South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-26
Fighting Today

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- UENA VISTA the last OF the battles be
X .Tseen the mexicans and General Zachary
IL Taylor's forces in 1s47. confronted the
American army with many OF the trying con
ditioLs Of desert and mountain fighting which
hamper the present expedition under General
John Pershing TO capture the Mexican Dancit
villa Lack OF water while traversing arid
spaces and the perpetual danger of ambns-
cades when the mountain regions were reached.
with the difficulties and hardships met In
Transporting batteries and wagon trains,
caused this phase OF the Mexican War OF lo47
10 resemble in several particulars the cam
pa ign conducted by the leaders under Funston.
Santa Annals rally after his serious defeat
at Monterey occasOned much anxiety 10 the
Government at Washington. well q Gen
era1 Taylor. Plans for the Vera Cruz venture
commanded by General Scott had shOrn Tay-
Tor of all his regular infantry-the veterans o.
PalO Alto. ResaCa de Ia Palma and Monterey
But there still remained to him three we'll
appointed and wellofficered batteries OF the
regular army. commanded by Bragg. Washing
ton and Sherman. These. with small dragon
force under May completed his strength in men
OF the old line. The remainder Of Taylors
forces before Buena Vista consisted almost eli.
tirey OF volunteers from the Western States
At Buena Vista the entire strength OF the
American army, according 10 the muster roq
made out before the battle. four thousand
seven hundred and fftynine men. With this
puny force General Taylor compelled 10
meet Santa Anna with over twenty thousand
in front and four thousand more operating at
advantageous points on his tanks and rear
Santa Anna was again IN full power in Mex
ico. HIS army was organized at San Luis
PotOsi. In temperate climate. with comfort
able quarters for his men He was fully posted
about General SCOTS designs upon Vera Cruz.
but decided 70 let that city and fortress take
care OF itself. II Vera Cruz should fall, yellow
fever would soon sweep of It's captOrs and
II they should attempt 10 advance into the
he fal hat no hay Aft er
defeating General Taylor to successfully Op-
pose the advance or General Scott from The
south and cOnfne his army to the sicky lower
levels.
Santa Anna's present object was to regain
Monterey, and with this and neighbOring cities
10 his possession. the entire valley of the Rio
tTande, with its numerous depOts rich In pro
Visions, military stores and all the munitions
OF war, must fan into his hands. With such
energy did Santa Anna work that by the mid
die OF January. 1S47, his organization at San
Luis PotOsi was complete. All this time Gen
sral Taylor was at Saltillo. while General Wool
with some four thousand volunteers. was at
Aqua Nueva. about twenty miles in advance.
On February 20 advices that Santa Anna had
reached Encarnacion by forced marches caused
General Taylor to fall back upon Buena Vista
and concentrate his forces for battle at that
point This position had been thoroughly
amined by General Taylors tOpOgraphers with
eye to it's advantages a battle ground.
The pass in the mountains was here narrow
that with his inferior force the American
mander could present strong front. while the
space cut up by deep gues that an
abundance OF cover for his new and untried
men was offered against either heavy FIRE OF
artillery or a sweeping charge OF cavalry. A
succession OF rough and broken spurs. shooting
out from the mountains either side. pro-
tected the TANKS from turning movements,
while the middle ground i'm many places
covered with the thorny chaparrel.
The field presented but one plateau OF com
handing size, a little more than mile IN ad-
vance Of the rancho Of Buena Vista and
this the hardest OF the strife was to be main
tanned Four or five miles in the rear the
city of Saltilo. the main depot of the NUM-
lions and provisions of the Americans. But
this place was threatened by a large Mexican
cavalary force under General Minon which
rendered it impossible for General Taylor to
bring up all his strength TO the defense OF
Buena Vista, yet he calmly awaited the advance
OF his powerful adversary.
Santa Anna continued his forced marches.
expecting to surprise the Americans at Aqua
Nuevs. Finding the place deserted he
compelled to incite his jaded battalions to con
tinue the march with the statement that the
enemy was in full retreat. Finding the Amer
army we'll placed at Buena Vista
without doubt great disappon tment to Santa
Anna But he al once dispatched a flag of truce
TO General Taylor accompanied by a note
qnesting him 10 surrender at discretion. With
assumed attitude OF humanity he told the
American commander that he surrounded
by twenty thousand men and could not avoid
being cut 10 pieces. But as General Taylor
deserved his consideration and particular
esteem" he would give him hour in which
10 make up his mind to surrender his little
army.
Without a moment OF hesitation General
Taylor declined 70 grant Santa Annals request
Both armies bivouacked upon the field.
ndent that the morrow would usher in MUIR
derous work Anticipating that Santa Anna
would reserve his main attack for the coming