Newspaper Page Text
MISCELLANY
i HA RAC TER AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF
WASHINGTON.
In the early day* o! the Republic it was customary fir the j
President to meet the two Houses of Congress, on their as |
•emhltng, and make them a speech, instead of sending a for
mal, carefully written menage as now. We do not remem
ber the precise year when the change was inode, but think it
was before the close of Washington’s Administration. Va
rious reason* cons piled to bring about the change, reasons of
convenience which will occur on reflection to every mind,
and which it is needless now to specify. We allude to the
matter as neiessarv to a bettci understanding of the extract
below. This extract is taken fiom a long and ve y intend
ing communication ill the National Intelligencer, of the ‘did
instant, the anniversary of Washington's biilh day. The
writer describes Washington as he saw him at the opening ol
Congress in Philadelphia. Alluding to u description of the !
same scene by another writer in the Intelligencer of last year
he says ;
Its vivid truth cannot he surpassed. I stood with him on
that same stone p'atfo in, bafore the door of the hull elevated
by a few tteps fu in the pavement, when the carii.tge of the
President drew up. It was. as tie de-cfiles it, white, or rath
er of a light cream color, pointed on the ponds w ith I l autiful
groups, by Cipiiani, represeating tho four seasons. The hor
►es, according to my roc*!leelion, were white, in unison with
the carriage. (Ho says they were bays; perhaps he is more
coriect ) As he alighted, and, ascending the step#, paused
upon the platform, looking over In* shoulder, in in altitude
that would have furnished un admirable subject for the pen
Cil, lie was piecrded by two gen lemen beating long wl.it *
wands, who kept hick the crowd that pressed on rvery side
t> get a nearer view. At that moment I stood so near I might
h vc touched his clothes: but I should us soon have thought
rf touching an electric battery. I ,is penetrated with a ven
eration amounting to the deepest awe. Nor was this feeling
of a schoolboy only ; it pervaded, 1 h liev*, every human be
ing that approached Washington; ami I have b en io’d
that, even in his social and convivial hours, tl i# feeling in
thonf who were honon and to share them never suffered inter
mission. I saw him hundred lim’s afterwards, but never
with any other than that same feeling. The Almighty, who
raised up for our hour of need a mn so peculi rlv prepared
for Us whole dreud re-pun-ibilily, seems to have put nn no
pns* of sarrediKss upon his own instiument. The firs
sight of the man struck the h- art with involuntary homage,
arid prepared every thing around him to obey. When lie
••uddresrv. and himself to speak” the.e was an uneons ions sus
pension of the hre.vh, while every rye was raised lo expecta
tion. At the time I speak of he stood in profound .-hence,
and had that statue-hke air which mental greatness alone can
bestow. As lie turned to enter ihe building, and whs ascen
ding the staircase leading to the Congressional Hall, l glided ,
along unperccived, aimo-t under cover of the skins of his
dress, and entered ins anity af er him into the lobby of the
House, which was of c urse in session to receive him. On i
either hand, from the en ranee, stood a luge ca#l-ir>n stove ;
er and. resolved to secure the unhoj ed-for piivilege 1 had so un
expectedly obtained. I c-umhered, boy I ike. on Ibis stove, (for
innately then not rnu h het J.) and from that favorable ele
vation enjoyed, lor the fi st time, (what I have since so mar y
th ousand* of limes witnessed with comparative iml lforence,)
an uoioleriupted view of the American Congress in full ses
sion, every u ember in his place. Shall I he paid mod for any- t
ing its aspect was vcy diffeient from what we njw witness !
Theic was an air cf decorum, of composure, of refl.ciion, of
gentiemtnly uml poltrhcd dignity, which has Aid, or lingers
w ith here and there a “relict of the old time.”
‘J he House seemed tin nas compostd as the Senate now
is when an impressive speech is in (he act of delivery. t)u
Washington’s entrance the most profound and dea h-likestill
ncss prevailed, llou-e, lobbies, gallery, all weie wrap; el in
the deepest atieniion ; and the soul* of that entire ;tsemhiage
seemed pouring from their eyes on the noble figure which de
liberately, and with an unaffr.ed, hut su>passing m j fly,
advanced up* n the broad aisle of the Hall between ranks of
standing Senators and Member#, at and slowly ascended the
steps leading to the -Speaker’s chair, 1 well remember, stand
ing at the head of the Senate, the tall, square, so new hat
gaunt fritn of Mr. Jefferson ; conspicuous from h s scarlet
waistcoat, bright blue coat, with broad bright buttons, as well
as by bis quick and penetrating air, and high-boned Scottish
cast of features. There, too, stood General Knov, then Sec-
relaty of War, in all the sleek rotundity of his low statue,
witn a bold and fl >rid face, open, firm, and marly expression,
but I recollect that my boyish rye was caught by the ap
pearance of L)e Yrujo, the Spanish Ambassador. Me stood
in the rear of the chair, a littld on one side covered with a
splendid diplo.natic die**, ili-rm-tied with ord. r-, m,<J carrying
under bis arm an immense chape uhras, edged with wfire . s
trich feathers. He was a man totally different in his air and
manner from ill around him, and the very antipod-s fsrnti
ally of ihe Man on whom all eyes but his seemed fixed a* by ‘
a spell. 1 saw many other veiy striking figures grouped
about and behind the Speikei’s chair, but I did not know i
their names, and had no one to afek; beside.-, I dartd not
open my lips.
The President, having scaled himself, temained in silence,
scarcely contemplating the Legislature before him, whose
members now resumed their seats, waiting for the speech.—
No bouse of worship, in the mod solemn pauses of uovolion.
was ever more profoundly slid than that large and crowded
chamber.
• Washington was Jrer-rd precis* ly as Smart ha* pa nted
him in Loid Lansdown’s full-length pm trait—in a full suit
of the richest b'at k velvet, with diamond knee-but kies and
square silver buckles 8v t upon shoes japanned w.th the most
scrupulous ne.ituess, bla< k silk stork ngs, Ins shirt i tilled at
the breast and wrists, a light dress sword, his h ir p of is* lv
powdered, fully dressrd so as to project at the eidra, and gath
ered behind in a silk bag oi(lamented with a large rose of
black ribhond. He held his cocked hat which ha i a !a r ge
black cockade on one side of it, in Li* hand, a* ho advanced
towaid the i hair, and, wheu st air and, laid it on the table.
At length (blunting his hand within the side of his coal,
he drew forth a r- II of manuscript, which h** opened, and us
ing, held it in his hand, while hi a rich, deep, full, sonorous
voice, he read his opening a- dtesa to Congress. Urn enun
ciation wa# deliberate, justly emphasised, very distinct, ami
accompanied with an an of deep solemnity, as being the ut
terance of a mind profoundly impressed with (he dignity of
the act in which it was occupied, conscious of the whole re
eponsibdity of its position ami action, hut not oppiessrd by it.
There waa ever about the man something which impressed
the observer with a conviction that he was exactly and fi.llv
rqudly to what he had to do. Ho was never burned ; never
negligent ; but eemed ever prepared lor the occasion, be u
what it might. If l could expn ss his charact* rin one word. <
it would be appropriateness. In hi# study, in his parlor, at a
levee, before Congress, at the head of the army, he *e mrd
ever to be just what the situation required him to be. He
possessed, in a degree never equalled by any human King I
ever saw, the strongest, most ever present sense of propriety.
