USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 2 > Part 18
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569
BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE.
Captain Rogers, and a field piece commanded by Captain Shover. Third artillery. Having made these dispositions for the protection of the rear, I proceeded on the night of the 23d to Buena Vista, ordering forward all the other available troops. The action had commenced before my arrival on the field.
" During the evening and night of the 22d the enemy had thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side, with the purpose of outflanking our left ; and it was here that the action of the 23d commenced at an early hour. Our riffemen under Colonel Marshall, who had been re-enforced by three companies under Major Trail, Second Illinois volunteers, maintained their ground handsomely against a greatly - superior force, holding themselves under cover, and using their weapons with terrible effect. About eight o'clock a strong demonstration was made against the center of our position, a heavy column moving along the road. This force was soon dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from Captain Washington's battery. In the meantime, the enemy was concentrating a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover of the ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing our left, which was posted on an extensive plateau. The Second Indiana and Second Illinois regiments formed this part of our line, the former covering three pieces of light artillery, under the orders of Captain O'Brien, Briga- dier-General Lane being in the immediate command. In order to bring his men within effective range, General Lane ordered the artillery and Second Indiana regiment forward. The artillery advanced within musket range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, and was served against it with great effect, but without being able to check its advance. The infantry ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being exposed, as well as the bat- tery, not only to a severe fire of small arms from the front, but also to a murderous cross-fire of grape and canister from a Mexican battery on the left. Captain O'Brien found it impossible to retain his position without sup- port, but was only able to withdraw two of his pieces, all the horses and cannoneers of the third piece being killed or disabled. The Second Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as stated, could not be rallied, and took no further part in the action, except a handful of men, who, under its gallant Colonel Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good service: and those fugitives who, at a later period in the day, assisted in defending the train and depot at Buena Vista. This portion of our line having given way. and the enemy appearing in overwhelming force against our left flank, the light troops which had rendered such good service on the mountain were compelled to withdraw, which they did, for the most part, in good order. Many, however. were not rallied until they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the defense of which they afterward contributed.
"Colonel Bissell's regiment, Second Illinois, which had been joined by a section of Captain Sherman's battery, had become completely outflanked. and was compelled to fall back. being entirely unsupported. The enemy
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570
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
was now pouring masses of infantry and cavalry along the base of the mountain on our left, and was gaining our rear in great force. At this mo- ment, I arrived upon the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed to the left before reaching the position, and immediately came into action against the Mexican infantry which had turned our flank. The Second Kentucky regiment and a section of artillery, under Captain Bragg, had pre- viously been ordered from the right to re-enforce our left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment and a portion of the First Illinois, under Colonel Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground we had lost. The batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg were in position on the plateau, and did much execution, not only in front, but particularly upon the masses which had gained our rear. Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon the Mississippi regiment, the Third Indiana regiment. under Colonel Lane. was dispatched to strengthen that of our line, which formed a crochet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At the same time, Lieutenant Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's bat- tery, was directed to support the infantry there engaged. The action was for a long time warmly sustained at that point, the enemy making several efforts, both with artillery and cavalry, against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry and Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse under the orders of Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel May, with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain, which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colonels Mar- shall and Yell. In the meantime, our left, which was still strongly threatened by a superior force, was further strengthened by the detachment of Captain Bragg's, and a portion of Captain Sherman's, batteries, to that quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon the masses of the enemy along the base of the mountain, and the determined resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them, had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squadron of the First dragoons, under Lieutenant Rucker. was now ordered up the deep ravine which these retreating corps were endeavoring to cross, in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accomplish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a battery established to cover the retreat of those corps. While the squadron was detached on this service, a large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate on our extreme left, apparently with the view of making a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our train and baggage were deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel May was ordered to the sup- port of that point, with two pieces of Captain Sherman's battery, under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the meantime. the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had been to some extent organized, under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of
571
SUCCESS WAVERING.
artillery, with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff, and were posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack, having been handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and then gaining the mountain opposite, under a fire from Lieutenant Rey- nolds' section, the remaining portion regaining the base of the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; we also lost Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry, a young officer of much promise. Lieutenant-Colonel May, who had been rejoined by the squadron of the First dragoons, and by portions of the Arkansas and Indiana troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, holding in check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses. crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery was doing fearful execution.
