Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-03

excellent marksmen. had supreme con-
tempt for the MeNicans and a serene
belief in themselves, but they were
lacking in discipline and experience
But there were some fine soldiers
among them. jefferson Davis. who later
was to become president of the Con-
federacy. commanded a Mississippi reg
iment Of rihemen. Davis was son-in-
law OF Gen. Taylor, Braxton Bragg,
who later was to become a lieutenant
general Of the Confederate army, com
manded a battery Thomas West
sherman, who later was to become a
major general In the Union army, com
mandcd another battery. Cen Wool
was second in command, and Hardin,
Marshall and Mckee We're among the
colonels 4 company Of Kentuckians
was led by a son of Henry Clay.
Taylor had posted rinemen on one OF
the ridges to dispute the passage OF the
Mexicans, but carly In the morning of
the 2Sd the American pickets were driv-
en- I'm and soon the Mexican light infan-
try led by Gen. Ampudia came charging
down one of the upper passes. Taylor
had gone to Saltillo to look To its de-
Tense and Wool who commanded In his
absence. had posted Capt Washing
toms battery on the right and O'Brien's
on the left OF this pass with infantry
and SQUADRON OF dragons in the
center The fire from O'Brien's guns
checked Ampudla but this simply was
preliminary TO the general engagement
a division led by Gen. Pachero had
made the passage Of the mountains
without Interference. and coming
through n ravine had formed on ridge
AZ the edge Of the plateau. The Sec
ond Indiana regiment and O'Brien's
battery were hurried forward to drive
them back. The fire of OBrien's guns
was effective, but the MeXicans, too
had brought up a battery and II re-
euoudad VIGOROUSLY.
Under the heavy Are Of the Mexican
infantry and the Mexican battery the
Indiana regiment WaVered, broke and
then fled. leaving o'Briens men alone
with their guns. To add to the panic
another division Of the Mexcans, under
Lombardlni. gained the southern rim OF
the plateau. The two Mexican columns
united and the lancers dashed upon the
broken regiment. In its flight the In
diana regiment plunged through tho
ranks OF an Arkansas regiment. This
body Of volunteers caught the fever OF
manic too, and fled. Only O'Brien and
his men held their ground. Every
shot from their guns made gap in
the Mexican horde. Half dozen times
the battery was surrounded. but still
the men fought on. The Second Illinois
was sent TO aid the sorely stricken In
diana and Arkansas men, who were
being driven off the plateau and into
ravine For short time they held the
enemy but the force was too small and
had TO give way.
with n portion OF the American army
routed IL seemed as II the day was
lost. The rhemen who had been posted
to dispute the passage over the noun
tains had been cut on and In an en-
deavor to reiou the main force had
been slaughtered. But the guns OF
O'Brien's battery never ceased. Now
and then 2 gunner fol-, hut another
took his place. Ampudia pressed around
TO the left TO strike Wool In the rear
and al the same time a force of Mexi-
cans tried TO get through the main
pass but capt. Washington's battery
drove II back The Mexicans were
making progress steadily on the pla-
tcau however, and soon would have
turned the pass had not Davis and his
Mississippians rallied the broken frag-
ments Of the Indiana. Arkansas and IL
lnois regiments
Never was Jefferson Davis n more
glorious figure than that day at Buena
Vista He formed his men and ad-
vanced against a force five times his
in strength, \ rain Of bullets poured
upon his men. but they went forward
steadily. Not until they were close to
Ampudia did Davis give the word to
fire Then the hail OF bullets that
struck the foremost ranks Of the Mex
leans shattered the line. one more
Nolley drove the enemy 20 cover.
Through II all O'Brien's guns played
steadily Hardly q man OF his original
force remained But for O'Brion Davis
never could have formed his men and
rallied a portion of the panic-stricken
regiments.
When Davis drove Ampudia back
OBrien had breathing spell. The
scene Of battle shifted. The Mexican
cavalry. led by Torrejon, had crossed
the mountains by one OF the upper
passes and descended on the hacienda
of Bucna Vista, They were opposed
by Marshall's mounted Kentuckians
and Ycll's mounted Arkansans. There
was a homeric tight in the streets be-
tween the cavalrymen, while the lit
tie garrison Of tho hacienda poured
shot at the McXicans from the roofs
Of the houses The Americans were
greatly outnumbcrcd, but when Tor
rcion fell desperately wounded. what
was left OF his men fled 20 the noun
tains
With Torrcion bcston and Ampudia
repulscd. Santa Arua tried "a rusc.
He sent a flag " truce to Taylor. VINO
meantime had arrived from Saltillo.
Firing ceased. Santa Anna pretended
that Taylor had displayed flag, and
after much parleying insisted that he
merely wanted 10 know what Gen.
cred the trick ne ordered the battle
resumed. but meanwhile Ampudia's d.
vision had been making its way out
Of danger, marching through a ravno
into which Davis had driven the MoXi-
cans
Taylor. angered at the treachery ~
SANTA Anna hurried txyn reaimeutg