The Abbeville banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, April 07, 1847, Image 2
From the N. O. Delta?Ext rat 28th ult.
Later from Vera Cruz.
By the arrival of ihe revenue cutter Ewing
at an early hour this morning we are
in receipt of four days later intelligence
from Vera Cruz. The Ewing sailed on
the 17th. Through the polite attention of
1st Lieut. Chaddock, of the Ewing, we are
indebted for the prompt delivery of our
correspondence. The news of General
Taylor's great victory was received on the
morning of the lGtli, and, of couurse, caused
great rejoicing in our army?more especial
ly as favorable rumors from the same quarter
had reached them on the day previous.
Many a shout went up for General Taylor
and the brave men under his command.
Owing to the rough weather, but a portion
of the heavy artillery intended for the
attack had been landed previous to the
sailing of the Ewing.
General Scott gave the foreign residents
notice to leave the town. They are generally
on board of the loriegn vessels of war
off that port.
Many of the citizens of Vera Cruz, seeing
the inevitable reduction of the place, are in ,
favor of an early capitulation The milita- i
ry, however, violently oppose any move-1
menl of that kind, ami it is reported by the
foreign residents that several citizens have
been shot for proposing a surrender,although
few doubt that our troops will carry the ;
plae in a short time.
i^oi. tiatneys dragoons arrived at Vera;
Cruz on the 16th inst., after having been i
cast away near Anton Lizirdo. They
readied the scene of operation in good con- j
dition. j
On the evening of the 12th. the South j
Carolina Regiment had a brush with a i
body of some 200 lancers, and defeated j
them.
We regret to learn that the report of the
re-capture of Midshipman Royers was pre- ;
mature. He was still, unfortunately, a ;
prisoner.
Capt. Edson, of the Marines, is on shore ;
with 180 men, and is attached to the 3rd ;
Artillery.
Our corre.'p nJent write?, " Capt. Gray-1
son is as busy as can be, in the discharge of;
his duties as the chief of ihe. Crimm-i^nrv !
Department?a perfect picture of good
health arid good nature."
Capt. Backus, of the 1st Infan'ry, has
found an 18 lb. g4jn immediately opposite j
where the troops landed, but the descent was I
so well arranged^and conducted with such i
despatch, that the Mexicans had riot time j
to plant it before our forces were on shore, j
Nothing had transpired in the military i
operations against the place of any importance,
in the interval between the date of
our correspondent's last letter and the sailing
of the revenue cutter.
Thft steamship!' Nmv Orleans and Virginian
left Vera Cruz on the iGth forTampico.
The steamship Mississippi, Com. Perry,
had not arrived at the sailing of the Ewing.
mi ^ , , o o I
i.ne jawing brings despatches from
General Scott.
Camp of tiie Beseiging Army, ) |
3 Milesin rearofthe City, March 11,1847. $ j
Editors Dej.ta:?This morning.shortly j
after daylight, the batteries from the Castle j
and the town opened on our lines, and continued
with short intervals throughout the j
day. I sincerely regret to announce that ;
among our losses to-day is the death of
Capt. William Alburiis. of the 2d infantry.
His head was shot off with a 24-pound shot,
from the city, while marching with the Regiment
to join Gen. Twiggs, at the north
end. Capt. Alburtis was a printer, and :
former editor of the Virginia Republican, I
?t nil '
a.y. .Ti.iuiiiauuig, v u. a nure was aiso k11 led j
by the cannonade private Cunningham, of;
Company A, Mounted Rifles, and a drum- !
mer boy of Company B, 2d Artillery, had
his arm shot off*.
About 7 o'clock this morning Gen. Quitman's
brigade was ordered to relieve Gen.
Pillow from the position he had occupied
during the night, in order that his troops
might get their breakfast and procure water
to last during the day. The Mexicans saw
our party leaving the height, but did not
see the other coming up with their cavalry,
expecting. no doubt, to stpnl nnnn th?.ir
w, J |
rear, but they were very much mistaken
Gen. Quitman advanced to the top of the
hill* *nd n rapfd fire at long bhots was kept
up for about an hour. Capt Davis, of the
Georgia Regiment, with 20 riflemen, were
sent as skirmishers, to incline round under
/ the hill and engage them at close quarters, j
As'soon as they observed Capt. Davis about
200 advanced on him, but with his small
force he held them in check until Colonel
Jackbon, with the balance of three companies,
and Col. Dickinson with his regiment,
came to his assistance, when the enemy
were compelled to retreat under the cover
of the guns on the town, the loss of
several dead and some wounded Our loss
in lllis nfTiir )hi? mn?ninf? ? ?l;.?!? I..