"The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained our ยท rear was now very critical, and it seemed doubtful whether it could regain the main body. At this moment. I received from General Santa Anna a message by a staff officer, desiring to know what I wanted. I immediately dispatched Brigadier-General Wool to the Mexican general-in-chief. and sent orders to cease their firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines, General Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their fire, and accordingly re- turned without having an interview. The extreme right of the enemy con- tinued its retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in spite of all our efforts, effected a junction with the remainder of the army.
"During the day. the cavalry of General Minon had ascended the ele- vated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from the city to the field of battle, where they intercepted several of our men. Approaching the town, they were fired upon by Captain Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved off toward the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely toward Buena Vista. At this time, Captain Shover moved rapidly forward with his piece, supported by a miscellaneous command of mounted volunteers, and fired several shots at the cavalry with great effect. They were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was further supported by a piece of Captain Web- ster's battery, under Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced from the redoubt, supported by Captain Wheeler's company. Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or two efforts to charge the artillery, but was finally driven back in a confused mass. and did not again appear upon the plain.
"'In the meantime, the firing had partially ceased upon the principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his efforts to the protection of his artil- lery, and I had left the plateau for a moment, when I was recalled thither by a very heavy musketry fire. On regaining that position, I discovered
a
572
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
that our infantry, Illinois and Second Kentucky, had engaged a greatly- superior force of the enemy, evidently his reserves, and that they had been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge to the last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on the field, his infantry support being entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into battery. Without any infantry to support him, and at the im- minent risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapidly into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of canister caused the enemy to hesitate, the second and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the day. The Second Kentucky regiment, which had advanced beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Captain Washington's battery, their pursuers became exposed to his fire, which soon checked and drove them back with loss. In the meantime, the rest of our artillery had taken position on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and Third Indiana regiments, the former of which had reached the ground in time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and thus contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict, we had the misfortune to sustain a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, First Illi- nois, and Colonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, Second Kentucky regiments, fell at this time while gallantly heading their commands.
"No further attempt was made by the enemy to force our position, and the approach of night gave an opportunity to pay proper attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the soldiers who had been exhausted by inces- sant watchfulness and combat. Though the night was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the most to bivouac without fires, expecting that morning would renew the conflict. During the night the wounded were removed to Saltillo, and every preparation made to receive the enemy, should he again attack our position. Seven fresh companies were drawn from the town, and Brigadier-General Marshall, who had made a forced march from the Rinconada, with a re-enforcement of Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under Captain Prentiss, First artillery, was near at hand, when it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned his position during the night. Our scouts soon ascertained that he had fallen back on Agua Nueva. The great disparity of numbers and the exhaustion of our troops rendered it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pursuit. A staff officer was dispatched to General Santa Anna, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. which was satisfactorily completed on the following day. Our own dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican wounded, of which a large number had been left upon the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as comfortable as circunstances would permit.
"On the evening of the 26th. a close reconnoissance was made of the enemy's position, which was found to be occupied only by a small body of
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573
THE LOSS ON BOTH SIDES.
cavalry. the infantry and artillery having retreated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. On the 27th. our troops resumed their former camp at Agua Nueva, the enemy's rear guard evacuating the place as we approached, leaving a considerable number of wounded. It was my purpose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacion early the next morning, but upon examination the weak condition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to attempt so long a march without water. A command was finally dispatched to En- carnacion, on the Ist of March. under Colonel Belknap. Some two hun- dred wounded and about sixty Mexican soldiers were found there, the army having passed on in the direction of Matahuala, with greatly-reduced num- bers, and suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were strewn upon the road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda.
"The American force engaged in the action of Buena Vista is shown, by the accompanying field report, to have been three hundred and thirty- four officers and forty-four hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small command left in and near Saltillo. Of this number, two squadrons of cavalry and three batteries of light artillery, making not more than four hundred and fifty-three men. composed the only force of regular troops. The strength of the Mexican army is stated by General Santa Anna. in his summons, to be twenty thousand. and that estimate is confirmed by all the information since obtained. Our loss is two hundred and sixty-seven killed. four hundred and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. Of the nu- merous wounded, many did not require removal to the hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively small number will be permanently disabled. The Mexican loss in killed and wounded may be fairly estimated at fifteen hundred, and will probably reach two thousand. At least five hundred of their killed were left upon the field of battle. We have no means of ascer- taining the number of deserters and dispersed men from their ranks, but it is known to be very great.
