Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-23

lars will go of action in perfect order and return
again to the charge apparently disprted by retreat
while volunteers, equally brave often become panic
stricken, and retire confusion and generally all
effort 10 rally them proves fruess Let il be borne in
mind that the second Indiana regiment had the pos Of
danger assigned them as the result proves from the
number OF witnesses left on the ground, which, the
honorable Senator from Mississippi OCCASION said,
"neyer s." This regiment was statonedin advance OF
any other facing heavy battery, and in position TO be
raked obliquely from the musketeers Of the enemy.
Many of them the field for the first time; they
were mostly young men; and yet they stood, facing
fearful odds as to numbers exposed a front and
raking side hire, without alterng, but advancing, until
they had discharged twenty rounds and lost thirty-ve
killed and many wounded. Sir, there a cow
ard heart beat in the breast Of one Of those men.
Overcome by the brute force OF numbers unsupported
at the time by other regiments they still fought on
I'll ordered 10 retreat and the order given once twice.
yea thrice the testimony before the court of inquiry
proves, before the regiment gave way. Had they
treated IN ORDER instead OF confusion they would have
received, contend they merit honor for having
done their duty valiantly any that battle
field
As to the conduct of General Lane on that occasion
am content to read the opinion of those who witnessed
II: and those whose duty it make il part Of the
history Of the battles viii only refer to the reports
General Taylor and General Wool and point the evi.
dence he bears on his person. No man, believe, has
ever breathed suspicion against his courage and brave
ny, to daring.
men will read from the official report of General Tsy-
lor, dated Headquarters Army of Occupation, Aqua
Nueva, March 9th, lS47:"
''The second Indiana and second Illinois regiments
formed this part Of line the former covering three
pieces of light artillery, under the command of Captain
O'Bren-Brigadier General Lane being in the immed-
ate command. In order to bring his within efec
tive range General Lane ordered the artillery and the
second Indiana regiment forward The artillery ad
vanced within musket range of a heavy body of Next
can infantry and served against il with great e
feet but without being able check its advance The
infantry ordered to its support had fallen back dsor
der, being exposed well the battery not only to
severe fire of small from the front, but also
murderous cross-fre of grape and canister from Mex
battery the left Captain 0'Brien found it i'm
possible TO retain his position without support, but
only able TO withdraw of his pieces all the horses
and cannoners of the third piece being killed disa
bled. The second Indiana regiment which had fallen
back as stated could not be rallied and took further
part in the action. except handful of men, who under
the gallant Colonel Bowes joined the Mississippi regi
ment, and did good service and those fugtves who,
late period in the day, assisted in defending the train
| and depot at Buena Vista"
/ will read part Of the report of General Lana
himself
| "The men under my command actually discharged
eighty and ninety rounds Of cartridges the
my during the day. The second regiment Of my CON-
mand, which opened the battle the PLAN snch gal.
liant STYLE deserves passing remark. shall attempt
to make apology for their retreat for il their
duty stand die to the last man. until they received
orders retire; bat desire cali your attention
one fact connected with this affair. They retained
their position line receiving the fire of three or four
thousand infantry in front, exposed the time
the lett flank TO most desperate ras.ng fire from the
enemy's battery, posted within point blank shot, until
they had deliberately discharged twenty rounds of cart
ridges at the enemy"
/ will call the attention of the Senate to an extract
from the report of Captain O'Bren to show the posi-.
ton in which the Indiana regiment was placed. He
says:
''On the morning Of the 22d instant was placed on
the elevated plain which afterwards became the battle
ground in command Of three pieces Of light artillery
viz: twelve FOUNDER, six-pounder gun, and
four FOUNDER Mexican gun. No opportunity offer.
ed for the of these pieces until the morning Of the
2Sd instant, when pushed the howtzer close TO the
mountain and fired few shells at a body of Mexieans
that advancing along its SLOPE in order get pos
session Of the head of the rayine which troops
were then posted. Finding the elevation distance
great OF my shots to be wasted dis.
continued the fire and moved my battery the position
assigned it in line During this time battery OF heavy
Mexican artillery was playing against me, at such dis
lance that it impossible for attempt return
its fire. Soon after this directed 10y Brissdier
General Lane to my battery forward in order to
check the advance of lancers who reported
be coming up the rayine the enemy line The
second regiment of Indiana volunteers ordered to
support me
musket range Of about three hundred Mexican infantry
while their battery thre hundred yards on my left was
pouring in heavy discharges of grape and canister
opened the fire against the infantry and ances with ire
menduons effect Every shot, whether canister SHE'LL
seemed TO tell. The enemy wayered and fell back I
advanced on him about fifty yards He stronglyre
niorced until in fact found his main body pressing on
me. The pieces were admirably served, but Jailed any
longer check his advance Every gap in the Mexi.
can ranks closed made On looking round
at this moment discovered that the tremendous
fire of the had forced the regiment ordered
support TO fall back. Deeming il useless to remain
alone and sacrifice my pieces needlessly, waited till
the enemy still Closer and gave the order linn
Der up and retire found that all the horses and all
the cannoniers Of the Mexican ourpounder were either
killed disable The other pieces in but little
better condition / succeeded however, in Withdrawing
them, and retired TO our ne On arriving there, had
not cannonier to work the guns-a had been disabled
from the other batteries or from any other source was
compelled 60 JOIN your battery which guarding the
pass the foot of the heights"
Now, sir. il must be remembered that at the time
General Taylor made his report and the time Gener
al Lane made his IT not known that order 70
treat had been given the second Indiana regiment.
The impression prevailed that these men had broken
ground without any order from any officer in mand
General Lane for the purpose of setting himself and his
command right before the country, preferred charges
against Col w. Bowles of the second Indiana youn-
Ieers, and of inquiry called, at Colonel
Bowess request to investigate his conduct In the battle
of 23d Of February 1S47 between the forces of General
Taylor and General Santa Anna, in Mexico That court
was ordered the 18th Ct April lS47, and il was CON-
posed of Colonel Bissell Of the second Illinois voun-
eers and Lieutenant Colonel McCook, third Ohio vol
unteers and second Lieutenant Franklin, OF the Topo
graphical Engineers, appointed Judge Advocate
BY that court of inquiry much testimony was taken l
will read an extract from the testimony OF Lieutenant
Colonel Haddon, of the second Indiana Volunteers to
show that the order to "cease firing and retreat was
! given: s.7 Il saes IS. ID
The regiment had stood firing upon the enemy twen
ty thirty minutes, should think, when made turn
the centre of the regiment to 60 Tor the right, and
while riding to the right, heard command given to
cease firing which judged TO be from Colonel Bowles
least nv eve towards Colonel Bowles, Che was about