........ ....v . Vtillllg} Sb>CII
wounded, viz:
South Carolina Regiment.?Lieut Col.
Dickinson. W m. H. Ballad, Lewis Coka
and J. E. bhillips. Georgia
Regiment.-?B. F. McDonald,
(son of the ex-Governor,) John Eubanks,
Thomas G. Scott, {of Mississippi.)
Capt. Davis, who commanded the skirmishing
party of' riflemen, was^ery highly
complimented for- his gallant conduct by
Col- Dickinson rtpn On?mo? ^ -
? ??aim Vltu.
Patterson.
The column of Gen. Twiggs' moved up
this laming, with the Mounted Rifles in
advance at 9 o'clock, to take |k>sition on the
feieft of the line. The undertaking was o
' wl arduous one* but with Gfo?> Twiggs
th^re i*u no such word as fail," When hiS
aniflft could not be hauled by horses they
!/ , % 3|V
4*
1
I were pulled and lifted by his men, nnd they
were taken up and over sand ridges that I
should think it utterly impossible and beyond
the power of the physical strength of
men to sur.nount. The advance of this
column arrived at their destination on the
sea shore above the town about 2 o'clock,
and the rear closed up at sundown.
I was informed at a late hour last night
that Col. Persifor F. Smith, with his Rifles,
has lntd a very pretty fight with a force of
about 800 from the city, and compelled
them to retire in quick time, with a loss of
about 25 killed and several wounded, and
; sustaining a loss of two or three privates
I l.:11 i i i-.i
JtlllL'U tlllU WUUIIUI.-U.
1 have made diligent inquiry into the ;
health of the army to day, and the surgeons j
state that they never knew the army to be '
! in better health and condition, and no evii
dence of any thing like vomilo.?Mustang
Latest from the Brazos.
I The U. S. steamship Telegtaph, Captain J
I An Id, from Brazos Santiago, 23rd instant, 1
arrived early on Sunday morning. She !
K.;.wro < r' -
wiiii^o iiu iuici IIU >V5 Ul 1111UIC51 I rum LUC '
army under Gen Taylor. W e are indebted
to Capt. A. for Mutamoras papers.
No positive intelligence has been received
from Gen. Taylor's camp since the 2d of !
March, but from the best information obtain- j
ed, it appears that Santa Anna had returned
to Meteiiuala, whore he was endeavoring !
to collect his scattering forces. j
As the Telegraph was cast off from the 1
landing of Brazos Island, an officer arrived
from Matamoras, who stated that information !
had bern received ol Gen. Taylor's arrival j
at Cerralio with one thousand horse, in
pursuit of Gen. Urrea, and that the latter, |
hearing of Ge n. Taylor's approach, had fled j
in the direction of Victoria, and thnt thp !
communication between Camargo and ;
Monterey was now re-established.
The Massachusetts Regiment was ordered
by Gen. Taylor to garrison Matamoros.
The ship Remittance arrived ofl* the Brazos
on the 23d, with four companies of the
Massachusetts Regiment on board, and two ;
other vessels with the remainder of the i
North Can Una Regiment?all of whom I
were being disembarked on the morning of j
the 24th.
Supplies of all descriptions were being 1
rapidly sent to Camargo on steamboats by j
the Quartermaster's Deputy,and every excr- |
tion is made to replace the losses of wagons j
and animals destroyed by the enemv.
? * J ' ,
Among the passengers by the Telegraph i
was Major Charles Thomas, Quarter-Mas- j
ter U. S. A., recently of Gen. Wool's command,
who is ordered to this city on duty.
We learn that Mr. J. D. Carr, who was
taken prisoner at the battle of Buena Vista,
has made his escape, and rejoined our ar- !
my.
From ihc N. <K Picayune. 26111 ult.
The Battle of Buena Vista.
