Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-02-17
VOL. 5g.N0. 81.



A correspondent of tho Richnoad Erquir-
or thus described tie Eeld Of BueEa Vista.
long after the sounds the battle had lied
awag; when the rear of cannon. the gsoans
al tie perisLiug, the shouts Of the trinDphsas
| had all ceased and the vulture and the jack-
all hal retired from their horrible repast.---
Such picture gives Us quite as vivid an idea
OF the terrors Of such conflict - would the
actual scene -
FIRST rode near the battle Geld Of Baena
Vista. with some halt dcxen officers. one Vi
whom was Lieut.. Bcnham. Typographical
Engineer. who shared the pcrils Of the light.
He first led us BY the long ditch. whcsc re-
pose the remains Of the Americans Who fell
IL the battle. A hundred yards further wc
came to tho narrow pass between the base Of
high hin and the deep canens or gulleys
which the Mcxicans call Augosturas, Tho
narrows,) where vas stationed the battery Of
Col Washington. with small ditch on tho
right, IN which lay two companies If marks
seine Loose rocks hastily piled UP. were post
ed some llliaois troops 4 deep ditch was
dug across tie narrows, Which are MT more
than thirty feet wide, IN front Of The battery.
Next wo passed up the valley, eleven han-
drod yards distant, to the spot where the dis
charges Of Wasiington's battery stopped tho
oaset Of The host Of Mexican cavalry that at
tempted a charge on his position. A few l4nn-
pred Yards further, behind The hills. Is whero
the Mexican lcgions concentrated before tue
commencement Of the actioa. From the last
named point We assembled to the plateaus.
where tie main action took place, which. At
glance appears 10 be vast plain, but witch
in reality, is broken BY many raviucs strotch.
ing down from the mountains. Here aud
there. on the iield, wc passsd an arm, leg.
or skull Of some Mexican. or pile Of their
dead. who having fallen in battle. were hasti-
y and slightly buried and afterwards uncov-
cred and inangled aud scattered. by beasts u
prey. Passing further on, We looked upon
the spot beside little bush where Lincoln
was laid to bleed 10 death ard down il
revive, We arrived Ut lhc place where fell shc
amiahie Clay fsting 70 tho last There,
too, ftll Harding; aid rear hy lies tho Mex
iran (aaa bis horse, whom Harding slew 10
his last moments.
Here is the spot wberc bragg made lis
memorable stand --and here ALEC lie his dead
horses; aud out there ID front is q hugo pilc
q Mexicans. whom Bis grape shot cut down.
and whose sllriuks and groans arose above tho
noise Of the conflict. Buttons, ard cap, aud
shoes and fragments Of various other slu.fing.
aud grape shot and bullets. aud cartridges,
aad flats, and fragments OF bombs, we met at
every step. Over the whole field, eight miles
IN diameter, numerous evidences existed that
there lad been fearful struggle. At aLe
head of a r1yise We reached The spot TO which
Bcnhan vas sent b. Gen, Txylsr. to recon
noitre The crcmy, sitter oAe of their scpnlses
Bcnhan observed q crowd 81 Mexican lancers
about bali milo distant. apps5eatly 10 much
confusion SONG seeming nnxiDus 20 Gonna
aud fgh. again. and some aaxious "a 70 tie
other way. In { few scaonJs, however. =
cannon hall struck the ground ON his right,
and within ten fee. Of Bcnlam--halfa mia
ute berger, and another struck about the same
distance on his LETT Thinking the rascsls
might split tie diaerance at tie next Ere.
Benhalu said be speedily vamosed down tho
raviue. 10 nako this sepcrt TO Gen. Taylor.
Then came the tug Of war --nna long and
feaifelly The battle lercd. By scorcs tho
Mexican chivalry sunk down beneath tie
sweeping showers Of grape aud rife bullets
Well did they fight. for Mexico's beloved and
greatest Chief, was a spectator Of their strug-
gle And many brave American, toe, WIS
destined to heave bis last sigh. afar from tho
home Of his chiIdllood. The battle Of Buena
Vista produced a gap in many hnpps circle.
both in Mexico aud America; vacant places
were made which never can be filed ngafn on
earth. No prisoners were taken Ia battle;
and the Mcxicans, beaten. cowed and starving.
retrea.od at night in wild confusion, leaving
their dead and wounded to the tender mer-
cies of their victorious enemies.