Washington telegraph., 1850-08-07


BIssEL's RETREAT AT BUENA VIsTA.-
We have been told by one who was
there, the minutie, of this proceeding.
When the aid on duty (who was Colonel
ChurchilD gave Col. Bissel the order TO
retreat. the Indiana regiment was in rap
I'd flight ia rear of Bissel's scattered over
half mile of ground, each man evident
ly thinking the battle lost, and trying to
save himself: and as soon as BisseI's men
should be faced about to fall back, those
fving men would be in full view, and of
course the panic they were under must
naturally influence somewhat those who
sto>S Sii~ thousand Mexican infantry
were pouring down upon the devoted
regiment, in steady advance by column,
in front and flank, assailing them, within
point blank distance, with steady hail
storm of iron and lead; four thousand
cavalry were looming up behind these
columns of infantry, waiting for a favor
able moment, at the least sign of waver
ing OH our part, to charge and complete
the work of destruction: three pieces of
artillery were laundering on them their
death messengers of grape and canister,
tearing through their ranks like hail
storm of vengeance, aud they seemed to
stand alone, exposed to all this concen-
trated attack, determined on their ami
hiation.
70 the aid, Col. Bissel replied: Il am
not ready to retreat yet, whilst his reg
iment continued returning the fire of the
Mexicans. In few moments, the CO.
lionel ordered. cease firingn' shoulder
arms,""d ressn' The Mexican fire was un-
ahateo, and then for at least two minutes
did that noble body of men stand under
steady, calling and raking fire of artil-
lery and masketry. with an overwhelm-
ing force of infantry and cavalry ad
vancing upon them, unblenching and un-
wavering, without firing gun.
Not man moved, while their Colo
nel's eye ran along the line to see if any
one quaied-"About face,' ''dress,,' ''for-
ward march," they moved off in common
time. 'Quick time-marchH and the
regiment retired under circumstances
which has never failed before in the his
tory of war In causing panic. The
Mexicans considered themselves certain
of victory, and with "vivas" and "hur-
rah, on came their splendid cavalry,
surging down in their green and scarlet,
their plumes waving. ard their lances
cleaning in the sun, with their thousand
gay streamers catching the glistening
beams as every breath of air huttered
them like gIitIering leaves of fairy for
est, upon that apparently devoted body
of men.
Two hundred yards quickly passed,
Bssers men reached the spot designed
for them to hold The lancers were pre-
paring for the last charge, which was to
hurl our brave fellows into the ravine
before them. HALT "dressn' Coolly
and calmly as if on parade, did those
Suckers obey the command, whilst the
thunder of squadron after squadron Oh
the slope they had just left, told that the
enemy was upon them. They could not
see them, but they could hear the horses
hoofs. the jingle of sabres and the clatter
OF lanoes, the inspiriting charge of the
bugle and the 'vivas' Of the men, as they
rushed on the seemingly easy victory;
and no doubt many a heart futtered, and
many an eye glanced involuntarlly
around-for it is a fearful thing to know
lH"' tii 0hOu-y - uPO" yOoi DoSh, Oo'
not muscle sWerved.
about face" commence firing" and
volley oe musketry rolled upon those
huzzaing cavaliers, which silenced their
cheering; and as column and rank went
down before that deadly and steady fire
as their numbers lessened and their
chargers swerved from this serried line of
men who knew no defeat; their column
wavered, trembling, as it were slackened
in speed, and broke in confusion. Raj
lying back IN tumutuous retreat upon the
infantry the whole division was involved
in inextricable confusion, and in disorder
left the field. Thus was the tide of bat
tie turned on thai eventful day, and less
than half full regiment in numbers de-
feated ten thousand Of the flower of San
ia Anna's army; and that, too, when the
enemy was rushing in, flushed with vic
tory and encouraged by the flight OF one
regiment. saving the credit OF our arms
and the lives of the thousands who stood
there with them-IIiinois Argus.
STRANGE Law AS TO THEFT.-A singu-
7