Every addition 10 the intelligence hitherto
in possession of the public respecting the
buttle of Buena Vista serves to enhance the
glory of that sanguinary action. As more
is known of it more is thought of it As an
achievement of arms it stands pre-eminent
amongst teats of chivaly ; as an illustration !
of militarv skill it tlio o^lUnt "nm- I
- J - J ? VW..1- ,
mandcr of the American forces amongst the
great captains known to fame. We have |
listened to the recital of the incidents which j
occurred during the two days fighting without
knowing which 'most to applaud, the
courage and constancy of the soldiers or
the professional wisdom of Gen. Taylor.?
What a change has been wrought in the
public mind wi'hin the last few days!?
The best that was hoped of the little army
in Coaliuila was that it had cut its way to
Monterey, where it might rest in comparative
safety. But instead of pursuing this j
course, Gen. Taylor awaited the approach i
ofSanta Anna and overwhelmed his vast i
army with unparalleled slaughter.. Not*an j
innK nf torr itnrtf ^
nivii vji m.imiuij uas uu'cu iuuivuu uy me
enemy, and now there is none to oppose
the progress of our arms in the direction of
San Luis Potosi.
It may seem to some to have been a rash
determination in General Taylor to give
battle with such uneqal numbers?so it
seems when he encountered the enemy at
Palo Alto, at Resaca and at Monterey ; but
results.test the merit of military operations,
and luck cannot account for four successive
victories. If we may take the opinions of
military men as a guide in forming an
opinion in the premises, few Generals would
have hazzarded the action at Buena Vista,
as few would have fought the battle of Resaca.
In the last battle, as in the former,
i .i--- j -
i?c uuucisiiinu niui Km ueiermmaiion ot
the General was not seconded by the officers
next in command; and that but for the
wise and determined cournge of their chief,
there had been two less victories won by
the gallantry of the American troops. Had
not the battle of Itesaca been fought, Fort
Brown h;id fallen into the hands of the enemy,
and had Gen. Taylor retired upon
Monterey, the Mexicans would have-recovered
a portion of the counfry wrested from
them, and threatened the vally of the Rio
Grade with recapture. The results would
have been incalculable mischief to the
country, as well as in the loss of the morale
of the troops as in ihe relinquishment of the
fruits of an expensive campaign. These
have all been saved, and the immense military
preparations of Santa Anna have melted
away before the skill of our American
General and the prowess of his small })ut
devoted army. -
As we have before stated, the fighting on
the 22nd of February?an qnfortqnoTe 4ay
upon which to attack an American army?
was confined principally to cannonnading
I
and skirmishing with light troops. The
bloody business was done on the 33rd, which
was opened by an attack from our side under
the direction of Gen. Wool. A portion
of the advance was shaken by overwhelming
numbers, but was supported by Gen.
Taylor, who brought forward the reserve
and decided the day by a resistless charge.
What is here said in a few words required
a day to consummate ; and a recital of the
incidents and manoeuvres which ended so
triuphantly would demand many columns
for space. An eye witness?one who was
near General Taylor's person all the time
with the exception of those intervals during
which he was carrying his orders over the
field?informs us that not a man, with the
excontion above notice, of the American
lines'wavered for an instant while facing
tho most galling fire, and receiving the
repeated charges of the enemy, which it is
but candor to say, were conductcd with
spirit and address.
As an instance of the desparation with
which both armies fought, Mr- Crittenden,
who acted as General Taylor's aid throughout
the fight, whan asked whether the
Mexicans had taken three pieces of ordnance
from u?, as Santa Anna reported, replied
in the affirmative, and said that the guns
were not given up till every man at them
was shot down, and every horse killed near
them ; and, moreover, that in bearing them
off, the Mexicans sufFerred a loss of some
six hundren men. 'l'hey interposed madly
between the retreating guns and our men
seeking to regain them. These guns were
a part of Capt. Washington's battery, under
the commond of Lieutenant O'Brien.?
Lieut. O'B. was wounded before his guns
were taken, and when reporting his loss to
Cti*h 'I'nulnr vv:k rf?rr?nlinmntiul fnr Km
?J? -- ,U1
very?it was no fault of his. Captain
Washington was in another part of the
field, and sustained himself with great coolness
and iniejligence, as did Capts. Bragg
and Sherman, with their respective batteries
?in all but fourteen guns.
