356 



BATTLE OF ANGOSTURA OR BUENA VISTA. 



in that quarter, they were opposed by our infantry and riflemen, 

 who disputed successfully every inch of ground, until night closed 

 and obliged the Mexicans to retire. General Taylor, fearing an 

 attack from the cavalry upon Saltillo, immediately departed with a 

 suitable escort to provide for its safety, and left General Wool to 

 command during his absence. 



After day dawn, on the 23d, Santa Anna again commenced the 

 battle, by an attack upon the left wing, and, for a while, was with- 

 stood, until a portion of our forces, after a brave defenee, mistaking 

 an order to retire, for an order to retreat, became suddenly panic- 

 struck, and fled from the field. At this moment, Taylor returned 

 from Saltillo, and found the whole left of our position broken, 

 whilst the enemy was pouring his masses of infantry and cavalry 

 along the base of the eastern mountains towards our rear. 



Meanwhile the battery in the road had repulsed the Mexican 

 column sent against it, and spared three of its guns for service on 

 the upper plain. The regiment, on the right of the stream, had 

 been brought over to the left bank with its cannons, and was now, 

 in position with two other regiments, facing the mountains, be- 

 tween which and this force, was a gap, through whose opening, 

 the Mexicans steadily advanced under a dreadful fire. Nearly all 

 the artillery had been concentrated at the same place, while, in 

 other parts of the field and nearer to the hacienda of Buena Vista, 

 in the American rear, were bodies of our cavalry, engaged in con- 

 flict with the advancing foe. 



As Taylor approached this disastrous scene, he met the fugitives, 

 and speedily made his dispositions to stop the carnage. With a 

 regiment from Mississippi, he restrained a charge of Mexican cav- 

 alry, and ordered all the artillery, save four guns, to the rear to 

 drive back the exulting Mexicans. This manoeuvre was perfectly 

 successful, and, so dreadfully was the enemy cut up by the new- 

 attack, that Santa Anna, availed himself of a ruse, by a flag of 

 truce, in order to suspend the action, whilst he withdrew his men. 



The transfer of so large a portion of Taylor's most efficient 

 troops to the rear of his original line, had greatly weakened his 

 front, in the best positions, where the inequalities of ground sus- 

 tained his feeble numbers. Santa Anna was not unmindful of the 

 advantage he had gained by these untoward -events, and prepared 

 all his best reserves, which were now brought for the first time into 

 action, for another attack. Taylor had with him three regiments 

 and four pieces of artillery. His front was rather towards the 

 mountain than the open pass, while his back was towards the road 



