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tnro~h by the enemy into this part of our line,
out without effect. The skirmshing of our light
troops was kept up with trihing loss on our par,
until dark, when became convinced that no Sc
f'ous attack would be made before the morning
ano'returned with the Mississippi regiment and ID
Dragoons to Salilo. The troops Liyouacked
without fires aud laid upon their arms. A body
OF cavalry, some 1900 strong, had been visible
all day in rear Of the town, having entered the
va n"'!ey through narrow pass east Of the city.
MS SaVa'ry, commanded by Gen. Minon, had
e''ueh'Iy been thrown in our rear to break up
ana harrass our Retreat, and perhaps make some
attempt against the town, il practicable. The
cny was occupied by four excellent companies
oi m i,''h0ls volunteers, under Major Warren, of
Inc lsl Regiment. A field work which command
ea % most OF The approaches, garrsoned by
oaP'' "ebsltr's company lst Artillery, and
armed with two "a pound howitzcrS. While the
Tram and hrad-quaricr camp was qua rled by two
companies Mississippi rihomen, under Capt. Rog-
ers' ana hoId-pIece commanded by Capt. Shower,
"a Af'I'nfy. Having made these dispositions
'o' '!e protection OF the rear, proceeded on the
morning OF the 23d to Buona Vista, ordering
forward all the other available troops. The acc
ton had commenced before my arrival on the
field.


Col. bI>selI's regiment ed Iiliuoi>l which had
oech joined by section of Capt. Shcruan's bat
'cry' had become completely ottf1n,ct. and was
competed /" tail back, being eutlr, " unsupported
me enemy was How pouring MASSES Of nlinIry
ana cavalry along the base Of the mountain on
our 'cl'' "Eu WAS gaining our rear in great force
AZ 'hIs moment arrII"d upon the field The
MISSISSIPPI regiment had been directed to the lrf
oc'of' r'fchlhS the position, and Immediately
cn"' mo action against the Mexican Infantry
"h't had turned our funk. The ~ Kentucky
IlI - S,.,II,, .


bragg had previously been ordered from the IiIl
!" r'Ihorc" our left. and arrived at Il most oyyur-
'une molnrnl. Thai regiment. and Il portion of
the lHt Limos under Cot. Hardin. u;,,Ianiiy
drove IN" enemy and recovered Il porliOn of the
ground We had lost. The batteries Of Cau,s.
SHERMAN and Bragg were in position on the pla-
lcau. ana DID EIuch CXrcutIou-nOl ouly in 'front.'
out particularly upon the masses which had
gained our rear. Discovering that the, enemy
was hca'Iy pressing upon the Mississiopi rcni.
ment, The third Indiana regiment, under co.,
Lane, was despatched 10 strengthen that part Of
our line which formed 4 crGtchct pcrpcndicuI uIar
to the first line Of battle. A, tho same time
Lieut.. hnIbdrn, with piece of Cant, Bragp's
DnIlory, was commanded to support the infantry
there engaged. The action was for n Ionr ,,,,.
warmly sustained at that poInt-lie enemy max.
In8 St '"rai attempts, both with infantry and cav.
AIRY against our hnc, and being rcpu.srd a!ways
VITA heavy loss. | hnd laced all the reuuIar
cavalry and Capt. Pixies squadron Of Ark Ip,os
horse under the orders of Brcvct Lieut.. C,l Nav
VITA directions 10 hold il chccbt C enemy column,
stiII advancing IN the rear al M the bu,c of the
mountain, winch was done III connection with Ih,.
keut"cky and Arkansas cavalry. under ('nls
Marshall and Yell. In the meantime our left,
which was still strongly threatened by a spn.rior
iorcc, WAS further strengthened bv the dt.,acb.
mrnt OF Capt. BraEg's aud Il portion of Co,r.
Shcrmans batteries 10 that quarter. The cor
cehtrat'on OF artillery fire upon tho mass Of the
enemy along tAc base OF the mountain, and tic
determined resistance offered by the two rrri.
mcnts opposed 10 them, had created confusion in
Their ranks, aDd some of The corps atlcmD,rl tn|
effect rctrent upon Their main line of battle.
The squadron OF tho lst Dragons, under Iiru,,
kuckcT. was now ordered up tho deep rayinc
winch tHese rcircRIing corps wcro cndca, orug
10 10 cross III order to charge and dispcrsc them.
he squadron proceeded to the point indicated
Tut could not accomplish tho object. brinr cy.
rosrd TO heavy fire from a battery established
TO cover the retreat of those corps. Whilo the
squadron was detached upon tins service. n large
oody OF the enemy was observed TO concentrate
on our extreme left, apparently with the view of
making Il descent upon the hacienda of Bucna
IsI", where our train and baggage were deposited
Lieut.. Col. May was ordered to the support Of
tHdt pOibt, Win TWO pieces OF CAPT. SnermanS
battery under Lieut.. Reynolds. In the meantime
the scattered forces near the hacienda composed
IN part OF Ma Jors Trails and Gorman's commands,
had been 10 some extent organized under the ad-
vice OF Major Monroe, chief of artillery with tho
assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff and
were posted to defend the position. Before our
cavalry had reached the hacienda that of the en-
emy had made lis attacn, having been handsomely
met by tho Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under
Cols. Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column
Immediately dvdcd-onc portion sweeping by
the dcp't, where It received destructive fire
from the force which had collected there, and
then gaining 1he mountain opposite, under fire
from Lieut.. Reynolds section, Tic remaining
portion rcgalning the base of the mountain on our
left In the charge at Bucna Vista Col. y ell fell
gaIIantly at the head Of his regiment; we also lost
AdJutant Vaughan, Of the kentucky cavalry-a
young officer Of much promise. Lieut.. Col. May, =,
who had been rejoincd by the squadron of the lst
Dragons, and by portions Of the Arkansas and
Indiana troops, under Lieut.. Col. Roane and Maj.
German, now app cached tho base of the noun
tain; holding in check the right flank of the enc.
my upon whose masses, crowded in the narrow
gorges and the ravincs, artillery was doing
fearful execution.


The services of tho light artillery, always con.
spIcuouS, were more than usually distinguished.
Moving rapidly over the roughcst ground, it was
always in action at the right place and the right
in the masses of the enemy. While | recon-