It may be here proper to explain the
circumstances upon which a report was
founded that Gen. Taylor had sent Santa
Anna a flag of truce during the action.?
It occurred that a body of Mexican infantry,
about a thousand strong, had become detached
from Santa Anna's army, and were
being mowed down with terrihie slaughter.
General Taylor sent Mr. Crittenden with
a flag to say to them that if ihny would surrender
he would stop killing them. When
Mr. Crittenden got amongst them, he was
a Imn 1 \ t r t ?-? > a O ???-* .a A ??? I? ^
vunuii uj iiiciu iu utiuia /l111J il Willi 1115 j
blindfolded. This he remonstrated against |
without effect. When he was brought to I
Santa Anna he was asked his mission.? !
He told him he had no message for him : j
that he was sent to ask a detached force to i
surrender to save the effusion of blood, and |
as his errand was unsuccessful he demand- ;
ed to be sent back to his General. It was j
then that Santa Anna requested him to tell 1
General Taylor that if he would surrender
he would be protected and well cared for.
Mr. Crittenden replied, that he had no commission
to speak with him (Santa Anna)
upon that or any other matter, but it was no
use to send any such message, as General
7 ay lor never surrenders.
From the Charleston Evening News.
Litter from Mcxieo.
4 1. r
a icimr irom mc correspondent ol the
New Orleans Picayune, dated, " U. States
Squadron, Anton Lizardo, March 7," give*
some interesting political intelligence from
Mexico.
The writer states that he has learned that
a revolution was in progress in the city" attended
with fighting and bloodshed, the object
of which was the deposing of Gomez
Farias and the present Congress, and the
repeal of the law confiscating the ecclesiastical
property.
The friends of Santa Anna and Almonte
were engaged as peacemakers, but without
success, as the insurrection had broken out
afresh and there had been fighting for three
days. It is supposed that the movement will
be successful. On this occasion the priests
i J
<iiu aaiu iu na\u uugugca me women as
their agents, and consequently the revolution
is called the " women?s projiunciamenlo."
A similar demonstration had taken place
in Oaxaca, which was headed by the officers
of the army and national guard. A
notice, however, that the Americans had invaded
Tustepie, occasioned a temporary cessation
ot the plans of the insurgents.
An order, given at the city of Mexico,
for the march of 3000 of the National
Guard to Vera Cruz, had beeji refused to be
obeyed, the soldiers declaring that they were
not afraid of the Yankees but of the vomito.
Gomez Farias had ordered the University,
which is the quarter of one of the regiments
of the national guards, to be occupied
by 55o men. The guards resented this
and sent a message to Farias which occasioned
him to evacuate the quartol. Farias
has become exceedingly unpopular and there
J Li 1L.1 I? - -!
uuu ut; nu iiuuui uiui ne must eiincr resign
the Vice Presidency or be deposed.
The Government is still in great strait for
want of friends. The sale of the Church
property, even at the greatest sacrifices, it is
said, could not realize more than $10,000,000.
Oil the 22d of February, Gen. Antonio
. Vizcayno took the usual oaths and assumed
he portfolio of War Minister.
The Government have given marching,
orders to Almonte and La Vega?the first
to Chihuahua and the latter to Vera Cruz.
Mexican letters to California to the 18th
January, admit that that province is in the
undisputed possession of the Americans.
It is at vera Cruz quite generally be*
lieved among the foreign residents that the
*
V.i. ; tijg* ' '* r . ;
?
defence will be of the feeblest description. |
The writer thinks that there will be a vigorous
resistance at first, but it will not last
long. .
On the 4th inst., Gen. Santa Anna's despatch
from the battle field was received at
Vera Cruz. Santa Anna claims an indecissive
victory, with the capture of two
banners and three pieces of%rtillery. He
_ *1 1 " AA/? *
uumus me loss 01 iuuu men, ana says
Taylor has lost 3000, besides prisoners,
lie confesses his intention to retreat early
neit day two leagues for supplies having
obtained which he intends to return to the
attack.
j gjlHgggggl
! ^ABBEVILLE C. H., S. C. "
Wednesday, April 7, 1847.
