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47

Mexican War Letter Containing an Account of the Battle of Buena Vista

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Mexican War Letter Containing an Account of the Battle of Buena Vista
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Dated at Camp Taylor, 20 miles south of Saltillo, Mexico, March 9, 1847, with additions until March 14 at Camp Buena Vista.

Complete Transcript
Camp Taylor 20 miles south of Saltillo Mexico
Tuesday March 9th 1847.
Dear Sarah
I feel it my duty more strongly to write you than I have at any period of my life. I presume eer this reaches you, you will have had an account of the Battle of San Juan de Buena Vista. It is natural for me to suppose that you feel uneasy as to my fate. Therefore I deem it my duty to write you. Our communication of late has been cut off by the Enemy. I shall write you this, let fate be what it may, & amp; I shall consider that I have discharged my duty to you. I have not received any papers or letters from you recently.
I received a paper Dec 7th & amp; a note Enclosed. These I think are all that I have received from you since I left San Antonio. I have written you frequently—shall write you when anything occurs of importance that may fall under my notice. We were encamped at this Camp when we had the first intimation of the approach of the Enemy. Our Picket Guard were the first that gave us warning. There had been previous to this many false alarms & amp; clouds of dust and other signs being the only foundation of the reports, many of us were slow in placing confidence in them. On the 21st Feb. e were ordered to Buena Vista a small Village 6 miles south of Saltillo. We arrived at Buena Vista at 6 O,Clock P.M, & amp; our train being unable to bring with them all of the provisions were immediately ordered back to Aqua Neuava which adjoins Camp Taylor; while the train was being loaded, the Dragoons that were an escort to the train, where fired upon by the Enemy. Our men after setting fire to the Ranch, made good their Retreat to Camp Buena Vista.
A little after sunrise, on the morning of the 22d, The long Roll beat—the signal, to fall in, in line of Battle. Our train being loaded up remained upon the ground, & amp; our Entire Command moved off to the ground upon which we determined to meet the Enemy. Our command consisted of about 3800 men, beside this number taken to the field we had about 1200 men stationed in Saltillo. Two companies of which belonged to the 2d Regiment of Illinois troops; These companies were not in the action. About 7& #39;Oclock upon the morning of the 22d we were formed upon the field in order of Battle. Genls Wool & amp; Taylor passed by the different divisions of their troops, telling them; that this was the birth day of the Immortal Washington. Upon being reminded of this fact, the air rung with the shouts of the soldiers. I will Endeavour to give a discription of our Position & amp; the position of the Mexican forces, commanded by General Santa Anna.
The Valley of Saltillo, courses nearly due south from Saltillo to Aqua Neuava. The mountains on either side of the Valley rise to the height of from 1800. to 2500. feet, & amp; run nearly parellel with each other. We choose the narrowest part of the Valley for the Battle ground, which is 7. & amp; ½ miles south of Saltillo. The Breadth of the Valley being about 1. & amp; ¾ of a mile. The face of the Valley is gentle in its Decent from the range upon the East to the distance of a mile due West—the valley then breaks of into deep Ravenes bearing in the same direction. At the foot of these ravenes we find the Valley to be the lowest, along which in a southernly direction runs the road: upon the right of the road (looking to the Southard) are numerous washes, coursing in various directions & amp; intersecting each other, these washes being of great Depth & amp; breadth form an Impassable Barrier to man & amp; horse. At the base of a hill Captain Washington had 5 pieces of Cannon placed pointing due south along the Road—in front of the Battery he had a breast work of stone & amp; earth thrown up to the height of 3 & amp; ½ feet. (You will please consider when I speak of the Right or left that we are facing to the south) on the Right of Battery a deep ditch was cut & amp; an Embankment thrown up for the distance of 150 feet. Extending in an Easterly direction from the road to the washes, between the hills on our right and the washes, the ground is fitting for the manouvering of an army. Our Battery could have full play upon the enemy should they attempt a passage upon this ground: upon which we had a Regmt of Kentuckey Infantry & amp; one piece of artillery. In the trench cut adjoining the Battery 2 Companies of Rifleman belonging to the 1st Illinois Regiment was stationed—2 more companies were stationed in Saltillo, & amp; the remaining 6 Companies were stationed upon the Ridge at the Base of which Captain Washingtons Battery rested.