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"Our loss has been especially severe in officers, twenty-eight having been killed upon the field. We have to lament the death of Captain George Lincoln, assistant adjutant-general, serving on the staff of General Wool -- a young officer of high bearing and approved gallantry, who fell early in the action. No loss falls more heavily upon the army in the field than that of Colonels Hardin and McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay. Possessing in a remarkable degree the confidence of their commands, and the last two having enjoyed the advantage of a military education, I had looked particu- larly to them for support in case we met the enemy. I need not say that their zeal in engaging the enemy, and the cool and steadfast courage with which they maintained their positions during the day, fully realized my hopes, and caused me to feel yet more sensibly their untimely loss.
"The Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Davis, were highly conspicu- ous for their gallantry and steadiness, and sustained throughout the engage- ment the reputation of veteran troops. Brought into action against an
574
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
immensely superior force, they maintained themselves for a long time un- supported, and with a heavy loss, and held an important part of the field until re-enforced. Colonel Davis, though severely wounded, remained in the saddle till the close of the action. His distinguished coolness and gallantry at the head of his regiment on this day entitle him to the particular notice of the Government. The Third Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, and a fragment of the Second, under Colonel Bowles, were associated with the Mississippi regiment during the greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves creditably in repulsing the attempts of the.enemy to break that portion of our line. The Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Marshall, ren- dered good service dismounted, acting as light troops on our left, and afterward, with a portion of the Arkansas regiment, in meeting and dispers- ing the column of cavalry at Buena Vista. The First and Second Illinois, and the Second Kentucky regiments, served immediately under my eye, and I bear a willing testimony to their excellent conduct throughout the day. The spirit with which the first Illinois and Second Kentucky engaged the enemy in the morning restored confidence to that part of the field, while the list of casualties will show how much these three regiments suffered in sustaining the heavy charge of the enemy in the afternoon. Captain Con- nor's company of Texas volunteers, attached to the Second Illinois regiment, fought bravely, its captain being wounded and two subalterns killed. Colonel Bissell, the only surviving colonel of these regiments, merits notice for his coolness and bravery on this occasion. After the fall of the field officers of the First Illinois and Second Kentucky regiments, the command of the former devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford; that of the latter upon Major Fry.
" I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"Z. TAYLOR, " Major-General United States Army Commanding.
"The Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D. C."
The only other distinctive Kentucky troops that were engaged in any severe action during the war was the company of Captain John S. Williams, of which mention was formerly made. This company had joined Scott's army of invasion at Vera Cruz. The stronghold of the enemy was at Cerro Gordo, some miles out on the road to the City of Mexico. This fortified position was defended by Santa Anna, who had returned on his retreat from Buena Vista to Mexico with his recruited army. The company of Captain Williams had joined the volunteer regiment of Colonel Haskell, of Tennessee. When the brigade of General Pillow assaulted the position of the enemy on the plateau, the advance post of honor was given to Has- kell's regiment. In the face of a murderous fire, which twice drove back the assailants, they again rallied and gallantly stormed the enemy's works, and planted the American standard upon the same. Conspicuous among the bravest, Captain Williams led his company in the front, and shared the
4
575
KENTUCKY TROOPS DISCIPLINED.
honors of the victory. For his bravery and daring on the occasion, he won the soubriquet of "Cerro Gordo Williams," which yet distinguishes him among his ardent friends in Kentucky.
1 These battles of the war proved that the American militia, properly commanded, could sustain a long series of attacks, or stand steadily under the heaviest fire, from overwhelming numbers, without becoming demoral- ized by the many well-delivered blows which might strike their lines. Mexico became a training ground in the art and skill of military tactics of many men, both in the regular and volunteer service. who afterward became distinguished by their important parts in the civil war. Many of these sol- diers reappear in the subsequent civil and military history of the State, both on the Federal and Confederate sides. Here they received that training that gave them successful leadership. At the beginning of the Mexican war, there was no State in the Union where there had been for a genera- tion a greater neglect of the military art, on the part of her people. There remained from the military life of the old days but two elements of value to the soldier-an instinctive as well as a trained ability in the use of fire- arms, and a strong combative spirit. These proved of great efficiency. These troops were to be tried against a people who possessed a large degree ' of soldierly qualities. The Mexicans were hardy, brave, and patient. and well trained in the simpler art of war, their frequent internal struggles having given them recent and extensive experience in military affairs. The experience proved that the Kentucky troops showed little of that intractable and insubordinate spirit, or unwillingness to submit to command, that marked their ancestors in 1812. The long training in civic life had finally subju- gated the wilder impulses of insubordination that were the reproach of the pioneer soldier. There was no time to give to these volunteers even a good camp training, and their officers were incompetent to the task. They fought as raw militia.
