The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-04

In reply the honorable senator from North Carolina
stated, what now repeat alter due inquiry as TO .h
acs that Gen Lane made publication agansi the IN
esny or yeraeity OF The distinguished and gallant ohce
~ command o me Amefcan troops al the battle oil bpe
ma Vista After Gen. Lanes return home, and pendln.
me presidential canvass, he made several public ad
dresses TO his fellow OF which had th
pleasure OF hearing--ntended mainly as defence o
himself and his compeers in arms from his own State
he never, to my knowledge, made publication agains
Gen Taylor He did not in his public addresses mpeaet
the Seracity of that Object Sir might say, ali truth
that TO The b. 81 OF my recollection, be spoke in the
respectful manner OF his general conduct officer
man There is one thing wherein he did complain o
that othcer and that complaint waa general among my
constituency, and yet OF complaint with man
After Gen Taylor had made his Of he battle Of Buena
Vista to the Secretary Of War. mention being made
the reasons which prompted the retreat Of the second
lment OF Indiana volunteers Gen Lane called upon ht
commanding general and asked correction OF hs repof
/ IN one particular, He informed Gen, Taylor that not
wthsiapdng his men had stood fire of twenty rounds
wnhatandine they had thirtytye shot down ~ the
ranks, aud as many more wounded, and many of then
MORALLY s they did not finch yield their ground unit
ordered to do so by the colonel OF the regiment. Esari
person, think who knew the position OF that regimen
viii say that the order ought 10 have been gwen long be-
fore appears to have been; but when gwen the men
were bound by every rule of military discipline 10 obey
1 Though not skilled myself in the art Of war, and
having no personal experience in the field, all my reading
teaches all history proves that veterans and
Will 10 cut OF action in perfect orier, and return again
10 the charge not apparently dspirted by retreat; while
vonleers, equally as brave oitea become panic stricken,
and retire ~ utter confusion, and generally all effort to
rally them proves fruitess Let tbe borne in mlnd dat
the second Indiana regiment had The post Of danger as
signed them, the result proves from the number Of
witnesses lett on the ground, which, as the honorable
senator from Mississippi on one occasion sad, never
le.' This regiment stationed in advance OF any
other, facing heavy battery, and in position to be aked
obliquely from the muskeleers oi the enemy Many OF
them the field for the first time they were mos,
ly young and yet they stood, facing fearful odds
az TO numbers, exposed TO front and raklng side fire.
without faltcrng, but advancing, until they had dis
charged twenty rounds and lost thryhye killed and as
Innan od fhprp hpat heat
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 until ordered 10 retreat,
and the order given twceyea, thIiceas the les
mony before the court OF inquiry proves, before the
regiment gave way Had they retfeaed order, instead
Of confusion, they would have received, as contend
iantly any on that battle field The confusion
not the fault OF the men but resulted from the un
skilfulness of the officer who ordered the retreat.
AS to the conduct of General Lane that occasion,
am to read the opinion OF those who Witnessed it,
and those whose duty to make il part OF the his
General Taylor and General WOOL and point 10 the evi-
dence he bears his person. No man, believe, has
beahed suspicion against his courage and bravery
even 10 daring.
In relation to the conduct OF the second Indiana regi
men will read from the official report Of Gen. Taylor,
dated Headquarters, army OF occupation, Aqua Nueva,
March 6, lS47:"
"The second Indiana and second Illinois regiments
oned this part OF line the former covering three pieces
Of light artillery under the command of Captain O'Bfien
In order to bring his men within effective range General
ordered The artillery and the second Indiana regiment
forward The artillery advanced within musket range OF a
with great effect. but without being able to check sd
in disorder being exposed as well battery, only
to lire OF small arms from the front. but also TO
muderous fire OF grape and canister from Mexican
battery the left Captain o'Brien found impossible
retain his position without support, but only able 'o
withdraw OF his pieces, all The horses and
of third piece being killed disabled The second In
diana regiment which had fallen back stated, could no
bar ed Glrtha ri in tpp
handful OF men. who Under the gallant Col Bowle joined
The Mississippi legimea and did good service aud those
Tending tue train and depot at Buena Vista I"
4 will read part of the report of Gen Lane him
self:
.The men under my command actually discharged
eighty nnety rounds OF cartridges at the
during the day. The second regiment OF my commnnd
opened the battle the plain IN such galant style
deserves a passing remark. shall attempt 10 make M
apology for their retreat Tor II their duty to stand
die the last until they received orders TO retire ba
desire cell your fact connected viii
this affair They remained in their position in line, re
oeivns tho fire OF three OF oar honssna Infantry In front
rskng re from the enemys battery, posted within
ponlblspk shot, until they had deliberately discharged
tw enty rounds OF cartridges at the enemy =
will call the attention of the Senate to extract from
the report of Cap, OBrien TO show the position in which
the Indiana regiment was placed. He says
son morning of the 22d instant placed the
in command OF three pieces OF light artillery, viz one
FOUNDER, xpounder gun, and ourpouude
/
these pieces until the morning OF the z3d instant when
pushed howzer close the and fired lew
shells a body of Mexcans that advancing along u
Slope OF the head OF the raylnc
near which troops then posted Finding the Gle
vaou distance great OF my shots TO be
wasted discontinued the fire, and moved my battery to
the position assigned IL In line. During this time battery
o heavy MeIcsn artillery playing against me, a. such
a distance that impossible for TO attempt 70 re
turn its fire. Soon after this was dreced by Bhgadie
General Lane my battery forward in order 70 check
the advance Of laucers, who reported 10 bt
coming up the ravne nearest the enemy line The sec
ond regiment OF Indiana voluutcefs ordered 10 sop
port me,
"Ou arriving at the point indicated, | found myfcl
witon of about 300 Mexican nlanty, while
their battery, three hundred yards my left, was poprns
In heavy discharges OF grape and canister lopened ht
Gre against tho infantry and lsncers with tremendous ei
The enemy wnver.d and e.. back. advanced on hun
about fifty Yards He strongly reinforced, until, IL
ac, found hrs main body pressing me, The piece
admirably served but failed any longer 10 check hi
advance Every gap in the Mexican ranks closed p
soon as made. On looking round at this moment, dis
covered that the tremendous fire OF the enemy ha'
forced the regiment ordered my suppor 10 fall back
Deeming useless to remain alone, and sacrifice my piece
needcssy, waited I'LL the enemy came still closer, ant
then order TO Timber and retire. fosnd thu
and all the cnnuoniers Of the Mexican ipoun
der either killed disabled The other pieces
in but little condition succeeded however IN with
draw ing them aud retired line, Oh arriving there
/ had a cannoner work the guns-sll had been lis
either from the other batteries from other source,
compelled to join battery, which was guarding
the pa.s At the foot Of the hcighu"
Now sir il must be remembered that at the time Gen
Taylor made his report and at the time Gen. Lane made
his not known that order to retreat had beer
given TO the second Indiana regiment The impression
that these had broken ground without any