In front of Col. Hardins Position or the position of the first Regiment of Illinois troops are several ridges—the nearest to them being out of musket shot—so all that they could do was to assist in defending the Battery in Case the Enemy made a Charge upon it; which only could be by way of the road. The 2d Regiment of Illinois troops were placed nearly on a line with the Battery & amp; Hardins Regiment, & amp; mid-way between it & amp; the Eastern Range of Mountains. Their were none of our troops in advance of us. In our rear was stationed a Regmt of Kentuckey Infantry & amp; in our rear & amp; to the left of our rear a Regmt of Indianna Infantry, the Mississippi Regmt was stationed to there left—our Cavalry & amp; U.S. Dragoons were stationed in different parts of the field. At 2, OClock Gen Santa Anna sent to Gen Taylor, that if he would surrender, that he would treat us as prisoners of war. Our General wrote upon the Back of the message & #34;that he must come & amp; take us.& #34; The Mexican forces were distributed similar to our own & amp; amounted to 21000 efficient men—5000, of which were mounted & amp; armed with a sword a lance & amp; short musket. The first gun was fired by the Enemy at 4, OClock when the Enemy deployed about 1000 men to the East Range, they climbing the mountain side this movement was done with the hope that we would deploy our forces from the Centre of the Valley to meet them. Our Infantry remained at their posts, & amp; a few companies of Rifleman were soon put in motion to meet them; a brisk fire was kept up between the skirmishers until night closed the scene. When both armies lay upon the field on their arms for the night. At daylight on the morning of the 23d The skirmishing recommenced, between the Enemy & amp; our Troops upon the mountain side. The Position of our Troops was similar to the day previous—a few minuets before Eight Oclock, the Mexican horn sounded the Retreat & amp; the skirmishers returned from the mountain. It was the most beautiful Sight, I ever seen to see manoeuvering of the enemy. They were much better uniformd then our own troops. In displaying their dense columns there arms shown as bright, in the morning sun as polished silver, and their every movement in line of Battle was like clock work. In fact, these troops where the best troops that Santa Anna could bring against us. At Eight O& #39;Clock both armies were getting close to geather. Our Regment stood in advance of all others. 8 Regimts of the Enemy were drawn up in solid column against us; when with in about 200 yards the advance Regmt commenced pouring a heavy fire upon us we fell to our knees to await a nearer approach of the Enemy—their balls passing over our heads—upon a nearer approach we arose to our feet, and returned a fire for the space of thirty minutes. The enemy still fired to high—while our Regimt done fine Execution. An order was given us to retreat—it was not obeyd—it was repeated--& amp; still not obeyd—an order was then given to Cease fireing, this was done after two or the rounds being fired & amp; Col. Churchill repeated the Order to retreat. The Enemy persued us but were brought to a halt by our Cannon; we retired about 200 yds down a ravene running west & amp; then ascended the hill. We now had with us the Kentucky Regmt as we ascended the hill. the Adjutant General Lincoln came galloping his beautiful white charger t& #39;word us, & amp; when in the act of Beckoning to us—saying come on my brave Illinoisans, a ball from the Enemy struck him in the head; he raised his arm stiffly—but spoke not, & amp; fell upon his chargers neck. this happened when I was within a few feet of him. We now returned a brisk fire upon the Enemy & amp; drome them before us, many of them ran into one of the ravenes that leads to the road, we being upon the hill, had fine play at them, & amp; in a few minutes it was lined with the dead and wounded. Col Bowle& #39;s Regmt (2d Indianna) was attacked about the same time we were, & amp; gave way before they had an order to retreat, their hasty retreat was the cause of our loosing 3 pieces of cannon, the conduct of this regmt is highly centured by our commanding Generals.