Cotton market.
i Charleston April the 2d from 10 to 12
! 1-2. Hamburg, April 2d, from 10 to
i 11 3-4 cts.
I
From tlic Brazos.
No positive information has been received
from Gen. Taylor's camp since the 2d of
March. It appears that Santa Anna, has
retired to Matahuala, a small town not tar
rfrovi Sinn T .nic xvttV* #*4
| HllU IUU lUUlllUUL VI JI19
command, and was endeavoring to effect a
reorganization of his broken forces. He
has issued a proclamation from this place
claiming a victory ul Suena Vista to the
Me'.i^an arms. lie doubtless does not desire
to gain such another victory.
Should the castle and city of Vera Cruz
fall into our hands, we cannot persuade ourselves
that there will be much more fighting
in Mexico; for if the spirit of these people
nan 1\a nir* ?
j vuii i/v uiuiW'iij uiuii i^uui itjvisiaua Ui iui>
tune must have crushed them. The battle
of Bucna Vista is the first they have fought
under the leadership of Santa Anna, and
having been accustomed to regard him as
invincible and with a vastly superior force,
they must be satisfied of the utter folly of
measuring arms with the United States.
From Vera Cruz.
We have received nothing of much interest
from Vera Cruz, since the issue of our
Extra. In another Column will be found
the particulars of the news received last
week ; from this it appears that the Palmetto
Regiment has been among the first to engage
the enemy at that point, sustaining but
little injury, three of the men were slightly
wounded. The only additional news we
have received is up to the 15th inst.,?the
continuance o? the northers had prevented
the operations of landing stores and heavy
ordnance. The Mexicans had been throwing
round shot and heavy shells at our lines
from the castle doing but little harm. During
the night, between the 12th and 13th,a
reinforcement of 800 Mexicans entered the
town by the beach, north of Gen. Twiggs'
position, the investment not beinc thf?? nnitp.
Jk O 1
complete. The wound of Lieut. Col. Dickinson
is doing well.
The vessel which had Col. Harney's
command 011 board went ashore on Blan.
quilla shoal; the Alabama went to her assistance,
and it is known that upwards of
one hundred men had been taken out of her
in safety.
The next mail certainly will bring more
intelligence, and if so our readers may expect
an Extra.
?3" A New York letter in the Philadel
pliia Inquirer says :?
Captain Turner, of the California expedition,
now in that city, whither he came some
time since with despatches from Col. Stevenson
and the American Consul at Rio de Janeiro,
has received orders from the \Var
Department to recruit a sufficient compliment
of men to make that regiment amount
to one thousand. , As soon as the recruits are
raised he will proceed with themj^to California.
. '
Editor'* Tabl?. ?
American Phrenological Journal.?O. S.
Fowler, Editor.?New York, 131,Nassau
street, $1 a year in advance.
We have received the January, February,
March and April numbers of this exceedingly
interesting Journal, and take pleasure
in recommending it to all who are anxious
to obtain a knowledge of Phenology. The
Journal is not confined exclusively to Phre
nology, but treats also of physiology, Physiogomy
and Magnetism. It is a publication
fnll of interest. In each number is the head
of sorrie distinguished person for illustration
of the science. We have no doubt that it
is a very useftil publication.
t ' *. -V' ' - < .;i.
yjb .' > "
K*
m
T 1 "
| ^WltlTTEN FOR THE BANNER*)
To , of the Palmetto Regiment, with a
Watchguard.
As, liuk by link, this humblo thing . j&j
Grow 'neath my willing fingors, *
A kindly thought with each was wreathed,
A fervent prayer to Heaven was breathed
For thee?I trust still lingers,
| To hallow friondtthip's ofFering.
Ah ! could euch humblo prayore transform
This simple gift of mine,
Thon should it prove a shield from harm?
A guard indeed?a potent charm?
A Talisman divine!
To keep you 6afo 'mid war's dark storm.
! Of onset?Cannon thund'ring out
j The " winged death"?tho flash
Of murd'rous steol?tho groan?tho shout
Of victory, and tho din of rout,
A3 ou'Ward still you dash !
I
| O11?on to glory !?who shall doubt?
! To fight man's provinco is?thq power
j Tho privilege of prayer,
Is woman's strength :?for you on high
The Dravfr. tr? Htn-v thn
r J J ? J ???V MVUUI illUbO lllglly
j Shall tIbo from hoart's eincero,
I Like holy inccnno?breathed oach hour.