It never forsook him, and deeply and involuntarily tm pi cased
itself upon every be holder.
ilia addies* was of moderate length; the topics I have of
course forgotten : indeed l was not of an age to appreciate
them; but the air, the manner, the tones, h ive never left my
Bocnisl v sion, aud even now seem to vibrate on y ear.
A scene like t’ * is, once be In Id, though in <athct youth, is
never to be forgotten. It must he now fifty years ago, but 1
could this moment sit down and akelih the chamber, the as
sembly, and the man.
Having closed the rteJing, be laid down the scroll, and, af
ter a brief pause, retired as he had entered ; when the maun
cenpt was landed, foi a second reading, lo Mr. Ikvkley, then
(’h rk of the Ijouse. whose gentlemanly m timer, clear and
silver voice, and sharp articulation I shall ever associate with
the scene. When shall we again behold such u Congtea*
and such a President 1 fcIUMA.
LOUT Ills BOOTS.
There ire a few persons in this moral community, who go
about, like his Satanic Majesty, after nightfall, seeking ’whom
they may devour.* These coating lions’ are'comprisrd in
two classes, male and female ditto—but with tho lutter, at
present, wc hove nothing to do. Our recital relates to those
young men of genteel exterior ami address, who make it their
business to insult every unprotected lady they chance lo meet
in the street, after dark, especially if the lady should have
any claim to le considered good looking. Occasionally there
fellows get their deserts. Hero is an instance :
MissT. happened to be detained a little after dark, and,
Lurrying home, was addressed by a well drassrd young mail
• Mia*,* said he, ‘ahull I have the pleasure of seeing you
home!’ ‘
♦Sir.*
•You appear to be alone—shall I see you home!’
•No, sir, I do not need your service.*
•Come, conic-—l’ve seen you before/
•Very likely, but I don’t know you/
•Well, I’m bound to are you home/
•I’ll rail the watch/
•Thank you/
•Impudence/
•You’d better fake my arm/
•No, Bir-c e/
•You can t bluff me est thia way / .
•You’ll repent tins/
•Gammon/
During this running fire, Miss T was rapidly nearing
bar home, when reflecting that her father or brother war#
qu t# |ill|y to be within, she suddenly changed her lachf*. j
•Ksslly, sir,’ said she ‘the oppressive beat an J the flight
together have made uk qu.lc luiut, ami 1 hall be Compelled
to take your aim/
•Ah, this is charming,’ remarked the forward but deceived
gallant.
•Tell me,* simpered Miss T with consummate loci,
•is vour name Gustav us !*
•Alas, no, dear Miss, my name unfortunately. Is Timothy.’ .
•Timothy, ‘Timothy did you sny I ’us sweet —*iu btautiful
—yet how unlike GoatuvusV
• There it a slight difference, I admit, between Timothy and
Gustavos; but remember, fair one, a rose by ano’her name
would smell as sweet, as the divine Fanny Kemble used to
“J. f I
True, true, but here I am at home ! will you walk in 1
•Will l ? yu ent'ance me !’
•Hush—not a whisper—walk in. Now take off your boot#;
i the slightest non* will cause discoveiy, and 1 ahull he ruined.
Have you taken oil’your bools 1*
•Yea/ !
•Now follow me—but if you value your life, remain silent/
•I’ve got an engagt mem ut twelve, remarked the youth,
somewhat agitated.
•I will let you oil in season foi that/
•You won’t disappoint me,* said he, as he cautiously fol
lowed her uj> stairs in his stocking feet.
On reaching the first landing a door was open, and he stood
in preacme of the father, mother, and the brothers ol his fair
charge.
•My dear parents,’ said Mias T , ‘permit mo lo intro
duce you to Mr. Tick-L’p. an impudent fellow, who has an
noyed and imulud me this evening on my way home, \ou
will perceive that he is bootless/
Mi. Pick- Up stood aghast thunderstruck ! Had the house
fallen down upon his head, he could not have looked more
terrified.
*oh, you scoundrel!* shouU'd the old gentleman, is he
; showered u dozen well-aimed and effectual blows upon the ,
unfoitunate gallant, who turned and fled w Idly down the i
stars, Mr. T. kicking him at every step. ‘The front door j
was opened in a twinkling, and without his boot*, the poor
devil fled precipitately down the strict, and was soon lust in
the daikm-as of the nig't.
Those boots have never been cljirncJ. —Ex Pope *\
MOORISH Jl STICE.
The following story is attributed to Alexander Duma#, nod
K translated lioin the French by the editor of tha I • •Mate*
Gazette:
A French vessel was driven by r\ storm out ol its route into
the harbor of Tunis. While the captain whs vv hi lint: lor the
wind to change, the custom-house officers boarded him and
demanded their dues. ‘They wi re answered that the vessel
had cleared for Chino, and not for Alrica, Arc. ‘The captain,
however, had to pay, but wenl <t once in the Bev lo complain.
“Good Frank.” suid hi*highness, “! uni your Ir.end and pi- ,
lv you; let your brow real oil my bosom, tliut my tears may <
fall on your sorrow s.” j
“.Sire, vour custom-house officers have robbed me—l usk for
ledress. Pay me buck my thousand piastre*.”
“Good Frank, I know my officers robbed you, if they could
lam very sorry,but I never pay buck money. 1 will, howev
er, give you justice.”
1 “Thank you, fire.”
“\\ lint kind of justice will you have—French or African . ’
“Sire, I have been to law in my own country, und this lime
I fhull try the African justice.” .
“For a Trunk, you are w ie. God is great, Mahomet is his
pronhct, and I un: Bey of Tunis. \Vhat is v our cargo ?
“Soup ami twenty thousand cotton cups.”
“’Tliut will do, good Frank.”
‘The Bey sent for the Vizier. “God is great,” said he “Ma
homet is hi#prophet, I am the friend ol justice and >f the King
of the French. Let the crier shout ihrough the citv that I shall
send for any Jew men to-morrow without a cotton cap.
Ala*! ulas! there were twenty ihmn*und Jews in 1 unis,but
not one cap-maker. Luckily, however, there was a I* rent h
vessel in port with twenty thousand caps, uud on the uext day
em h Jew in ‘Tunis wore one ol them.
The captain called again to e ee the Bey—“ How can I show
, you how 1 honor you ?” he asked.
“Do not thank me yet: you do not know what more I intend
to do lor you!” uud the Bey sent again for his \ i/.ier.
“Vi/i.r, Mahomet is God’s prophet ! Let the crier shout
through the city that I shall send for any Jew iu whose possea
; sion a cotton cap shall be found.”
I he Vizier left, and tho French captain soon followed him.
When he reached hi# vessel ull the Je>vs of the city came on
hoard, and each sorrowfully laid down a cotton cap upon the
deck” The captain was not ungenerous, however; he repur
chased the cotton cups at two sol# a piece, and suilr.l fur t Miina.
There, however, he was not luckv ; the Ghinese would not
* buy them, aud lie brought them back to Marseille*. Alexan
dre Dumas ha* one of the caps, which he pi opuses to present
to ilio .National Museum.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
WILLIAM SHAW.
In the rear 1721 there resided in Edinburg an uphol-terer
named William Shaw, who hud a daughter. Catharine Shaw.
Ado* lived with him. ‘This young woman encouraged the
addresses of John Lawson, a jeweller, to whom William
•Shaw declared insuperable objections, declaring him to be a
nrwfl'gatc young man, addicted to every kind of dissipation.—
He was forbidden the house ; but as the daughter continued
| to see him clandestinely, the father, on discovering it, kept
her closely confined.
