The Ottawa free trader., 1849-04-20
BiSSe!fS Retreat at Buena Yisra.

lhe following article was written early
last summer, but the warm political can
vasS Kept II crowded out of our columns
and although It may no, seem so appr,pri-
ate now, and although Capt. Car.rion, in
his history Of the Battle of Biena Vista.
was published since this was written, has
gwen lair account of this mastery ina
hGuVre, yet, as we nave not seen his work
anu probably but fesv OF our readers ever
VIII get TO see IT, and as it is never too late
to do justice under such ciIcum,tancts. We
choose TO publish this just as it vas written
ht the time the items were given 10 u.s.
Jacksonville Argus.
a great deal has been said about the cln-
rl0is conduct Of our various vulunteerreg
mehtS, ahd under all the circumstances, we
can even excuse the rather hasiy and some
what too long continued retIeat Of The 2d
lhdlaua Reg ment. But we do think, that
ioul injustice, by neglect, has been done
our own brave ll!inoidus who were th.re.
lhey performed prOdigies Of valOr thathay
ana while such officers as Pike and Nav,
who scarcely ileshed their swords or SMELL
ed powder there, have been reaping the lie.
wards and praises Of victory, those men
who bore the brunt Of the fight, and stood
undaun'cd ON the plateaus aud in the ra a.
vines Of that field against force sometimes
as ten TO one against them. are almost for
gotten A just and impartial account
OF that day will show that to the two
regiments from Illinois is due the hon.
or OF that great victory il not entirely,
certainly 10 greater extent than TO any
other regiments or division of our army on
TIVE tield. As proof that wc claim not too
much we will give an instance of the cool
ness, decision, and moral courage exhibit.
ed by the officers and men of the Cd reci
ment under Col. Bsscll, which we have
not seen in print: and in print have never
seen cXcelled. Col. Churchill, in letter
to the Hon. 5. A. Douglass, thus describes
the position, the Importance of ret aiming H..
aud the reasons for considering this resi
ment as the key Of the whole operations
/ subsequent, and which resulted finally in
/ g!Orl ous victory:
swell, the I'd Indiana regiment retrca,cd
| by order Of its Colonp-was obliged to re.
treat from that position. 1t had then lost
near quarter of its force. Was that any
evidence Of cowardice on the part Of tn.
company officers and men? ? The first mill
tary iaut Jy tue mcnin that regiment
they felt il severely afterwards in C.
iectIng as their Colonel, rs is fire. qucnily III,
case. n man who may have been very
! good citizen at home; one they hoped ant
expected would be very kind and Indulgcn
to them IN service, and no doubt W as so bu
good Ter nothing as a commander, protector
or thctlcian. Their second one. or ni,be
haviour, consisitd d in continuing their fligh
instead of haulting and ralying on the frs
suitable ground. BY that flight the whole
plateau, to the left Of the ID Illinois rcei
mcnt, about half mile to the mountain
was open, the enemy fling upon that rcgi
mcnt, and approaching in large force, cvi
Gently with al Intention certainly with tho
chance IN lis then Positiun--to turn its lcl
Hank. gain lis rear, aud thus eject its cap
turc.
Seeing this; fcresecing the inevi,abl,
destruction Of the regiment by death cap
ture or Hight, in very few minutes; that
the main plateau must be held 10y that re-
e'ment alone. as infantry, I'LL other, then il
sight approaching should arrive. or the bat
tie would Ue irretrievably lost. the staff oili
ccr took upon himself, Gen. Wool being sti
engaged at the road, aid Gen. Taylor nc
yet arrived upon the iield-the responsible
iiy o' moving that regiment 10 the rear. am
placing IT, near its fist position, on th
verge Ul iaVinc, so that the enemy wou
not be able, easily, To gain its rear. Nc
the movement was hazardous one: re
treat movement is always more or less dan
eeronS, even with regular, veteran troop,
In ihis instance the regiment had been bu
q leW months IN the Serv vice-OiCt!s an
men; had never bee in battle, not evcnln
SNlI'niSh; and had just then witnessed In
HiGht "l another regiment, I'LL then its lei
h"nd piiiar, ~ panick and more, whe
faced ahout, u would ste that reg ineut run
inning from ;he field; the panic was like
to he contagious. But he resolved 10 Sav
the regiment, and hoped thereby 10 saw
the battle failing he would lose but hi
own character.
"lIe directed Col. Bis<cll TO retire wit
his regiment aud take another and bette
position. contiguous 10 aud 1n the right
hGht battery. This order was given whp
the 'gmcnt was receiving heavy an
killing fire from the advancing ru,cm,
i, aud many Of lis member. had fallen. D.
the order was executed ith cool prccisio
aud >teadyness and after marching aboc
two hundred yards III a hnc, ii as haul'c
by word "i command, faced ahon'. aud +,
su'ncd the fire. anl not uan was out ,
place, nor ont If aHgucmeN; aud all III
while under destructive fire. By th
tirmncss and good conduct, which was wi
MESSED hy many persons With Tia. most il
tense anxiety, the regiment and II, worth
commander, earned aud received grc'
: praisc; anI satisfied and rclcavcd him VIII
gave the order: held the position until !,
imIorced; and thereby opportunity was a
> Iurded for much more aud like bard work
: by that and other regiments during III
day, and before the victory was iinall
ours"
Bu. we have been told, by one who wa
there, the mirutia OF this proccc cling, whic
II was not, rs a matter of course, within tn
subject OF Col. C.'s letter to detail. Whe
, the aid on duty. (who was Col. Church,
himself gave Col. Bisseil the order to re
, treat, the Indiana regiment was in rapi
I Hight IN the rear OF Bisscifs scattered owe
, hall mile of ground, each man cvidcnil
$ thinking the battle lost, and trying to saw
hinScli-and as soon as BiSsers me
. should be faced about. TO fall back, ,hcs
, lying m,n would be in ful view, and
! course the panic they were under, mu,
, naturally influence sumcwhnt, even thos
WIN stood. Six thuusard Mexican inlau
| try, where pouring down upon this devote
4