Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-09-14
Published every Thursday
From Inc ErdnSrfffe democrat
10 the Public.

which she sent into the field during the war with
Mexico Interested partisans In this State (and
greet that it is SOL appear resolved upon dsgracing
themselves and The State of their nativity adoption,
by the publication Of glaring falsehuods and state
ments wholly unfOunded in fact, put forth in the at
tempt to secure a mere partisan triumph. | alude To
the ISLANDERS which from time time have been per-
perated by different persons, both in Official dOcu-
ments and otherwise, upon the I'd Indiana Regiment
relative their conduct in the battle of Buena Vista.
In this Communication | shall rely upon facts
known to the world and upon official documents which
will neither be disputed denied. great and
lasting disgrace has been attempted to be fastened
upon the fair fame of State. and call upon every
citizen high and low, vndlcate her honor and TO
wipe off the foul stain cast upon her bright es-
cutcheon.
Gen. Taylor in his official report of that battle
mistaken as to the facts, and has made statements
wholly at variance with them; particularly with
gard Ia the conduct of that regiment. If he had
hasened repair the injury thus inflicted, as soon
as he became apprlsed OF it, the present statement
from myself vs., ud not have been necessary. But
instead of correcting what he has stated, he persists
in repeating il in The offensive manner; and that
too in tl.e face of facts numerous and we'll
authenticated TO be denied evaded In his political
letter to his friend the Hon. G. u. Dunn, be still IN
sists that the charge of cowarGce is stated
his official report; that his official report was made
up from the reports Of his inferior officers and from
personal observation upon the field. And upon this
bis friends say that If ndiaHians have been disgraced,
those officers and myself the
will here bring Gen. Taylor's official report and
my own together that the public may judge between
u.s. by whose fault 1t that disgrace has been cast
Indiana.
II should be borne in mind that Gen. Taylor
not upon the battle field of Buena Vista the 23d
February, until long after the action commenced TN
the mountain side until after the retreat of the I'd
regiment He had Oassed the night at Salto, seven
miles in the and did not arrive until after nine
O'Clock on the morning of that day.
was in the Immediate personal command OF the
ID regiment and Capt o Briens battery and opened
the battle on the plain Who had the better oppor-
tuny Of knowing To The conduct of those troops,
Gen Taylor or myself! l made report of that bat
tie so far it came under my observation. Gen.
Taylor also made report and the question now to
be presented is did he oOo the report of his inferior
officers! Did he follow my report relative TO my
command, He did not and here is the proof.
Extract from Gen. Taylors report of the battle of
Buena Vista dated Aqua Nueva, March 9th, lS47.
"The Cd Indiana and Cd Illinois regiments formed this
part Of line he let) the former covering three
of light artillery under the order OF Capt u Drlen,
Brigader Gen. Lane being IN the immediate command.
In order to bring his men within effective range Cen
Lane ordered the artillery and I'd Indiana regiment for
ward The artillery advanced within mus ke range OF
heavy body OF Mexican Infantry and served against 1t
great effect but without being able to check its ad-
The infantry ordered To its support having fallen
back in disorder, being exposed well as the battery
not only fire OF small arms from the front but
also murderous fire of grape and canister from
Mexican battery the left Capt U Brlen found 1t i'm
possible retain his position without support but was
only able Withdraw of his pieces, all the horses
and cannoners of the third piece being killed or dsa.
bed The I'd Indiana regiment 1kich had fallen back
stated could NOT took further part the
action except hand(vt,9f under tts gallant Co..
BQes joined the Mississippi regiment and did good SER
rice and those nghves who later period in the day
assisted in defending the train and depot Buena VISTA
NV own official report Of this part of the battle
and of the conduct of the ID regiment follows:
Extract from my official report of the battle of
Buena Vista, dated Buena Vista Feb the 25th, l847.
al Immediately put my column in motion consisting of
those eight battalion companies and 1t Briens battery
OF three field pieces amounting IN all 10 about 4UO men
to meet them. The enemy when they depoyed from
the Tavine and appeared the ridge, displayed force
of about 1000 infantry supported by large body OF
lancers. The infantry immediately opened most
destructive fire which returned by my small COM
mand, both infantry and artillery in most gallant
for time l soon perceived l was too far from
the enemy for my muskets To take that deadly effect
which desired and Immediately my aid de camp
1t Brien, directing him To place his battery IN more
advanced position with the determination OF advancing
fmy whole line. BY this movement should not only be
enemy but should also bring the company
my lett more completely into action the brow
Of a hill impeded their FIRE. BY this time the enemy
FIRE of muskery and the raking fire of ball and grape
shot, of their battery posted my left flank had become
terrible and infantry instead OF advancing was n
tended regret say retired in disorder from their
position, notwithstanding my own, and the severe efforts
of my officers 10 prevent them About the same time
the rIfemen aud cavalry the mountain retired TO the
plain below. Crhe Arkansas cavalry who had been
posted by your orders ia my rear the foot Of the
mountain act circumstances might require) also
left their position, the whole making retrogade move
along the plain towards the rear, the time
one of the Illinois regiments not under my command,
hut stationed distance in the and the right
of my position, also retired the
These troops the most of them Immediately raj
lied and fought during The tohOte day like Ueterans
few of them regret to say did not return to the field at
all.
"The under my command actually discharged
eighty rounds and ninety rounds of cartridges
the enemy during the day. The I'd regiment of my CON-
mand which opened the battle the plain in such GAL
liant style, deserves passing remark. shall attempt
make apology for their retreat, for il their duty
stand and die the last until they received orders
To retire. But desire to call your attention TO fact
competed with this affair. They remained their po-
snon In ne receiving the fire OF 5000 1000 infantry
in 'front.' exposed most destructive raking fire from
the enemys battery posted within point blank Shot,
Ill they had deliberately discharged twenty rounds of
cartridges at the enemy.
| " Some may be formed for those who retired
for few minutes and then Immediately rallied and
fought during the day; but unless they hasten TO retrieve
their reputation disgrace forever hang around the
name of those who refused and regret say
there few from nearly every volunteer corps en-
gagged"
Here is all that is said relative to the conduct Of
the I'd Indiana regiment In that battle, either by Gen.
eral Taylor or by myself | have given these alb
siracts IN full, to prevent oil msapprehensiOn or mis-
take. This is the necessary, as | perceive that
part of the press in this State when discussing This
question. constantly misleading their readers by
giving CARRIED extracts only.
i There are two material facts known TO every ORG
upon that ield-known TO Gen. Taylor when he made
his report, and which are embodied in my report
which facts General Taylor does not even alude to-
to-wit first, that the regiment Immediately rallied
and next tIIOt they fought all day Read again those
sentences in The above extracts in italics. and con-
trast them Gen. Taylor says: they could not b
rallied and took further part in The action, except
handful Of icho rallied under the gallant Coone
BorleS." This statement is not true. In my rcpur-