William Shaw had for some lime urged hi* daughter to re
| reive the addresses of a son of Alexander Robertson, a friend
and neighbor: and one evening, being very urgent with her
tin icon, she peremptorily refused declaring she preferred death
to being Robertson’s wife. The father grew enraged, and
the daughter more positive, so that the most passionate ex
pression* arose on bo>h side#, and the words‘barbarity, cruel-
I tv, ai.d death/ were frequently pronounced by the daughter
* At length he Itfl her, Imking the door after him.
I The gnater number of the buildings iu Edinburg are tall
and massive, divided into flits and floor*, each inhabited by
l one or more families, all of which enter by a stair leading to
their respective floors. William Shaw resided in one ofihese
flits, and a partition only divided his dwelling from that cf
James Mo'tison, a watch-case maker. ‘Tins man had indis
tinctly overhead the conversation and quarrel between Cath
* ine Shaw and her fither, and was particularly struck with
the i* petition of the above woids. she having pronounced
them loudly and emphatically. For some time after the fa
ther was gone out all was silent, but presently Morrison heard
neural grodus from the daughter. Alarmed, he ran to some
of the neighbors under the same roof; these entering Morri
son’s room, and listening attentively, not only heard the
groans, but distinctly heard Catharine Shaw exclaim—*Cruel
lather! thou art the cause of my death/ Startled at this,
they flew to the door of Shaw’s apartment: knocked —no
answer was given. The knocking was tepeated—still no an
swar. Suspicion had arisen ugaiu*l (ho la'her ; they were
e mfnmed. A constable was procured, aud an entrance forc
ed. I’i hiriue was found weltering in her blood ; and the
Itlil kittle by her side. She was alive but speechless; and
un questioning her a to owing her death lo her father, was
just able lo make a motion with her head, apparently in the
; atliimative and expired. At this critical moment William
Shaw return#, and enters the room—immediately all eyes are
upon him. Seeing his neigbora and a cons able iu hts apart
ment, he appears much disordered ; but at the sight of his
daughter he turns pale, trembles, and is ready lo sink. ‘The
fii.-t surprise and succeeding honor leave little doubt of his
gutll to the minds of the *>eholdt r, ami even th it little is done
away on the constable discovering that the shirt of William
Shaw whs bloody.
He was instantly hurried b fore a magistrate, ard, upon
t he and positions ol all the partita, committed to the prison on
suspicion* He wus shortly after Koughl to trial, when io hi*
defence lie ui know (edged havug confined his daughter to
prevent her intercourse with Lawson, that he had frequently
insisted on hci marrying Robeitson ; snd that he had quar
rel!* and with her on the subject the evening she was found
murdered, a* Ihe MMness Morrison had deposed ; but he a
vetred that he left his daughter unharmed and untouched,
und that the hi and found upon hia sbir*. w is there in conse
quence ol his having bled hunself some day* before, and lh
bui.dage becoming untied. ’These atserlioaa did not weigh a
leather with the jury when opposed lo the strong circumstan
tial evidence ol die daughtei’s cxpreseio.is of ‘barbarity, cru- ;
city,death/ and of*Ciuel father! thou art the cause of my
deuth/ together with that apparently alii malive motion ol her
hed, and the blued an seemingly providentially discovered
on (tie lather's shirt. On these several concurring circuit)
stances was \\ illiani Mhaw found guilty, und execund ut Lc
high Walk, iu Noviuiber, 1721.
Wus (here a person in Edinburg who l*lieved the father
guiltless! No, not one, no withstanding his word# at the
gallows were, *1 am innocent of my daughter's murder/ But
hi August 1722, as a min who had become the possessor of
(be late Y\ tliiam thaw's apartments, wus rummaging by
chance in the tbainl>er where Catbaritf Htiaw died, lie acci
dently perceived u paper in a cavity in one side of the chim
ney. it was folded a# a letter, and on being opened coulaio
cd the following words:
• Biibrrous father—your cruelty in having put it out of my
power to join my la'e to that of the only man I could love,
uml tyiamcally insisting upon tny marrying one whom I al
ways hated, has made me lorui a resolution to put an end to
ail existence which t* become a burden to me. 1 doubt not
I shall find merry in another woild, for sure no benevolent
Being can rrquirer that 1 should any longer live in tor
rmut to myself in this. My death I lay to your charge;
when you read this, consider yourself • the inhuman wretch
ilisl plunged the murderous knile into (tic bosom of the un
happy Catiivhink Bhaw/*
i I In* letter being shown, the hand writing was rrcogtn**d
and vowed to he Catharine Shaw's !>y many of her relations
and friends. It btcvme the public talk ; and the magistracy
ol Edinburg (on a scrutiny) being convinced ol its anther
tietty, ordeua the body of YYillia*n Kliaw to be taken from
the gibKt, and given to hia family tor intei merit; and as the
only reparation to bis L ernmy, and Ihe honor ri his surviving
i relations, they av<d a pair of colors to be Wived over his
g mein token ol hia mu * euce —,t poor toii.prit.-a'i oi, it
will he allowed, for an act of gross cruelty aud injustice,
Rome, the Pup*, and the Arts. — We have been permitted
O examine a letter from a young painter, of Pennsylvania,
studying in Rome, which contains, in addition lo much aitis- |
. tic go*sip scarcely calculated for publication, some accounts i
! < T the piescnl i'ope, which, though embracing little that is
J new, are yet intere*tmg :
When I came to Rome (says he) Giii.gory XIV, a m
the apostolic chair, an amiable pttrice, and, I doubt not, n pi
ous man. chaiilable and kind, but so hemmed in by pnjudi
-1 ces of education and station, that the eternal city seemed like
! ly to remain a* it has long done, far behind th* avciage pro
gress of Europe. We artists livo among ours* Ive s, aud but
rarely have the mean* of knowing the sentiments of the Ho
man* or then troubles, but we have tome inconvenience*.ol
our own, firm the evident necessity “at Rome of living like
; the Romans.” The gallerit* and ibe churches wi re open to
u*. but under many rcstiictious apparently without any pros
pect of theii being removed. ‘The old i'ope died, aud. during
I the conclave, many rumors agitated the city ; and even when ,
it Wri* announced lhai Cardinal Mastai-Feiu.iTi was ap
pointed to succeed him, the world knew scarcely what to 1
think. ‘The accession of (he icw Pope wu* a revolution. 1
speak not of religion—and perhaps the Government, after all,
has not grra’ly changed—but the thousand small restriction*,
common in all the Lalian Governments, have disappeared.
We ami all of us, have permit Hon to go and come as we j
please, ‘ihe study of no work of art is unattainable by us,
and we are unrrfttraimd, ns in no other caph&l of Europe.
Muny of the English aid Americans have #een the Pope,
and it is said he is very courteous to them. Os transatlantic j
affairs, he is well informed. The people now begin to laugh i
■ at llieii old terror, Austria, and seem twice as contented as
they were. Pus IX. is u grc.it man, certainly, and if h*
l hves long will do much loi ihe civil government of hts peo
ple, if he does nothing else.
| “There arc many civil engineers in Romo seeking employ
ment on the n< w railroad*. I have heanl tame of them air
American#. If I were not of *ihe gentle Tu#Cdii craft,’ I
would like to build a Railro.nl along the Via Appia, ‘Flunk
1 only of one of Norris's huge engines moving ‘vvture the car
climbed ihe Capitol/ ”
Much more ol this sort is contained in the letter, which,
we regret, it is out of our power to give in full.— UN. (jag.
NEWS Ffttom MEXICO.
