the Mexicans pressed on, O'Brien and
Thomas opened upon them with canister,
instead Of round and hollow shot. Being
very close, the destruction Of life, caused
by their three pieces, was immense. The
advance of this column, however, was not
retarded for they were troops OF the old
line. and were accustomed to blood. Ar
irving opposite the head Of the second
gorge. one-half Of this column suddenly
enveloped it, while the other half pressed
on across the plateau. having for the mo-
ment nothing TO resist them but the three
guns in their front. The portion, that was
Immediately opposed to the Kentucky and
Illinois troops, ran down along each side Of
the gorge in which they had sought shelter,
and also circled around its head and then
there was no possible way OF escape for
them except by its mouth, which opened
upon the road. Its sides we're sieep,-at
least, at an angle Of forty degrees.-were
covered with loose pebbles and stones, and
went 10 a point al the bottom. Down there
we're our poor fellows,-ncarly three regi.
menis Of them,-wiih but little opportunity
TO load or fire a gun, being hardly able
even to keep their feet. Above, The whole
edge of the gorge. oil the way around, was
darkened by the serricd masses Of the ene.
my, aud was b%ristling with muskets direct
ed upon the crowd beneath. II was no
time 10 pause those who were not immedi-
ately shot down. rushed on toward the road,
their numbers growing less and less as they
went Kentuckians aud lllinoians, officers
aud men, all mixed up in confusion, and all
pressing on over the loose pebbles and roll.
ing stones Of those shelving, PERCEPTIONS
banks, and having lines aud lines-of the
enemy firing down from each side and in
rear, as they went. Just then, the enemy's
cavalry. which had gone to The left Of the
reserve, had come over the spun that di.
vides the mouth Of The second gorge from
that Of the third, and were now closing up
the only door through which there was the
least shadow Of a chance for their lives
Many OF those ahead endeavored TO force
their way out but few succeeded The
%lancers fully six TO one, and their long
weapons were already reeking with blood.
1t was at this time that those, who were
still back in that dreadful gorge, heard,
above the din Of the muskelry and the
shouts Of the enemy around them, the roar
of Washington's Battery. No music could
have been more grateful 10 their ears. A
moment only, and the whole opening.
where the lancers were busy, rang with the
repeated explosions of spherical-case shot.
They gave way. The gate, as it were,
was clear, and out upon the road a stream
Of our poor fellows issued. They ran pant
ing down towards the battery, and directly
under the flight of iron then passing over
their heads into the retreaiing cavalry
Hardin, Mckee, Clay, Willis, Zabriskie,
Houghton, but why go ont 1t would be
a sad task indeed 10 name over all who fell
during this twenty minutes slaughter
The whole gorge, from the plateau to its
mouth, was sirewed with our dead all
dead no wounded there, not a man for
the Infantry had rushed down the sides,
and completed the work with the bayonei.
GALLANT RESISTANCE OF 1T. o'BRIEH.
Simultaneously with all this, The other
portion Of the enemy's immense force con-
linued to advance diagonally down The pia-
ieau, toward the very point occupied by the
commanding General. There was nothing
10 impede their progress but the artillery
under Lieutenants O'Brien and Thomas,
The former of these officers, with his two
pieces, was about a hundred yards 10 the
right and in advance of the latter nnd
both, though unsupported, fell back no fast,
er than the recoil Of their runs would car
~ them. They knew our troops we're hur
rying up from the rear, and that, If the,
could reiard the enemy's course but a few
minutes longer, theliide of battle, now set
ling so heavy against us, might once NOR,
turn in our favor. Sherman and Brags
were urging on their batteries with whip
spur, and even with drawn sabres I; the dra
goons were coming on with them Will,
TO the left, Davis aud Lane, with their ri
iemen and infantTy,-the men with trailet
arms,-were advancing, at a run. over th'
ridges and r%ayines; the awful FIRE of mus
kerry on the plateau, and down around tina