The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-26
The second Indiana at Buena visa.


To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
I listened with a great deal of interest 10
the reading of a part of his autobiography,
by Gen. Lew Wallace, before the State His
torical Society, last evening. The general
is graphic and picturesque in his details in
regard to the battle of Buena Vista. but il
hardly true to history. He several times
repeated that General Taylor, in his report,
charged cowardice on the Second Indiana
Regiment, and so interlarded the word cow
ardice" with quotations from the report OF
General Taylor as to leave the impression
on the minds of his audience that TAYLOR had
used the word in his report The facts are
that General Wallace was writing from ru-
mors, and not from historical data In no
part OF his report does Taylor charge the
regiment with coWardice or even intimate
such a thing. The reading was more Of an
attack upon General Taylor than a defense
of the Second Regiment
Two days after the battle General Taylor
mace report to the War Department. In
tnat report he says OF the Indiana regiment:
The artillery advanced within musket
range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry,
ana was served against it with great ef
feet, but without being able to check its
advance. The infantry (Second Indiana) or
dered to its support had fallen back in dis
order, being exposed, as well as the bat
terry to severe crossfire Of grape and cam
mister from q Mexican battery on the left"
There is nothing in that of flying inglorious
ly or OF cOwardice In another place in the
report General Taylor says the regiment
could not be rallied, except a handful"
who, under the gallant Colonel Bowes,"
Joined the MisSiSsippians. In his reading
General Wallace dwelt with sarcastic effect
on the words handful" and gallant Colonel
Bowles," claiming that $50 men rallied out
of 3e6.
Let US. see what the record says: Gen. Joe
Lane, who commanded the brigade, and had
been the former colonel Of the regiment. in
his report, says: Colonel Davis, being
Joined by a part Of the Second Regiment"
etc. In another place he says a "a part Of
the regiment rallied ETC., and IN still an
other place, Lieutenant Colonel Hadden
aided me in trying to rally the regiment and
succeeded sue In marching a party" etc. COL
Jen Davis, in his report, says: Early IN
the action Colonel Bowles, of Indiana, with
small party from his regiment, which he
said was all he could rally" etc.
1t was on these reports that General Tay-
lor made his own. General Lane, in speak
ing Of the retreat, said he could offer no
apology for it, for none could be made, and
he hoped those who had fled would retrieve
themselves on some future occasion. He Sc
yerely blamed the regiment, but not so with
General Taylor. General Lane spoke several
times of "a part" and once Of party
Davis also characterized it as small par
". There was no report from either
Bowles or any of the officers of the regiment
1t looks, then, as If. from the light he had.
Taylor was justified in speaking OF a hand
ful. He further stated that those who ala
not rally assisted IN defending the trains
and depot
General Wallace repeated. with dramatic
effect, that General Lane twice ordered the
regiment to advance, when, Ito his horror,
he saw 1t breaking in retreat. There. again.
he goes contrary 10 history. General Taylor,
in his report, also says II was ordered 10 ad-
vance. Lane said so in his report, but On
Feb. "A, 1s41, he sends TO the adJutant gen
eral a communication IN which he says that
he found a slight error IN his report OF tne
day before; that in his report he had SAID
OF the Second Indiana, instead or adVahc-
ing as ordered, / regret 10 say retired IN
confusion The error is of one word or
dered and should read. my infantry, n
stead Of advancing, as / Intended, retired,
etc. This is Lane VS.. Wallace.
On the 26th OF February General Taylor
issued a congratulatory letter TO his troops:
in which he said: while beStOWing JUST
tribute TO the good conduct of the troops,
the general deeply regrets TO say that there
Were q few exceptions. He trusts that thoss
who fed inglOriously from Buena Vista ana
went 10 Saltllo will seek an opportunity 70
retrieve their reputation" This might %
taken to have reference to the Second II
diana alone, but IN his report OF the 2}th no
says that the light troops which had pe.
haVed so we'll in the mountains retired anu
many of them did not stop until tne4
reached the depot" which was at Saltll1.
the Indiana regiment, but with other troops,
50 his 'few exceptions covered more than
the Second Regiment. II General Tayiof
did not do fun justice 10 the Indiana fsg-
ment the fault was with General Joe lSttss
their own commander. Before he made ms
report he ought 10 have known what NUM-
ber had rallied, bat he spoke of them as
a party. lie spoke of the regiment ~
much harsher terms than did Taylor, anu
vet Taylor.s only knowledge Of the regliIellA
and It's actions came from i4ane aud DAVIS
indianapolis. Feb. 3 ". II. SMITH