From the (.V. O.) Daily Picayune.
<*lorious IYcwh irotn llic Army.
BATTLE OK BUENA VISTA !—GEN. TAYLOR
VICTORIOUS!!
Gen. Taylor Victorious—The Mexican Army ltd by Santa
Anna Deflated ut tiuena Vista with Great Slaughter.
Mlmoiianjivm or the Battle of Blena Vista.
Prepared fur the Editors if the P cayune by Lieut. J. J.
C. liibb , V. S. A.
Dr. Turner. L. S. A., who arrived at Matamoros on the
Uth im.t. from Monterey, brought the glorious intelligence of
i another brilliant victoiy over the Mexican army. The scene
of action wus at Buena Vi ta, a hacieuder about six nwlea
west ol Saltillo. Ihe lighting commenced on the 22J of Feb
ruary ami ended on the 23d. Santa Anna retired to Ague
Nuevs, a distance often miles, leaving four thousand killed
und wounded upon the field. Santa Anna’s adjutant gener
al and many other officers and men are prisoner. The los
on our part was seveu hundred killed and wounded. Santa
Anna’s force amounted to at least fifteen thousand men: that
of Gen. ‘Taylor to about five thousand, almost entirely volun
teer*. His army is cuntpesid ol Washington’s .Bragg’s, and
Thomas’* batteries, one squadron of the Island one of the
2d DragooiJs. the Ark ms is and Kentucky cavalry, a brigade
ol Illinois and one of Indiana volutihers the Ist Mississippi
ar.d 2d Kentucky Regiments, and one company of Texas vol
unteers.
i Col. Curtis of Ohio, with one company (Ca; t. Hunter’s)
: llie U. D agoons, his own regiment, one of Indiana
volunteers, the Virginia regiment, and 1 think some ‘Texas
ranger#, in all about 2000 men, was about to leave Camargo
lo attack Gen. Urrea, who is said to be about thirty miles
south of that placo with an army of from 4000 to 5000 men,
principally raucheros. He is believed to have with him only
1500 regular troops. A great many if not all of these ran
cberos, as soon as they hear of the discomfiture of Santa An
ru s army, will disperse, and the gallant colonel will no doubt
obtain the victory. 7 his news Irom above proves that the
vaiious repotts which hud before Ken received of Gen. ‘Tay
lor’s rctnat upon Monterey, and the advance of a large force
lo attack our depots at Brazos and at the mouth of the Kio
! Grande to he untrue. Os the defences *t the mouth of the
‘ river l know noiiiinj, but have been told that they are sutlic
lent to make a strong resistance. The fortifications at the
Brazos, with ttie force of artillery and persons in the quaiter
master’s employ, which can be raised as a garrison is sufficient
to drive bask a command of ut least 2500 or 3000 Mexicans.
1 lie work, which may be technically termed a continued line,
encloses all the quartermaster's und commissary’s fetoreg in
deq ot. ihe parapet is foi nted ‘of barrels of damaged commis
?ary stores, with sand bags for the superior slope; the sand
from a ditch in front, thrown up against the barrels, forms
the exterior slope. The arm imenl of the fort consists of four
pieces of artillery —tw o twelve and two six-pounders, in bar
bette—which sweep the fool of and cross their lire* upon the
1 level plain over which the enemy would be compelled to ad
vance, anu abont 3 0 muskets lo lino the parapet. This was
thrown up when an attack was daily expected. Nothing
having reached us from Gen. Taylor for many days, wc be
lieved him surrounded, as was reported, and gave some degree
of credit to the rumor of the advance of a large force upon our
depots. After waiting three or four days, anxiously expect
ing the approach of the enemy, we received the glorious new*
j above—understood, of cou so, that the battle of Brazos San
tiago wa-> “ no go;” and when I sailed, the artillery of Fort
; Harney, instead of mowing down the Mexicans, wus pealing
j forth a salute iu honor of old “ Hough and Heady” uud his
gallant little army at Buena Vi#ta.
VVe annex Santa Anna's own account of the actions of
Buena \ isla, as tran#la(ed for the 7'ampico Sentinel. We
have the original Spanish account in our possession :
Gamp nfah Bi ena Vista, Feu. 23, 1817.
Excellent Sir —After two da\s of battle, in which the mo
my, with a force of 8.000 to 9,000 men and twenty-six pieces
of artillery, lost live ol his positions, three pieces of artillery
and two fligs, I have detennimd to go back to Agua Nueva
to pro>ide myself with provisions, not having a single buis
cuit or a graiq r >ce left. ‘Thanks to the pos tion accupied
by the enemy, he ha* not been completely beaten, but be left
on the field about 2000 dead. Both a rnica have been cut
‘.o pieces, but the trophies of war will give you an idea on
which #ido has been the advantage. We hsvaatrugglafl with
hunger and thirst during forty hours, and if we cun provide ‘
ourselves with provisions we will go again to charge the ene- <
my. ‘The soldieis under my command have done their duty
and covered the honor ol the Mexican nation with glory.—
; The enemy has seen that neither hts advantageous portion,
nor the broken nature of the ground, nor the rigor of the j
season (for it has been raining during the action) could pre
vent the terrible charge with the bay one*, which left him ter
rified. BANT A ANNA.
‘The Tampico Sentinel accompan es the translation of the
f despatch ot Santa Anna with a long articte. ‘Th* editors
were not so well informed in regard to events at Buena Vista
as we are here, but they derive the staple of their news from
the Mexicans. Wr, the et.ne, give the whole of ibe beat!-
ncl’s article t
[From theTampico Sentinel, extra, Mrch 11,7 a. m.
Our city was thrown into a great state of excifemen ye*
terday by the receipt of news lioin San Luis Tolom, giving
the particulars ol a bloody engagement between the American
forces under Gen. ‘Taylor arid those of the Mexicans under
Gen. Banta Anna, at u point called Buena Vista, As these
details ars lioin a Mexican journal, wo etcouise have to re
ceive them as such, and give them jut so much credence as
each individual may suppose them to be woith, making a
proper allowance for the known disposition ol this people to
exaggerate everything, from the noble conflict of two couag
cous armies to ibe allurements of the cockpit. When the
contents of ihe said piper were piomuigated first, there ws*
uch horror commingled with the recital that one would have
supposed Alexander the Great was again at the head of the
Macedonians, carry iug triump and devastation wherever his
anny appealed, and there was such an air of grandure thrown
around the stratagems of the dignified and conquering Meii 1
can chieltam, that we were carried back lo the golden day* of!
Roman warriors.
From all we were able to gather in the excited staie’of
the public mind, which having littls to work upon wa* inven
ting and conflicting with itself in every possible way, the ac
counts published in our paper of the fill) mat. are partly con
: firmed, lu that number wo gave the substance of s despatch
from Banta Anna, declaring hia intention to give Gen. T*y- ;
lor battle on the 21st ult. Gen. ‘Taylor was then represented
as being ut u place called Agua Nueva (New V\ ater) fortify
mg himself— w* are now inclined to think this was intended
1 hy the geurrui as a ruse to decoy Bunt* Anna into a regular !
•(sliding engagement, knowing that the point he had selected ;
was on# that Bant* Anna must paas, being the only good wa
ter within a great number nt miles, which would be sufficient
lo supply the wants of so large a force as Bants Anna had I
then under his command ; und as we have drawn this much
| from the probabilities attending ibis bloody encounter, we I
! will draw fur her and auppotv it probable thst on arriving
liter* the Mexican anny, which had Uecn fully pupned Kr
ihe strife by starvation and thirst, called all thtir energies in.
to requisition, and hence tho slaughter reported to h*ve taken
place on both sides—the one a struggle for food and drink ;
on the oilier, a natural display of courage and military en- i
thusiain.