The Battle was briskly kept up, until about 2& #39; Oclock when Gen. Santa Anna demanded a parley. Gen Wool & amp; staff rode out to meet him, or his staff Officers—the Mississippi Regiment, where upon the East side of the Vally & amp; where marching by the right flank in the direction where our General & amp; staff Officers had stopped—the Enemy discharged their cannon at them to keep them from advancing, & amp; kept Briskly repeating the fire. It appears that they did not understand that a parley had been demanded. About this time our train was charged upon by the Enemies cavalry. Col. Yell formed his men to meet them. Both parties drew a tight rain upon their horses, & amp; flourishing their sabres over their heads—dashed to geather—Santa Anna seeing that our troops could not be checked for a few minuets, was unwilling that we should be gaining advantage while his main body was still—so a parley was with him out of the question, so after giving our General time to reach his division—recommenced a general fire upon us. about 5 thousand Infantry & amp; 3 thousand Lancers were formed upon the edge of the mountain on the East side of the valley. The Mississippians Advanced toward them having with them one piece of artillery—they poured a brisk fire upon the enemy—the lancers charged upon them— It was the last charge that many of them made. Our cannon playd upon them with good effect as soon as their lines were broken—they would fill them up. The Mississippians were several times obliged to retreat—they merely faced about to the West & amp; marched as leasurely & amp; unconcerned as if upon drill, never failing to come to a stand & amp; commence to advance. After a hard fire from them & amp; their cannon they effected to turn the flank of the Enemy down the Valley, our cannon then let loose upon them from every quarter & amp; they commenced to fly the field. When the enemy commenced their hurried retreat, our Regiment & amp; 3 companies of Col. Hardins Regiment (who were for the first time out upon the field) were ordered by him, he being the senior Colonel present, to form Column of companies, which being done, we marched with a brisk step tword the advance of the Enemy. They seeing that we were a lone Regiment—advanced in a dense body toward us, when at the distance of 250. Yds we were ordered to Reserve our fire. we done so until a nearer approach, the Enemy fired as they advanced, the column being to strong for us—we retreated—back to the head of a Ravene and then made a stand we fired upon this body for about 30 minuets, they were still getting closer & amp; closer upon us, & amp; some seeing that we were about to be overpowered commend their Retreat, upon which the Enemy followed us down the Ravene & amp; also ran along both Ridges of the Ravene pouring their fire upon us, many of our men returning the fire, the Mexicans would occasionaly fall, & amp; Roll, down the side of the Ravene for a hundred feet. many of our men fell in this ravene, as soon as we commenced our retreat the lancers rode to the mouth of the ravene to keep us from getting our & amp; many a poor fellow they lanced to death. On the night of the 23d we lay upon our arms upon the field, expecting to be attacked early next morning. the Enemy had fired many copper Balls at us—for which Gen Taylor determined to fire chain shot at them next morning. we all expected that a determined attack upon the part of the Enemy would be made. Our Men had learned this fact, that if we were conquered it would end in a general murder. We felt that it would not do to surrender—if the Event became desperate Our General would not have failed to have done as Napoleon or a Ney had done—lead us to certain death or Victory. The morning came. The Picket Guard Reported that the Enemy had retired from sight—by Eleven OClock we ascertained that the Enemy were at Agua Neuava, & amp; were retreating from there. We lost about six hundred killed & amp; wounded. Col. Hardin, Col. McKee, Col. Yell, & amp; Lieut Col. Clay, Adjt Gen Lincoln, were the only field Officers we had killd. We had a great many officers wounded. Our own Regmt had 9 Lieuts killed & amp; 4 wounded, one Captain killed & amp; 3 wounded. Our own company lost 10 killd & amp; Eight wounded. Our Third Lieut was killed & amp; our 2d wounded. Lieut. Starbuck was elected over me a few days before the Battle by a majority of three votes. He acted the part of a Brave Captain upon the field. You will see that my letter is dated the 9th We left Camp Taylor for Buena Vista on the 10th, and this is sunday the 14th the mail will leave here in the morning. I am informed that the mail will be discontinued from this place to [montary?]—nearly all of our mail riders are murdered between Saltillo & amp; that garrison & amp; I presume It is the occasion of its being discontinued. It is still thought by many that Santa Anna will again attack us. I do not think that Our principal Offices believe it. Gen Taylor has gone to Monteray, & amp; I think we will commence in a day or two to put up some fortifications. It is reported that Gen. Kearney has taken Chahuhua, & amp; is on his march here to join us. I hope you will write me as soon as this reaches you, if letters come to montry they will be sent on with the Governmt dispatches—but we will not have an opportunity to send from here there.
It was the Intention of Gen Wool to have marched us against San Luis Potosio. I do not think that he will do it it was the Intention of Gen Taylor to move on for that city by the 1st of April. He is now endeavouring to hurry on the new troops & amp; supplies—wether he will go to san Luis or not I am not able to say. If he should, and he obtains a good number of new troops he may leave us to garrison this place Monteray & amp; Camargo—if any troops are required to go that are here, the 1st & amp; second Illinois Regiments & amp; one of the Kentucky Regiments will be selected, but I think the matter very doubtful. Our term of service you are aware expires on the 26th of June & amp; they may send us home with in one year. I am however contented let them do as they will though I wish to get to the state of [?], my health remains good, though since the Battle, from being much exposed at night I have taken a severe cold and have not fell as well as usual.
When you write Direct as follows
2d Regmt Illinois Volunteers
Care of Colonel Wm H. Bissel
Saltillo Mexico
I will write to you the first opportunity.
I am & amp;c your Brother N. B. Dilhorn
I am your Brother N. B. Dilhorn
Camp Buena Vista 5 miles south of Saltillo, Mex. Sunday morning March 14th 1847.

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