We can not, within the scope of Kentucky history, follow the invading campaign of General Scott from Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo through the sieges and capture of Contreras and Cherubusco, the storming of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, the successful assaults upon San Cosme and Belen Gates, and the triumphant entrance of his victorious army into the proud City of Mexico, the venerable capital of the Montezumas. Nor can we farther follow the details of the military operations in New Mexico and California, and of other note, which so soon must become a conspicuous figure in a treaty of peace, negotiated at Guadaloupe Hidalgo, on February 2, 1848. This treaty stipulated that the Rio Grande river, or Rio Bravo del Norte, as the Mexicans styled it, from its mouth to El Paso, and from thence a line due west to the Pacific ocean, varying but little, should in future be the boundary line between the two countries; and in consideration of this cession of a vast territorial empire. the United States should pay to Mexico
I Shaler's American Commonwealths, p. 201.
5,6
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
the sum of fifteen million dollars. Thus, besides the area of Texas, was added to the possession of this country all that territory now embracing New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah. and Colorado, increasing by twenty-five per cent. the entire area of the United States and Territories.
Before the war ended, another requisition was made by the Government on Kentucky for two regiments more of troops. The call was promptly answered, and the quota of volunteer troops tendered the authorities in two organized regiments, as follows: The Third regiment of infantry, Colonel Manlius V. Thomson. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas .L. Crittenden, and Major John C. Breckinridge, in command; and the Fourth, commanded by Colonel John S. Williams, Lieutenant-Colonel William Preston, and Major William T. Ward. Peace assured, these regiments disbanded without reach- ing the seat of war.
The results of the war invested General Taylor with that glamour of fame in the popular mind which distinguished military success, attended with incidents of the heroic, has in all ages commanded, as the tribute of admiration and adulation from the impulsive instinct of the great masses. The idea was ad- vanced and dwelt upon by his sympa- thizing friends, that the Government had committed gross injustice to him, and to the volunteer favorites of the people. in decimating his army by the withdrawal of the regular troops, and in organizing and equipping a main army under a new gen- eral, for the invasion of Mexico; that this injustice barely escaped a catastrophe to the nation, by the heroic gallantry and splendid victory of Buena Vista; and that GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR. this shifting of men and scenes upon the theater of war, was intended to check the growing popularity of General Taylor as an invincible whig candidate for the presidency. The idea once suggested became a deep-rooted prejudice in the public mind, until the tide of feeling rose to a great wave of enthusiasm, foreshadowing the inevitable result. The Whig National Convention which met at Philadelphia, on June 8, 1848, nominated Zachary Taylor, then of Louisiana, but forty years a Kentuckian, for president. and Millard Fillmore, of New York. for vice- president. On May 26th. the Democratic National Convention had nominated Lewis Cass. of Michigan, and William O. Butler, of Kentucky, the opposing ticket. The whig ticket was elected. Kentucky gave to it 67. 486 votes; to the democratic, 49,865. General Taylor served as president until July 9. 1850, on which day he died, and was succeeded by Vice-President Fill- more.
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577
THE WHIG TICKET ELECTED.
The father of General Zachary Taylor, one of the most eminent and worthy of the sons of Kentucky, was Colonel Richard Taylor, of Virginia, a gallant officer in the Continental army throughout the Revolutionary war. In 1785, he removed with his family to Kentucky, and settled in Jefferson county, and for years distinguished himself by his services in defense of the border against the Indians. Zachary Taylor was nine months old at the date of this removal. He grew to manhood amid the din of Indian warfare, and received such education as the country afforded. In 1808, he was appointed first lieutenant in the regular army, and soon after joined the command of General Wilkinson, at New Orleans. In the war with England, in 1812-15, he served with distinguished gallantry and success, in the cam- paigns of General Harrison in the North-west. His most noted achievement here was the successful defense of Fort Harrison against the formidable investment and assaults of a greatly superior body of Indians, aided by their allies from Canada. He bore the rank of major at the close of the war. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1832, and rendered most effect- ive service in the Black Hawk war, which broke out at that date. After- ward, in the war against the Seminole tribes of Florida, which became so noted for its long continuance, and the great trouble and expense the Indians gave the Government, from the everglade swamps of that country, the lead- ing military operations were under the command of General Taylor. His subsequent achievements in the Mexican war, and his elevation to the presi- dency of the United States, left nothing more for human ambition and fame to be sought or desired.
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