’The t nemy, outnumbering our army about four to one, ami I
‘landing, as it were, upon his own ground, possessing supe
rior advantages in the way of interested f lends in all
of the country, together with correct knowledge of its geo
graphical and geological character, and many other facts cal
culated tu favor him, is reduced to the necessity of invrntinj
subterfuge n to account for an unpardonable want of success, i
amounting, in a word, to defeat. ‘This is humiliating, in
deed. Twenty to twenty-two thousand men against lour or j
live thousand, with all the attending favorable circumstances,
and yet that the larger force should acknowledge the necessi
ty of (ailing hack after I* vs than two days’ hultale is almost
incredible. We would be inclined lo think the despatches ol
Banta Anna a forgery, far as this acknowledgement goes, ,
did we not find it in one of the prints under the patronage ol
his Government. But here is the precious document—let it
••peak its own shame for the present.
[Here follows Bantu Anna’s letter, which wc give above.]
In addition to me above, wc find in the same paper a pri
ale letter from a i officer in tho Mexican army giving soin.-
I.tcl# which when contrasted, has something of the •* su linn 1
and nJiculoua” order, mingled with the horrible. Aitir*t lie ,
states that the Mexican unny were then encdinped upon the !
same ground which tiny had previously occupied ; from j
whic i we infer that they hud been diiveri from it, and had j
! been able to ucover it, either from the fact that the American |
forces had chosen some other camping giound, or that they !
! generously permitted them to remain where, by the fo.tuue
of the day, they found themselves at the close ol the contest,
lie also stales that the lo;** of the Mexicans was about one
thousand men, and that their disposition to disband was so
that Banta Anna was compelled to return lo Agua Nue
va, from which we are led to suppose, as before stated, that
Gen. Taylor never intended to make a decided stand at Un*
point, but manif. ated such a disposition only to draw the en
emy into a fight and thereby greatly weaken his forces us
well as retard his design#. He s ales a little ciicuni'lancc,
which noi being mentioned in the despatch of Banta Anna,
must be received a* a flight of imrnagination on the part ol ,
the writer, viz: that two officers belonging to the army ol |
Gen. Taylor had been received under cover of a flag of truce, j
that their eyes were bandaged, and they lid belore the nngh* |
J ly and auguxl general, who took particular pains to strike
J ftem with terror by a display ol the splendor of his overwhelm
ing force, besides informing them that he would listen lo no i
terms of capitulation other tiiau a discretionary surrender.— !
This looks queer in the lace of Bunta Anna's own declaration
| ol hia intention to lull back upon Agua Nueva, and an admis
'ton that his anny bad been cut up. It is stated in the same
letter that in many instances contests were observ'd over the
bodies of dead American soldiers fir the pieces of meat found
m their haversdeks. uud lor the water in their can een.
It is highly probable that the loss on the part of the Mexi
can forces is about 2000 men, whilst that of the American
nde is about 600. Gen. ‘Taylor had no doubt (alien back up
on Ball.llo, or continued his course towards Monterey. Borne !
rumo'Bsay that the country between Baltiilo and Monterey 1
is filled with armed Mexicans; also, between Monterey and
I Cumurgo, and between M a lam or as and the Brazos; but we
doubt the truth of them, and, if true, we doubt their ability
io get possession of any important point. There was a story [
yesterday that the Mexicans had taken possession of Point
Isabel, and that the schooner Swan, which arrived yesterday, 1
brought a confirmation of these facts. Wo nerd only say i
that tht re is not a word of truth in the report, a# fir as she is 1
concerned, and that no such news has been officially receiv- j
cd by the commander of this city.
Eight Days Eater IYobii Saltillo!
Fun-rum Particulabs of the Battle ok Buena Vista
—Arrival of Dr. Ti/bnek—Despatches from Col.
i Clrtis.
Dr. Turner, nearer of despatches from Col. Curtis arrived
here this morning at 3 o’clock. He embarked at th * Brazos
in the Schooner Bt. Paul, on the lUh inst., which vessel he
! left fifty miles below tho city last evening, and took passage
. m ihe towboat Do Soto. VVe learn from him verbally that
it is understood at Camargo that Banta Anna has retired from
= Agua Nueva, in the direciion of Paras, where it is supposed
he would make a bait, Gen. Taylor still maintained his po
sition at Buena Vista, Dr. Turner informs us that the news
heretofore publish! and of the battles of the 22d and 23J may be
relied upon ; that it was brought from Gen. Taylor scamp to
Monterey by Paymaster Coffee, who wa-. bearer of despatches
j Gen. ‘Taylor, but who could not get farther than that
place with them. The despatches were sent thence by a
j Mexican, who had not got through by the last accounts.—
j l hs news recived at Carmargo was the substance of these
despatches, and were brought by an express rider, who wa#
nine days in making the tup ihrough to Gamaigo,being com
pelled lo make a circuit of five bundled miles, to escape the
; Mexican forces and rancheros that swaimed in the valley.
Nothing had been heard of Col. Curtis since he lift Cam
argo. It was thought that Gen- Urrea would fly before him
as soon as he ascertained the overwhelming defeat of Banta
Anna.
Prua’e letters had bsen received at Saltillo a# late as the
sth of March, at which time Gen. Tny lor was at Buena Vist9,
The following letter was received at Matamoros, by a Mi xi
can merchant ol that place, from a Mexican of Baltiilo. L
was dated on the 6 h March, and gives the only account of
tue manner in which the battle was fought that bus yet been
received:
, “At 3 o’clock on the 22d ult. the ba’tle commenced at Bu
na Vista, five m Irs from B dtiilo. Tue light opened with ar
tillery, aTd a destructive cannonade was kept op- n until sun
set. No decided advantage was obtained by either side—the
loss on both being very great.
“On the 23d, at It) o'clock, the battle was again renewed
and kept up without intermission until half past three in th*-
! afternoon. Both armies were ch scly engaged during th*
! whole time. Gen. Wool advanced with a strong detachment
against the Mexican army, hut was driven hack with immense
. loss. 7’be Mexican cavalry charged upon him with drawn
swords aud and and great execution. As Wool felt back Gen.
Taylor advanced with fresh troops and repelled tht Mexi
cans with gnat slaughter ! This charge decided the battle,
which whs not again renewed. Ihe number killed and
wounded wps very graat on both sides. 1 can only estimate
ihe number hy the cart loads of wounded that have entered
this city from both battle fields.
“On the 24th both armies bung off without coming to a
geneial engagement—each occupied in carrying off’ the
wounded and burying their dead.
“After the 24ih there was no more fighting—-the Mexican
troops famishing with hunger became convinced that they
could not triumph or drive Gen. Taylor trout his position,
and retired,
“As yet Banta Anna has only retired a short distance, but
I do not entertain the belief that he will venture another en
j gagement.
“Mexico has not the means to hear the l urden of the war
| —it is opposing poverty to abundance—weakness to strength.
Li my opinion it would be (test for the two Government* to
enter into negotiations. Wuh ‘he power the United Btates
poMess it would be dishonorable in hei to force us into treaties
advantageous alone lo herself, a# it would be lor us lo make
coucesMons lioin tie- easily.
“It is reported that a train carrying provisions to the A
merican army wa# attacked anil captured ut Marina, liy Don
Jose Urrea, and la yet in his possession, with a quantity of
1 private merchandise, taken at the same time,” dec.