Abbeville C. H., Dec. 1846. Azilk.
i From the New Orleans Picayune, March 27.
The Kentucky Regiment.
An incident at the Battle of Bue?ia Vista*
At a very critical point point of the battla
on the 23d, when it became necessary to
sustain one of our columns, which was staggering
under a charge made by the Mexicans
in overwhelming numbers, Gen. Taylrr
despatched Mr. Crittenden to order Col.
McKee, of the 2d Kentucky Regiment, to
bring his men into immediate action. Mr.
flrittnurlon 1 n
wuuu 111V/ IVL'glUICiU, IIIUI1 ItUU OIficers,
eager for the fray, delivered the order
and rode back to the General, by whcso
side it was his duty to keep. The Kentuckians
moved forward in gallant style, led by
McKce and Clay, both of whom, alas! fell
in a subsequent part of the day. It so happened
that before reaching a position from '
which they could deliver an effective fire,
the regiment had to cross a valley which
was broken by ravines and masses of stones.
Whilst crossing this valley the heads only
of the men could be seen from the point
which Gen. Taylor and Mr. Crittenden occupied?and
these were bobbing up and
down and cross-wise in such confusion as U>
impress both with the idea that the regiment
had fallen into disorder. The Mexicans
were annoying them at the same moment
by a fire, which helped to confirm the opinion
of the General that the Kentuckians
were thrown into dismay. It
was one of those decisive crisis which
occur in every contested field, when the issue
of the day depended, for the time being,
on the gallantry of a particular corps.
Gen. Taylor, who, as before said, could
only see the heads of the troops, and misled
"by their motions in getting across gullies
and going around rocks and other obstructions,
into the belief that they were about to
falter, t irned to Mr. CrittenHnn. wKn io a
Kentuckian, and with a countenance indicating
deep mortification, for the General isf
a Kentuckian too, and an eye fierce with
emotion, exclaimed " Mr. Crittenden, this
will not do?this is not the way for Kentuckians
to behave themselves when called upon
to make good a battle?it will not an-,
svver sirand with thi^s he clenched his
teeth hard together. Mr. Crittenden, who
was mistaken by the same indications that
deceived the General, could scarcely make
a reply from very chagrin and shame. In a
few moments, however, the Kentuckians
had crossed the uneven places, and were
seen ascending the slope of the valley, f
shoulder to shoulder, and with the firm and
regular step of veterans of a hundred fields.
On they moved until they reached the crest
of the hill where they met the enemy before"
tliA fllioh nf o *ir
wiv <iu4ii vt (v tvui^/oiai j tiu > aiua^c uttu BUU"
sided.. Here they delivered their fire by
companies with such regularity and deadly
aim that the decimated phalanx of Mexico
gave way and retreated precipitously. As
the Kertuckians emerged from the valley
the countenance of the old general, who'
was regarding them with the intensest intw
rest, gradually relaxed the bitterness of its
expression.. A glow of pride supplanted
the deep mortification which fixed its muscles,
and enthusiasm qualified the fierce
glances of his eye. Forward they moved
under his rivited gaze, whose feelings be
came more and more wrought up as they ap?
proached the scene of carnage. When
they opened their fire Iho old General could
no longer restrain his admiration, but broke
forth with a loud huzza. " Hurrah for old
Kentuck," he exclaimed, talking as it were
to himself and rising in his saddle?" that's
the way to do it," and the tears of exultation
rolled down his cheeks as ho said it.
Having got rid of this ebullition of State pride
he went about looking after other parts
of the field.
CnRWiis f?TOft7.?Vlanv vftnr.Q norr?
late Earl of stair, when Mr. Dalrymple, fell
in iove with a beautiful young lady, a Miss
Gordon. He eloped with, her, and married
her. In a<6hort time they became unhapy,
and Mr. D^lfymple made an attempt to get
ri'd of his wife, which fai led, his lady obtain*! '
ing a decree for the restitution of conjdgal
rights. Mr. Dalrymple^ however, who waa^J *
cohabiting with a foreign lady, havingdj^
termined on a separation, took the follojjM MP
rna xy