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From The War: Official Despatches Of The Battle Of Buena Vista

From The War: Official Despatches Of The Battle Of Buena Vista image From The War: Official Despatches Of The Battle Of Buena Vista image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
April
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

ÜKADQUARTERS ARMY OP OCCÜPATION, m Camp on the field of ba Ule, Buena Vista, Mexico, Feb. 24, 1847. h Sir: - I have the honor to report ihaf, 'n having become assured on the 20th inst., that the enerny had assembled in very 'e heavy force at Encarnación, thirtj miles in front of Agua Nueva, withthe evidetít design of attacking my position, I broke 5 up my camp at the latter place on the 21st, 6 andtookupastrong line in front of Buena 1 Vista, seven miles south of Saltillo. A cavalry forcé Ieft at Agua Nueva for the purpose of covering the removal of supplieswas driven in during the night, and onthemorningothe 22nd the Mexican army appeared immediately in front of our position. At 11 o'clock, A. M., a flag was sent, bearing Irom General Santa Anna a summons of uncoRditional surrender. To which I immediately returned a ngative reply. The summons and my reply are heiewith inclosed. Th ' action was commenced late in the after noon between the lighttroops on the Ieft flank, but was not seriously engaged until the morning of the 23d, when the ens emy made an efiort to force the Ieft flank of our position. An obstinate and aanguinary conflict was maintained, with ? short intervals, throughout the day, the resuh being that the enemy was com pletely repulsed from our lines. An atl" ack of cavnlry upon the city of Saltillo itself were likewise handsomely repelled. Early in the night the enemy withdrew from liis camp and feil back upon Agu s Nueva, a distance of twelve miles. Ourown force engaged at all points in 3 fthis action feil somewhat short of 5,400 ' men, white thnt of the enemy, from tho statement of General Santa Anna, may 3 be estimnted at 20.000. Our succew ngainst such great odds is a sufficíent en comium on the good conduct of our troops. In a more detaüed official report, I shall ! i have the satisfaction of bringing to th notice of the government the conspicuous gallantry of particular officars and 1 corps. I may be permitted here, howerer, to acknowledge my great obligationi lo Brig. Gen. Wool, the second in comf mand, to whom I feel particularly jn' debted for hts valuable cervices on thia I occasion. Our loss lias been very severe, and i will not probably fall short of 700 raen. : The Mexican loss hfs been immense. I i shall takethe earliest opportunity of forI warding a correct list of the casualtieof the day. I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't. serv't. Z. TAYLOR, Maj. Gon. U. S. A. commanding. The Adjutant General of the army.Washington, D. C. [Translntion.] [Summons of Sania Anna to General Taylor.] You are surrounded by twentv thousand men, and cannot, to any human proba bility, avoid sufioring a rout, and being cut to pieces with your troop9 ; but aa you deserve consideraron and particular esteem, I wish lo save you frorn a catoatrophe, and for that purpose give you this notice, in order that you may surrender at discretion, under the assuranc that you will be treated with theconsideration belonging tothe Mexican character, to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to commence from tho moment wlven my flag of truce arrivés in your camp. With this view, I assure you of my particular cousiderntion. God and Liberty. Camp at Encania. . da, Feb. 22d, 1847. ANT-LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. To Gen. Z. Taylor, commanding tho forcea of the U.S. Headqüarters Armv of OccorATioN Near Buena Vista, Feb. 22, 18471. Sir:- In reply to your note of thi date, summoning me to surrendr my forces at ciscretion, I beg leevo to say that I decline acceding to your ro qucst. With high respect, I am, eir, your obedient sorvant, Z. TAYLOR, Maj. Gen. U. S. army, commanding. Señor Gen. D. Antonio Loperre Santa Anna, Commandcr in-Chief, La Encantada. Headqüarteiis Army of OccupatiOk, Saltillo, Feb. 25, 1857. Sir: - I hnve respectfully to report that the main Mexican force isyot at Agua Nueva. Our troops hold tho poeitions which they have so well defended.and are prepared to receive the enemy, 6hould he venture attack. An arrangement has been mide with Gen. Santa Anna for an exchange of

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News