Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-28
THEY SAVED THE GUN

1t is not yet quite fifty years since
the close of our war with Mexico. yet
the swift movement of modern life has
nearly Overlaid recollection of it among
our people, the colossal tragedy of the
civil war intervening between now and
then, serving still further to dwarf the
older and smaller event. In its day it
was one of the most remarkable mill
tary events in history.
The battle of Buena Vista. on the
2cd and I'D of February, 1917. was,
after the opening fights of Palo Alto
and Resaca de In Palma, the only con-
siderable conflict of the war in which
our forces stood on the defensive, if
they may be said to have so stood in
those opening battles. After the cap
itulation of Mantanzas. General Taylor
had moved forward with n strong col
umn, attacked and taken the fortified
city of Monterey. had advanced to
SaltillO, where he had been joined by
the column commanded by General
Wool, which had marched from La
vaca, Texas. by way of San Antonio,
and was preparing to push forward to-
ward the Mexican capital, and q meet
ing with the strong force which Santa
Anna, the Mexican president, was col
lecting TO destroy the invaders" when
he was overtaken by the order from
General Scott, detaching the larger
part of his force. including nearly all
his regulars and the larger part of
his seasoned volunteers. This was done
to strengthen the column destined TO
invade Mexico from the southeast,
landing ut Vera Cruz.
The effect of this order was to re-
duce General Taylor's force to less than
5000 men. made UP of volunteers. much
the larger number of whom had been
soldiers little more thln six months.
and had hardly been under fire" ut all.
Most of them not ut all. There were
left TO him two or three batteries Of
flying artillery" commanded by regu-
lar army officers, but in large degree
manned by men detailed from volun-
teer infantry regiments. There were
one or two squadrOns of regular cav
airy, but other than this insignificant
squad of trained soldiers his force was
made Up Of green volunteers. mainly
from Indiana. Illinois, Kentucky, Mis-
siSsippi and Arkansas.
Before General SCOTS orders Lad
been carried into effect General Tay-
Tor had advanced to Aqua Nueva. about
twenty miles beyond Saltillo. but the
exasperating depletion of his forces
made further advance impossible: and
here, too, lie was met with intelligence
that General Santa Anna had organ
led an army of more than 10000 men,
and was pushing northward with the
purpose To destroy him. and then turn
his victorious forces TO meet Scott.
WhcresOcver he might land. There was
no ground at or near Aqua Nueya
where an inferior force could hone to
stand and General Wool was sent
back to select Il place where defense
might be made.
Near Bucna Vista, n dozen miles in
the rear OF Aqua Nueva, the mountains
on the left of the road along which
ayIor had advanced approached more
closely than elsewhere to n deep and
impossible valley on the right of the
road, the sharp foothills running to-
ward the ragged ravine like the out
spread fingers of n mans hand, until
mt the Pass OF Augastura. there were
but a few yards between the point of
the rocky spur and tho brow of the
deep valley.
This was the ground selected for de-
rense, and the whole of the small army
fell back to this point. Captain Wash
ington's battery. in which the after
ward famous CiAneral GfOrge Ii. Thorn