Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-04

county and Warwick a member of the Indiana I
Legislature He barely eligible when ne
took his seat and though at that early age "a man
Of family, he seems, from the accounts Of his CON
temp0rares to have presented at bis entrance into
public life, the appearance Of quite Juvenile legs-
Iator. Hon. Oliver H. Smith, for several years
United States Senator, and political opponent OF
Gen. Lane in work recently published, thus de-
scribes his appearance at the opening of the Legs
lature, of which body he himself was also mem
Der :-'' The roll calling progressed as 1 STOOD by
the side of the clerk. The county OF SsnoerDerg
and Warwick said the clerk saw advancing
slender. freckle-faced boy in appearance 10 or ~
years of age. l marked his step as ne came up to
my side and have often noticed his ar slnce II was
Gen. Joe Lane of Mexico and Oregon fame IN after
years."
The youthful representative OF anuerperg ana
Warwick was subsequently frequently reelected by
the voters of those counties and continued to serve
them at intervals of one two years, In one or the
other branch of the Legislature from the year lezz
to 1886 a period Of twenty four years. 10 any one
who knows the fidelity of Cen Lane 10 tne hlgn ana
resnonsible public trusts confded to HIM during the
last twelve years. is needless to say that as mem
Der the Indiana Legislature he was yigllant active
and efficient Tenacious of the rights and Jealous
70 rouote the interests of his constituents he was
at he same time lust and liberal in his views on all
question affecting the rights and interests OF othef
nortons of the State. At time when 1t was thought
that Indiana. OverbuPdened with deot, Wouio DC
compelled to repudiate, he labored unurihgiy 70
the State from this deep Qls5rdCS3 anu ~"
satisfaction at last of seeing his efforts crowned
with success Always capable OF expressing nIs
views clearly and forciby on every suDJse1 Vi tes
slation Gen Lane justly thought that 700 luc =,
The time of all legislative bodies was CONS ueu =,
! idle and unavoidable debate. DE accordingly ulu
not obt1.uda his opinions on the body OF when ne
was a member on all occasions, whetner suIH.oie
or unsuitable: but str0ve TO discharge ms
duties IN way which, il notqulte SO
| he well knew was far more creditaole 10 iii"SS-
and useful to his constituents CO..
An ardent sltpporter of the administration OF Gen
Jackson and Martin Van Buren, as long as tne 'Sel
followed sin the footsteps OF his INDUSTRIOUS
cessorn Gen. Lane took an active part III inc sI.
giles between the Democratic and oio wing p,,t
and nv his great weight OF character, ana
! and laborious canyassDg, he infused spirit iiAe
his own into the Democracy OF his state.
In the Spring of 1916 the war was commehceu
between the United States and Mexico ana d can
| was made upon Indiana for volunteers An0hg tIe
Erst ~ resnond to this call was Joe Lane without
| WAITING fer A commission from the Presdent, re-
gardleSs of every consideration of selflnlerest Vi
seifaggrandizement looking only to the lact tit lS
country required his services, he enlis1eo as pa -
yate in CAPTAIN Walkers company, "a hegilens VI
Indiana volunteers. His fellow soldiers ho"evJr,
had no idea of permitting to remain IN the rams
! one whom nature had so obviously endowed win
the qualities of commander lie was Acoo.u
on the completion of the regiment,
elected Colonel Soon after, on the reconlehuaS rs
of the Indiana delegation in Congress- anu "ieuou'
any solicitation on his part President fOlk sem ii
q commission of Brigadier-General ii,
The first service ii service it can be caliea, re-
uuired of General Lane after his arrival III
Was extremely irksome and dsagreeable. station
| ed by order of the commanding general, Win ms
brigade he was compelled to remain lnacti'e sew
al months. Here under the sWeiterlng hess " a.; |"
tropical sun, his troops were deelmated W T'S Us
eases peculiar to that pestiential climate. ne Hi'
self was almost the only belonging to the brigade
who was not prostrated at some perloa curing t1Sit
long confinement ON that fatal spot Az lehgtn .ie
welcome order came to advance to Salulo Vi "Iion
place on his arrival, he was appointed Dy ueh Du'
Ter civic and military governor. Here, however ne
| was not long permitted to remain, being ordered
with his command, after the battle OF Monterey W
| Join Gen. Taylor.