Under the head of *• Latest Intelligence,” tho Flag states
that Gen. ‘Taylor was expecteJ at Monterey on the Bth with
the Kentucky cavalry, lor the purpose of opening the com
munication between that place aud Gamarg >. “Bo t seems,’ ,
1 adds the Flag, “that old Hough and Heady not only has to
whip the big general iri the mountains, but has to comedown
to scare their little onee away from the highways, so si to re
lieve the lower country from Lieut. Gen. Stampede /* In
case he undertook the chastisement of Urrea, he would leave ‘
the main body of his army at Buena Vista.
Noble Act.—A Mexican physician residing at Camargo*
#ay s the Flag, h is received a letter from a surgeon at Baltiilo,
’ dated two days alter the batile, which states that Gen. ’Tay
lor perniitt and Bar.ta Anm to have all his wounded conveyed
into Baltiilo and tendered him surgical aid from bis army.
It is reported in Matarnoraa that Gen. Urrea had retreated
. toward the ‘Tula J'a-s, as soon as lie understood thst Col.
Gutii# was marching against him.
It was also said that Banta Anna was falling lack up n ,
Hsu Luis Potosi; but as we before satJ, Dr. ‘i’urnei thinks j
he has only retreated to Parras.
As an instance of the desperation with which both armies
fought, Mr. Crittenden, who acted as Gen. Taylor's aid j
throughout the fight, when asked whether the Mexicans had
taken three pieces of ordinance from us, as Banta Anna re
ported, replied in the affirmative, aud said that the guns were |
not given up till every man at them was shot down and eve- i
, rv homo killed near them t and moreover, thst in bearing
them off the Mexicans suffered • loss of some six hundred
men. ’They interfered madly between the retreating guns j
snd our men Necking to regain them ‘ r tu>e guns were a
part ol Gspt. Washington’s buttery, under the command ol
Li* at, O Bilcn. Li- ut. O IL wa# wounded before his guns
were taken, slid when reporting bis loss to Gen. ‘Taylor, whs |
I complimented for his bravery—it wa# no Gull of his Gapt.
Washington was in another part of the field aiiiLsustained
hunself with gust coolooa* and intelltgenee, at did Gapt*. 1
and B; E iti.Hi, with lb-ir 4i*pcCltte batteiic*—ill all (
but fourteen guns.
From the A T cw Orleans Picayune , March
INVESTMENT OF VI KATUIZ!
Debarkation vs ihe American Troops near I ’era Cruz —ln
vestment of the City —Capture of Mexican Outworks—
Skirmishing With the Enemy.
‘The schooner PoMia, Capt. Powers, arrived this morning,
at 2 o’clock, direct froir. Vera Gruz, whence she sailed on the
1 3th inst. By this conveyance we have received numerous
ietiers from Mr. Kendall, Mr. Lum*den and Mr. Haile. We
are also indebted lo Gipt. Power* for 4 condensed statement
of occurrences up to tho time of his departure, which we in
sert, together with a letter from Mr. Haile uud two from Mr.
Kendall.
It will Ge seen that thus far ihe operations of the army a T e
entirely satisfactory. It i* gratify ing to read of the gallantry j
nd enthusiasm displayed by the navy in their co-operation
Memorandum furnished by Capt. Powers, of the Schooner
Portia ,
Sihoonei Portia, Capt. Powers, eight days from Tampico
anchorage, but was detained to the south und east of Vera ,
j Gruz by a heavy north gale until the I7lh in*t. ‘The U. S.
i Squadron and all ibe transports left Point Lizndo for Bacri
| l icms on the 9 h inst., with 12,100 troops. On the morning
| >f the 10th a Grilling of all the troops and marines w as effect- ’
! ed within three mite* o! Vera Gruz, without much opposition
I hum (he enemy, as the landing was well covered by a con-
slant difecharge ol bomb shells and round itiot from the li.
jB. steamers ad gun boats anchored near the beach aud in
i front of (he lauding. Immediately after un organization ut
the American forces on the beach, they took up a line of
match over (he sand hills, to the attack of the enemy’s out
l oets and fortifications, situated from one to thiec miles from
the castle and forts ot the city. They carried every one bv
storm, not, however, without losing seventeen men.
On tin* llih and 12th, the American forces were employed
in throwing up breastworks ami digging entrenchments. Oc
casional skirmishing took place with the enemy, who weie
throwing showers of bomb shells and round shot from the
castle aid city, but without much (Uect. During this time
ttie seamen wero lauding piovisiotis and uiamuuilioii from
j the transports.
On the 12th, a strong north gale set in. which cut off'all
j further communication. VVe left during the noitber, aud as
j we were unable to make progress to the north, believe tli.it it
wa impossible for our bombs and shell# to have been lauded
I until the 18 h inst., so that the bombardment of the castle
j and Vera Gruz did not piobably commence until the 20th.
‘There were some feats of bravery displayed on the 11th.
in which Col. Dickerson, of the Palmetto Hrgimont, Booth |
| Gaiolina, wss wounded in the breast hy a musket hall from
the enemy, and Capt. Aiburtis, of the 2d Infantry, had his ;
! head shot off hy an 32 pound ball. This same ball broke a ;
I drummer s arm and look oil a private’s leg !
But on the same day the American army had gained com
plete possession ot all the fortifications of the enemy which
wi re raised by them lo stop our troops from approaching the
city. All the water pipes leading to the city were cut off. |
| and all the communications effectually stopped. Gen. Bcott
• landed in person on the llih inst. A French bark ran tin
i blockade and moored under iho walls of ihe castle on the
morning of the 13th, and many of our transport# w ere ready
i to have for the United Btates a* soon as the uoitler was
over. This vessel brings despatches and letter-hag# from ev
eiy vessel in the Gulf Bquadron then at BacniicioE.
Special Correspondence of the Picayune.
Bacrificios, near Vkba Gkcz, March 11, 1847.
Day before yesleiday the order was given lo move from
Anton Lizardo to this place. ‘This occupied most of the day.
, About 4 o’clock, P. M., the Ist Division, (Gen, Worth’s) 1
had taken its place iu the surf boats. ‘The gun boats ran in ‘•
I close to tile shore, about three miles below the city, and an- ;
chorrd. One of the small naval steamers ran along the shore
| and fired h gun at the place ol landing as a feeler, to ascertain
I if theie were concealed batteries or troops to oppose the land
i g. Nothing was revealed and the order was given to ad
i vauce. The surf boat-, about fifty in number, each contam-
I ing from eighty to a hundred men, moved off in gallant style
I anJ in the most perfect order. As the boats approached the j
shore near enough to touch ground the men leaped out and i
formed lines by companies, and inarched ashore. No oppo j
silion was off red. Gen. Patterson’s division (the 2d) next ]
debarked in the name manner, and was followed by the 3d ;
or Gen. Twigg** Division. It wa# past midnight before the |
troops cased landing. ‘The surf boats were manned by the j
sailors from the United Btates fleer, who labor* and with right
| good will. ‘The officers of the navy have done all in their
I power to assist the army in its movements.
