Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-08-08
History Of the Buena Vista Flas of
.s49 Truce. -t.-.

-saH Truce. t,
Among the really valuable addresses delv.
cred on The occacion of the death of the late
President Taylor, is one pronounced at Salem,
Mass, on the 18th nlt., by the Hon. C. Upham.
1t contains an account of the celebrated flag of
truce which, during The battle of Buena Vista,
was sent from Santa Anna 10 Gen. TAYLOR :;
and as this account was derived from the lips
of the late President, il is veracious in every
respect and will hereafter pass into history
The passage is as follows:
As this incident of the battle may possibly,
If the secret history of the war is ever fully re-
yealed. be found TO shed light upon il, will here
record the facts related TO me by Gen. Tavlor
himself During the heigh, of the conflict flag
was seen approaching. The emergencies of
the day had SO stripped him of his staff, tha,
having no one 10 send, he went himself 10 meet
H. As the young officer who bore i. could
not speak English nor he Spanish, the confer
ence took place in French The communica.
lion was this: "Gen. Santa Anna desires TO
know wha. Gen. Taylor wants ?" Feeling
somewha, indignant that a message so appar.
emily imperinent should have been sent al
such moment. and regarding it as perhaps a
device merely to gain lime or some other lille.
gl'maIe advantage. or al best species of rri-
fling, ne gave an answer dictated by the feel
ing of the moment. "Whal Gen. Taylor wants
is Gen. Santa Annals army"
Here the conference closed, and the Mexi.
can officer Withdrew. Upon moments refec-
lion, he regretted that he had given an answer
so undiplomalic, and having so much the air of
a repar,ee. He called to mind the fact ,ha,
his government had advised him that they had
favored the return of Santa Anna to Mexico,
from belief tha. he was disposed 10 promote,
and might have influence enough with his
countrymen TO effect termination of the war,
and it occurred 10 him, really designed TO open
the way for negotiation. and perhaps paci6ca-
ticn-an object ever near TO his heart. He
rode over the fields in search of General Wool,
made known the circumstances TO him, and
suggested, if not two great a personal expo
sure, the expediency of his carrying flag of
truce 10 the Mexican lines TO ask an explana-
ton of the me ssage.
TO send an officer of his rank, character and
position, would remove the ndignity, if it should
be so regarded, of his blunt and summary an
swer General Wool readily and gallanlIy un-
dertook the service, and rode forth 10 execute
it, but the fire Of the Mexican batteries could
not again be stopped, and no fur,bur parley took
place. The next morning, when Col. Bliss was
sent with flag TO the Mexican Head Qurters,
he was requested TO ascertain what had been
intended by the message of the previous day,
bu, he found the state of things such as to ren.
der 1t vain TO enter upon the subject. The i'm
port of the message remains unriddled 10 this
day. Santa Anna can undoubtly solve the
enigma.
Mr.. Upham, in the course of his address gives
numerous anecdotes, exhibiting the late Presi
dents courage and generosity. Among other
instances of the display of these qualities on
The part Of the deceased hero, he gives the fol-
lowing:
In the conversation, from which derived
these Interesting items of information, General
Taylor described 10 me the anxious consuIra-
lions Of the second night Of The battle His
officers came TO him, one after another, express
sing decided opinion that his army was TOO
much broken 10 be brought up TO the struggle
another day. He declared 10 them his belief
that, dreadfully as his forces had suffered, the
enemy had suffered worse that retreat or any
other alternative was entirely out Of The ques-
ton, that he had made his arrangements TO pre-
sent, still formidable front to The foe, and all
that remained for them was 10 make up their
minds 10 conquer or die together if the assault
upon their position should be renewed with the
returning light. But" said he, gentlemen,
il will no, be renewed. | surveyed the whole
field as the sun wen, down, and believe we
have beaten the enemy"
When the day dawned. it was discovered
that Santa Anna had Hed from the ground
General Taylor Instantly ordered train of
wagons, provided with medical and other means
of relief, accompanied by surgeons from his
own army, to follow on the track of the Mexi-
cans and administer to the wants of the woun-
ded and disabled whom they had abandoned on
their retreat. Upon some ones expressing a
doubt whether such use of the public stores
and wagons, for the benef, of the enemy, would
be allowed by the Department, Taylor cut the
difficulty shor, q. once, by saying, Then |
will pay the blI''-and to provide for the con-
lingency. he directed a separate accoun, to be
kept Of all that was expended for the purpose.
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