On the morning of the 23d the battle wac renew
ed and ragged with the greatest fury throughout 3e
dav The first movement of Santa Anna W as to turn
the left flank of the Americans. Four companies
under Major German, were dispatched Dy Ieh- Lane
to intercept this movement. Soon after uiree com
panies of the I'd Illinois, and three OF MaFshail
| Kentucky regiment, were sent TO Gormans assist
| ance While these troops were engaged VIVA Toe
enemy on the brow of the mountain large Dooy OF
Mexicans six thousand strong. advanced to the pan
| towards the position held by Gen. Lane he aule-
diately formed his little band, now reduced 10 4DV
men, into line receive the onset OF this immense
! force Hardly was the movement completed When
the Maxicans opened tremendous fire from thelr
entire line, which was returned by the Americans
| with promptness and good effect. "Nothng' says
an eve witness could exceed the imposing and lear
full appearance of the torrent Of sSsssnts which AZ
this moment swept along towards the little 6aAd OF
Lane The long liLes of infantry presentea a con-
tinued and unbrOken sheet of fire but thelr opPo-
nents though few in number, were undismayed, and
defended their position with gallantry worthy OF
| the highest praise Several times observed the
Mexican lines CALLED by the American musketry ana
shattered by the fearful discharges OF Brens Dat-
terry break and fall back but their successive IoF-
J A. al N
men back their position, and quickly replace those
| who were slain"
| On the I'D and 23d of February, 1871, was fought
| the great battle of Buena VISTA which IN nothing
save the number of the combatants, falls short OF
i the most famous of modern times. The disposition
OF the American troops by the commanding general
| was such that, during the engagement the brigade
of General Lane in the hottest OF the hght from
tire beginning to the end The hostile operations OF the
opposing armies resulting in the great battle OF the
| 23d commencing the heights around Bpena ista
on the 22d On the afternoon of that day, the Mex
lean lines being sufficiently advanced shell thrown
| from a hOwitzer, by order Of Santa Anna, was the
| signal for the attack Immediately heavy nfei IN
| continued rolling voeys, was opened by the Next
can light troops under Ampudia, upon the American
skirmshers on the opposite ridge Of the mountain.
| The Americans replied with spirit, and the hrlng
was kept up with much animation on both sides, put
without any definite result until darkness put an end
to the combat and both parties retired to await re-
newal of the strife more extended scale on the
following day.
Thus commenced the battle on the plain of Buena
Vista on the morning of the 2Sd, and continued to
| rage with umolested fury and varying SUCCESS TO
| the close of that memorable and eVentful day. 81
proportion to the violence and impetuosity OF the
assaults of the Mexicans the American lines, was
| the steady and mistaken frmness with which these
assaults were received. If at any time regiment
overcome by superior numbers, was compelled 10
| give way another quickly advanced to the rescue
drove back the enemy, and enabled 1t to regain ltS
| former position. In this way the Mexican General
was kent at bay his strength defed his most skltu
| combinations and maneuvres bafHed, defeated by
his Yigilant and active foe. Late IN the afternoon
finding stratagem and force alike nnayalling, the
| day drawing to a close and no ehasm yet opened
| for his legions in the ranks OF the enemy, santa
Anna determined, by assailing the weakest part OF
| the American line with overwhelming force to
make last desperate effort to win the day. Collect
ing all his infantry he ordered them to charge the
Illinois and Kentucky regiments These brave troops
made gallant resistance against the fearful odds
opposed to them; but seeing their leaders fall, and
! overpowered by vastly superior numbers, they
gave way and began to fall back. Gen. Lane atthIs
critical moment FASTENED forward with his brigade,
and opening destructive fire upon the Mexicans,
checked their advance, and enabled the Petreatlng
regiments to form and return to the contest. This
was Santa Annals last struggle on that hotly con-
tested and ble0dy field. Night spread her mantle
4 over the scene Of conflict. The weary Americans
sank to repose on CORY bed, expecting renewal
of the strife on the following day Morning came
but no enemy appeared. Silently during TIE night
Santa Anna with his shattered legons had retired,
leaving the victorious Americans masters of the
/ field.
| Gen. LaHe having been transferred in the sum
ner of IS47 to the line of Gen. SCOTS operations,
reached Vera Cruz in the early part Of September.
! On the 10th of that month he set out towards the
city of Mexico with force of about two thousand
! five hundred men, consisting of one regiment Of
Indiana and one of Ohio volunteers, two battliOns
of recruits five small companies of volunteer horse,
and two pieces of artillery This force subsequent
| ly augmented at Jalapa by junction with Major
Lally's column of one thousand men, and at Perote
its strength was further increased by company OF
mounted riGemen and two of volunteer infantry,
besides two pieces of artillery Several small guer-
lila parties appeared at different times on the route
and attacked the advance and rear guards, but
Yere quickly repulsed and the column continued
its advance qnmoested along the great road leading
through Pueblo to the city Of Mexico.
AT this time Col Childs, of the regular army,
with garrison of five hundred effective troops,
and one thousand eight hundred inValids, was be-
sieged in Puebla by large force of Mexicans COM
manded by Santa Anna in person. This General,
notwithstanding his many defeats. with spirit I'M
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