! About 2 o’clock the next morning there was ftn alarm in
j the line which extended along the beach. The troops cheer
ed, and those who had fallen into a doze upon the #and bank#
j sprang suddenly to their arms. Our picket guard had ap
j proached that of some Mexican cavalry who were watching
j <>ur movements, and had received one or two shots. About
half an hour afterwaid* a detachment of our men fell in with
I some thirty or forty cavalry, and several volleys were fired,
| the balls of the enemy falling into our column but seriously
injuring no one. At sunrise, Gen- Worth led off’ his divis
ion iu advance, following the beach far some distance to
wards the city, and then tuning inlaid, came in sight of sev
eial hundred Mexican cavalry, drawn up about halt a mile
: from the shore. A small howitzer was immediately drawn
up to the top of a sand hill and a fire wag opened, which soon
scatlere'd the enemy. The division continued to penetrate to
the interior among the *and hr.ls, the Mexicans retreating be
! lore t he iik
‘The 2d and 3J divisions followed close and took position#.
Gen. Patterson sent Gen. Pillow’s brigade to the interior, and
| took his position on the left of Gen. Worth’s division. Gen
‘Twiggs took his position to the rear of Patterson s. An old
j cathedral was taken possession of hy (den. Pillow, and soon
afterwards a magazine containing 150 boxes of ammunition,
i Duiiog all this time the enemy kept up a fire of shell and
i round shot from the town and Cdt!e, lew of which reached
! our line, and those doing no harm.
At 8 o’clock, A. M.. the little U. S. steamer Bpitfire ran in
i close to the town and fired a number ot shells into the place,
i receiving a fire from (lie castle in return.
This morning our army moved still nearer the town
. Worth’s Division on the right, and resting on tho sea shore,
j Gen. Patterson’s in the centre, extending hack into the coun
try, and Gen. Twigg’s Division on the left, still farther to
I the interior. They have approached considerably within
| range of the guns in the town, ami can be reached by those
in the castle, from both of which a brisk cannonading ha.#
been kept up during tho day. ‘The line extends across the
j railroad which goes from the town to the magazine, ar.d the
acqueduct which supplies the city with water, is likewise in
| our possession. In short, the city is fitrly invest, and, and
’ communication by the main roads rut off'. Entrenchments
have been muked out, (and will be worked on to-night )
| which are near enough to the walls to render our heavy gun#
effective. These guns have not been taken on shore. Step
toe’s light batiery, with the horses, have been landed, with
‘several piece* of larger calibre. Neither Duncan’s or Tay
[ lor’s batteiy ha# arrived, nor has Col. Harney read ed here
with the 2d Dragoons. A number of ve aels with troops
and ordnance, which were due a week ago, have not been
heard of.
‘There ha# been considerable skirmishing to-day, and some
twenty of our men wounded, among them Lieut. Col. Dick
s nos the South Carolina Regiment, but not dangerously.
Fifteen or twenty of the Mexican cavalry huve been taken
prisoners, horses and men, aud some fifty killed. This eve
i ning a 32 pounder ball from the ciiy fell into the 2 I Infantry,
1 taking off the head ot Cupt. VVm. Alburtia, of that leguntiit,
and Hoverely, if not mortally wounding two men.
I have written the foregoing in haste, and have purposely !
avoided part culars, fearing that in attempting to give them 1 j
1 might commit too many errors.
It is fetid that Gen. ■— ha# been cut off from the citv 1
with about 2000 men. Ho was down opposite the fUe*. at j
I Anton Lizardo. probably thinking that our troop# would land j
there. It is *ml that there are only about 4500 troop# in ‘
. Vera Ciuz and the castle. H.
P.B.—March 13.—Yisterdiy was a boisterou# diy. A
heavy norther sprang up in the morning and continued all .
day. There was no firing on shore, but I lOSpeet our people
were busy preparing the entrenchments. ‘The bark Tumuroo. f
ha# ju#t been turned to s position convenient for landing the
siege guns with which she is lojdcd. The 2.1 Dragoon# have j
not arrived, nor have the light batteries of Duncan ami Tay
lor. The Alabama goea out to Tampico to-night and I will
send this by her, hoping it may retch you early. 11.
Came hf.au Vera Cnirz, “}
March 12, morning. $
I wrote you a hast? letter last evening, with a short ac
count of the movement* of the day. After it was closed the
Hiflc# under Gol. Smith had a brisk action with the enemy,
in which the latter, after u partial success at the outset, wen*
finally driven back with considerable loss. ‘This morning
i tho line of investment —some five or six miles in extent— will
be complete.
I do not think, fi*m nil that I can aee find learn, that Gen.
| Scott wilt be aide to plaut his batteiira for several diya to
I come; aud until tie can make a good #how be will not open
i upon the town t all. When tho bombardment dot’s com
mence it will be in earnest.
CapC Vinton of tho artillery, his been ordered to tuke op
a position at a lime kilo close in lo the walls of the city, arid
this ho has effected without losi. Anticipating an attack up
-1 on this j'Oint last night, Gen. Worth went out, after dark, i
w.th two coupen it#, to suppoil (’..pi. V. ; t u i , t
j cur ed - Thcre e°nie liftK* skirmishing m the’ Jh* ° C * i
pickets during the ingl t, tut otheiwue ail yvas qoi.t UIU |
Col. Harney’s dingoons have not as yet armed u i o
service* are grimly needed. It i* , a jd lhdl a | ttr .l j, ■ 11
pack mule#, which went out of the city yesterday jL k ? of
vy amount ol specie us well as valuables. All th.s „r
might piobably have been captured had Gen Bcm
valry force. It was also reported la*t evening that i„ m ,n
Idle 1000 Mexicans were seen coming in towards * U i I
by the main road from Mexico, with a large drove,,!
lor the beleaguredcity ; but a# the investment w, noui,
complete, and as we bail no cavalry^they could not he la L **
I learn, however, that Gen. Twigg., who command. on a
northern side ol the city, succeeded during the day tn c 18
ring quite a number of cattle. A norther i# now
which it is hoped will bring in the 2J Dragoons. lo *’
At the magazine, which was captured diy Kf )r e vest
dav, u considerable quantity of ammunition was taken ‘t
was evidently of English or American make, as it vv, |’ #l) ,
led “short rang**,” “long range,” dec, dec., in good vernal*
lar. ‘I he Mexicans managed to gel off safely t| )P |,, rgi r
non of their ammunition, and it is now can fully stowed a
inside the city walls.
Gapt. Alburns, who was killed yesterday, Was sifting
the loot of a tree at the time he was struck. The lull cam,a
i away almost his entire head, took .iff the aim of a d.uinm'er
i b °y a ‘ J wounded uco poral besides. It had gone fninely
over one of the Pennsylvania Regiment* before it reached tl, e
*pot where the brave but unfortunate captain was sitting. C
It would take a page of our p .per lo give full elGct to q
description of the first landing of our troops on the afternoon
“f Olb—a more stirring spectacle has probably never been
witnessed in America. In the first line there was no
than seventy heavy suif boats, containing needy 4000
lar#, and a:l of them expected to meet an enemy belore th. v
struck the shore. Notwithstanding this, every man vvi#
anxious to be first—they plunged into the water waist duo
as they reached the shore—the -Htars and sliipea’’ were in.
floating—a rush was made for the sand hills, ttn .J
amid leud shouts (hey preased onward. Three long
loud cheeis arose ft *m their comrades .‘(ill on board, awaiting
to be cmbjiked, and meanwhile the lops and every portion of
the foreign vessel# weie crowded with spectator of the scene.
Not one who witnessed it will ever forget the landing. Why
the Mexican* did not oppose us is a greater mystery than *\.
er, considering their great advantages at the tune and that
they have since oppoatd every sup of our advance.
