Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-03-09
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
DUENA VISTA.

/ > IOilOHln0
/ extracts from GarlctoD's S narration of the bat
tie of Buena Vista, showing the brave con
duct of Col. Jefferson Davis, and his regi.
mcnt OF Mississippi volunteers, with sundry
| extracts showing the force Of the rccmout
loss, &c, and the fact chat nota s'tegular in
I tantry soldier was in tho action :"
Our whole left had now been forced, and
the enemy wasin possession of every advau
| tngc arising from the peculiar nature of the
ground, the alternate ridges aud ravines be-
ing as much in his favor us ours
1t was at this critical uncturc that Gen
/ Taylor arrived upon the field from Satillo
having completed his dispositions for the dc,
ltencc of the city He was accompanied by
| Lieutenant Colonel May, with the two com
iponics OF tho Second Drgoons, and bv Col.
/ Davis with eight companies of his Mississippi
lulilemen. Capt. Albert Pike, with his own
company, and that of Capt Johu Preston,
Jr,( (the two united as squadron) and Lieut..
Nriburn, with one piece from Capt, Bragg
battery, had also been ordered to the field of
battle from below the city, where they had
been on detached duty The Mississippi ri
ticmen halted near the hacienda long enough
for the men to I'LL their cantccuS with water,
when they were hurried off from the road di-
agonaIly to the left, and advanced toward the
point where our troops were fast giving
ground to the enemy. The General conl-
l.mandiug proceeded on directly to the plateau.
having with him the Second Dragons.
| Up to this time, General Wool being noxt
IN command, had assigned the positions for all
the troops, and conducted the battle from the
! bcghning; hut, the moment General Taylor
arrived at the front and assumed the direc-
ton of affairs, he Immediately started to as
slst Gen. Lame in ra)lying the Second Indiana
Volunteers, and TO cndeavor to restore some
thing like order to our left, which, by this
timc, had swUng around so as to face toward
the mountaius on that side and in direction
perpendicular to the original line The posi'
ton of the batteries still in active operation
ON the phtcau, the poiut &c land on which
.Col Hardin haddrawn up parnpct, and Capt.
Washington position at La Angostura, were.
at this moment, the only portions of the groud
we first occupied, from which we had not been,
driven. Already, our loss in officers and
men had been immense and among them
was included the gallant and chvalruus aSsis-
tont Adjutqnt General, Captain George Linz
coIn one OF the most promising young Off
GERS in the army and one, who, POSSESSING
every quality which can adorn .rcptcman,
was admired and beloved by all rho know
him
The aspect of affairs wosnow most gloomy,
and om condition most critical The scale
for a short timo, appeared to be. prepondcra-
ting against us, and victory to be deserving
our banners, and winging- her way toward
those of the enemy But the idea of yield
Ing tic day, so long as there was man left
to fight, never, for moment came into the
mind OF our determined leader; and in his
sindomltabse resolution to compel fortuno>to
favor our side, he was seconded by men, true
as the steel they wore, and firm and unyield-
ing asthc mountains around them
The gallant Col. Davis and his glorious
NlissSsippians-men who had been tried in
the fire Of the stormpg of Monterey and had
stood the test like pure gold--now moved
steadily forward through the broad current of
olr retreating horse and foot He called
loudly on those who wgrehying to come back
with him and renew the combat They were
few indeed who needed his call a Col. BowIes,
who for some reason other than hIck of oour-
age had ordered his mon to, retreat, now hav
ing lost all hope of rallying it again, seized
rifle, and followed by u handful of his men,
joined tho 1lississppionS as a private Dur
nc the whole day he shared their perils, and
was distinguished for his personal bravery.--
With those exceptions, Col. Dhtis' appeal
was OF no avail. In-yaiM he told then That
his rlttemem were ga mass of men behind
which they could take shelter aud securely
form" He pointed to his Regiment as he
said this. 1t was in(ecda wlll of heroes. -
What must have been his pride in comnand-
i&g.snrb menl What the mortGoation and
burning shame of the fugitiyes whom he ad-
dressed & -
It 4 ~