Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-01-23
The EsV5erf;s Vista.

The BV7en;, Vista.
\ correspondent Of the Richmond Enquirer,
thus describes the field Of Bucna Vista, long al
ter the sounds of the battle had died away;
when the roar of cannon, the groans Of the per-
iShng the shouts of the triumphant had all
ceased, and the vuturc and the iackall had re-
tir d from their horrible repast. Such picture
gives Us quite as vivid an idea Of the tcrrors Of
such conflict, as would the actual scene.
IL first rode over the battlefield of Buana
Vista with some half dozen officers, one Of whom
was Lieut.. Benham, Typographical Engineers,
who shared the perils Of the fight. lie first led
us by the long ditch, where rcposa the manes Of
the Americans who fell in the battle. a hun
dred yards further we came to the narrow pass,
between the base of high hill and the deep
cannoms or gullcys, which the MeXicans call An
goSturas, (the narrows,) where was stationed the
battery of Col. Washington, with a small ditch
on the right, in which lay two companies of
marksmen; and on the high hill to the left, be-
hind some loose rocks, hastily piled up, were
posted some Illinois troops. A deep ditch was
dug across the narrows, which are not more than
80 feet wide, in front of the battery. Next we
passed up the valley, eleven hundred yards dis
tant, to the SPOT where the discharges of Wash
ington's battery stopped the onset of the host Of
Mexican cavalry that attempted a charge on his
position A few hundred yards further, behind
the hills, IS where the Mexican lcgio!s concentra
ted before the commencement Of the action
From the last named point VIC aSc2nd2d to the
plateaus, where the main action took place, which,
at glance, NJ pears to b. q vast rllin, but which,
i'll reality. is broken by many ravines, stretching
down from the mountains. Here and there, on
the field, we passed an arm, leg, or a skull of
some Mexican. or pile of their dead. who, hay
ing fallen in the battle, were hastily and slightly
buried, and afterwards uncovered and mangcd
and scattered, by beasts Of prey. Passing fur
ther on, we looked upon the spot, beside Il little
bush, where Lincoln WIS la;d to bleed to death !;
and down in ravin" We arrived at the place
where fell the an;able Clay, fighting to tho last.
There, too, FIJI Harding; and near by lies the
Mexican (and lis horsc) whom Harding slew in
lis last moments. Here IS the spot where Bragg
made his memorable stand; aud here Ii, his
dead horses and out there in front. Is hug"
I,ilc Of dad Mexicans. whom his crap" shot cuG
down. and whose >hricks and mroans arose above
the noise of the conflict. Buttons and caps. and
shoes. and fragments Of various other clothing
and craze shot. and bullets, and cartridges, and
llints and fragments of bombs, W. met at every
step. Over the whole field, eight miles in dame
ter, numerous evidences existed that there had
been fearful struggle. At the head Of a ra-
vine we reached the spot to which Brnham was
sent, by Gen. Tav!or, to r"connoitcr the enemy,
after one of their rcpul,cs. Bcnham observed a
crowd of Mexican lancrrs about ha!fa mile dis
tant. apparently in much conilrsirn-Som" seem
inr ANXIOUS to come on and FIGHT again, and some
anxious to 20 the other way. In Il few seconds,
however. cannon ball struck the Ground OH his
rgt. and in ten feet Of Ronhan-laf a minute
longer, and another ball struck about the same
distance on his left. Thinking the r'sca' might
split the difference at the ncM fire. B'nham said
he speedily vamo>cd down the rayinc, to make
his report to Gen. Taylor. Then cnmc the tug
of war"-and lcns and fcarfully the battle IA
rcd. BY scores the Mexican chvalry sunk down
beneath the sweeping showers Of grape and rifle
bullets Wei did they fight, for Mexico, be-
loved and greatest Chief was spectator Of their
struggle. And many brave American, too,
was destined to h"avc his last sigh. aElr from the
home of lis childhood. The battle Of Bu.na
Vista produced cap in many Il happy circle,
both in Mexico and Am"r;ca; vacant places
wrc made, which never can be filled AGAIN on
earth. No prisoners were trkcm i'll the battle; q;
and tn" McyicanS, b"aton cowcd and starving.
rctr,atcd ut night in wild confISiom leaving their
dead and wounded to the tender morces Of their
victorious enemies.