I he troop#, both regulars and volunteeis, have suffered in.
credibly since the landing—marching over ihe heavy s, lri( i
H.lls, without water, under a broiling sun during the day, and
sleeping out without tents or bedding during the heavy dew#
which have fallen at night—exposed, too. to a continual fi, n
I from the batteries from the enemy ; yet not n inurm r has
been heard. Any thing can be effected with such troop#.
Yours, dec., G. W. K.
U. S. Bloop of War, Aldant,
Bacrificioa, March 13, morning, $
‘The Forth, #o it is said, is to sail immediately, sod by her
I send you a few lines more. ‘The norther ha# completely
blown itself out. so that hy breakfavt time the surf boats will
again be enabled to reach the shore.
At hall past 3 o’clock this morning the enemy opened with
r-und shot and fehell, not only from the baltcrte# around the
town but liom the castle. Rockets were also thrown, and
the #ky at tune# wis completely lit up by them; yet a lar 2B
portion of them fell far short. In the mean time, our own
men aie compelled to remain quiet and take this fire—the
hardest duty a soldier has to perform. All aie anxious to
-trike back, and they will be gutified in the course of a few
In haste, (j. VV. K.
THE LATEST FROM GEN. TAYLOR.
The schooner Southerner, (’opt. (i *• dpeed, arrived vci
j lerdav morning from the Brain* bavins I* ft on the I U h inn.
We have glorious newn by th’# arrival. Santa Anna’s in.
| fan try had already disbanded. He i# now supposed tube re
treating on San Lui# Potosi.
Gen. ‘Taylor at last accounts not only held Saltillo and Bue.
n Vi-ta, but was himself quietly encamped at Agua Nueva,
just before occupied hy ‘The Mexican had be. n
alarmed by a report that Gen. Patterson was moving from
Tampico upon Ban Luis. He needed some pretext of the
kind to cover his retreat.
A letter has been received in the city from CJtn, Tt| r,
ilatfd the Ist inst.. from Agu* Nueva. He writes that his
men had been so harassed with the fatigue of the we. k pre
| viou*, and his horses were so completely broken down, that
the had been unable to pursue the enemy, whom he supposes
lto have retreated towards Saltillo. YVe learn from Mvtjor
I Coffee that Lieut. Sturgis—who had been token prisoner bv
| the Mexicans on the 20th tilt, and was subsequently exchang
i ed—reported that Santa Anna had fallen bark to Incarnation,
j and even retreated further, under the pretext of giving up
the accommodations of the place to his wounded It was
j several days after the battle when Lieut. was in Incarna
i cion. Gen. Taylor, when he heard of Santa Anna being
, there, despatched Col. Belknap with five hundied men
thither, but ••the bird had flown.’*
We have been allowed to see letters from an authentic
source, dated the 2d inst., from Monterey. They give the
deplorable picture of the destitution and demoralisation of
Santa Armu’s army which have b< fire reached us. Their
situation is such that they must fight, or starve, or retreat.-*
They cannot be brought again to the fiiat ; numbers are dis*
banding to avoid starvation; and Santa Anna and the army
which remains to him are actually retreating ! The only
doubt is as to the route be will pursue. Some have conjee
tu ed that he will goto Mexico by the route of Z icateras, on
account of the greater facility of feeding his men. But the
general opinion on the spot is that he falls back to San Luis
for which city he ectually struck his tents.
Letters from Monterey to the 2d. further sav that it is ho
lievcd at Saltillo that Urrea and Canales have been ordered
by Santa Anna to withdraw to the other side of the sierra.
and if this be true, it indicates a real alarm on the part of
Santa Anna for the safety of San Luis.
A letter of the 3d inst. says : Gen Santa Anna f really to
be pitied. His men are a wretched set. He had twice,
during the battle, to infer pose his hncers p prevent desertion,
and they shot down some SO at each time hefoie he could
prevent the flight of his infantry. The information comes
from prisoners who deserted as soon as exchanged, and came
into Gen. Taylor's camp. They report that Santa Anna is
de*(i'ute of all kinds of provisions, and that he cannot keep
th< m together.
Santa Anna expected an easy victory. His army was told
that the Americans had an abundance Os provisions and lots
of money, and that they must enter Saltillo ihe day of (he
battle, end take their supper at our expense. This is from
reports of persons taken, officers as “ell a- privat s.
MM of fiillt <1 and M ounded.
Dr. Turner, ol the army, Just torn Cainargo, lurnishca the
following statement
Fighting commenced on the 22 1 of Februeay and ended on
the 23d. when Santa Anna retired with the loss of 40U0 kill
ed and wounded. Loss on our part 700 kiihd and wounded*
Die scene ol the action was Buena Vista—a h*iciend* four
miles west of Saltillo, Santa Anna’s adjutant general, with
many other officers and men, are prison rs. The express
which brought the news was sent by paymaster Butler Ironi
Monterey and was nine days in getting through to Csmurgo.
Gen. Tayloi’s official despatch has probably been intercept'd.
Col. Morg in’s command had leiched Monterey in g if. ty, hav
ing been reinforced at Ceiraivo by a command from Man terry.
Lst of Officers Killed and Wounded at Huena Vista on
2 Zd and 23 d of February , 1817.
Kkoulabm.
K'/ltd —Capt. G. Lincoln, aaistant adjutant g< neial.
Wounded —(’apt. Spin, Ist Drsgnon* ; 2d Lieut. W. J.
, French, 3J Artillery ; Ist L cut. J. P. O’Brien,4th Arid e y.
Mississipi VoLrKTtF.it Hirt.l a.
i Killed —lst Lieut. It. N. Moon; 2 1 Li< ut. T. McNulty,
Wounded. —Col. Jets. Davis; Capt. J. M, Sharp; Lieut*.
! A. B. Corwin, Posey and J. P. Stockton.
Fjust luntccxi Ca v a Lit t.
Killed —-Adjt. J. M. Vaughan.
Wounded,— One captain and throe lieutenants, (names not
| given.)
Aiikavsas Catahit.
Killed. —Col. A. Yell; Cipt. A. Porter.
Wounded. —Lieut, S. A. Redder.’
* Second Kentucky Foot— Kyles.
Killed. —Col. M Kee ; Lieut. Col. 11, Clay ; Capt. 0. W.
Moore; Capt. W, T. Willis.
Wounded,— Lisuu. E. S. Barbour, Wethers and Moaicf.
IxiUili BItIOADF.
Wuundtd. Brigadier Gc-neml Lsne,
Second Krgiment,
K lfed —('apis. Kinder, Walker and Lieut. Parr.
H undid. Captn. Saunders and Osh-on; Lieut*. Cayer,
Pennington, Morse, Lewis, Davis and Eppcrsuu.
Third Rtg> inert.
Killed. Capt. Fsggstt,
Wounded. —Major Gorman and Cjpt. Sleep.
Illinois Uuioauk First Krgiment.
Kill'd,— Col. ILir.un. Capt. Zaliskie, Lout Hangleton.
Wounded. —Liuts. J. L. McConnell and H. Evans.
Illinois Voluntsehs— Stcutid Regiment.
Killed —Capt. Woodman, Lieut*. Ui union, Fletcher, Fr
gur* in, U-illin*. Uarthson, Atherson and Puce.
Woundid Capts. Cnflee, and Biker; Lieut*. Ticket,
EngtesiouJ. Steel and West; Adj. VVlnlesidf*.
Company of Texas Volunteers attached to 111. Brigade%.
Killed. —Ut Lieut. Campbell and 2J Lt. Lion hard*
’ Woutidid.— Capt. Connor,