Part 81 (1/2)

Colonel Davis, though severely wounded, remained in the saddle until the close of the action. His distinguished coolness and gallantry at the head of his regiment on this day ent.i.tle (p. 345) him to the particular notice of the government. The 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, and a fragment of the 2d, under Colonel Bowles, were a.s.sociated with the Mississippi regiment during the greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves creditably in repulsing the attempts of the enemy to break that portion of our line. The Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Marshall, rendered good service dismounted, acting as light troops on our left, and afterward, with a portion of the Arkansas regiment, in meeting and dispersing the column of cavalry at Buena Vista. The 1st and 2d Illinois, and the 2d Kentucky regiments, served immediately under my eye, and I bear a willing testimony to their excellent conduct throughout the day. The spirit and gallantry with which the 1st Illinois and 2d Kentucky engaged the enemy in the morning, restored confidence to that part of the field, while the list of casualties will show how much these three regiments suffered in sustaining the heavy charge of the enemy in the afternoon. Captain Conner's company of Texas volunteers, attached to the 2d Illinois regiment, fought bravely, its captain being wounded and two subalterns killed.

Colonel Bissell, the only surviving colonel of these regiments, merits notice for his coolness and bravery on this occasion.

After the fall of the field officers of the 1st Illinois and 2d Kentucky regiments, the command of the former devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford, that of the latter upon Major Fry.

Regimental commanders and others who have rendered reports, speak in general terms of the good conduct of their officers and men, and have specified many names, but the limits of this report forbid a recapitulation of them here. I may, however, mention Lieutenants Rucker and Campbell, of the dragoons, and Captain Pike, Arkansas cavalry, commanding squadrons; Lieutenant-Colonel Field, Kentucky cavalry; Lieutenant-Colonel Roane, Arkansas cavalry, upon whom the command devolved after the fall of Colonel Yell; Major Bradford, Captain Sharpe (severely wounded), and Adjutant Griffith, Mississippi regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Hadden, 2d Indiana regiment, and Lieutenant Robinson, aid-de-camp to General Lane; Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford, 1st Illinois regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, Major Trail, and Adjutant Whiteside (severely wounded), 2d Illinois regiment; and Major Fry, 2d Kentucky regiment, as being favorably noticed for gallantry and good conduct. Major McCulloch, quarter-master in the volunteer service, rendered important services before the engagement, in the command of a spy company, and during the affair was a.s.sociated with the regular cavalry. To Major Warren, 1st Illinois Volunteers, I feel much indebted for his firm and judicious course, while exercising command in Saltillo.

The medical staff, under the able direction of a.s.sistant Surgeon Hitchc.o.c.k, were a.s.siduous in attention to the wounded, upon the field, and in their careful removal to the rear. Both in these respects, and in the subsequent organization and service of the hospitals, the administration of this department was every thing that could be wished.

Brigadier-General Wool speaks in high terms of the officers of his staff, and I take pleasure in mentioning them here, having witnessed their activity and zeal upon the field. Lieutenant and Aid-de-camp McDowell, Colonel Churchill, inspector-general, Captain Chapman, a.s.sistant quarter-master, Lieutenant Sitgreaves, Topographical Engineers, and Captains Howard and Davis, (p. 346) volunteer service, are conspicuously noticed by the general for their gallantry and good conduct. Messrs. March, Add.i.c.ks Potts, Harrison, Burgess, and Dusenbury, attached in various capacities to General Wool's head-quarters, are likewise mentioned for their intelligent alacrity in conveying orders to all parts of the field.

In conclusion, I beg leave to speak of my own staff, to whose exertions in rallying troops and communicating orders I feel greatly indebted. Major Bliss, a.s.sistant adjutant-general, Captain J. H. Eaton, and Lieutenant R. S. Garnett, aids-de-camp, served near my person, and were prompt and zealous in the discharge of every duty. Major Munroe, besides rendering valuable service as chief of artillery, was active and instrumental, as were also Colonels Churchill and Belknap, inspectors general, in rallying troops and disposing them for the defence of the train and baggage. Colonel Whiting, quartermaster general, and Captain Eaton, chief of the subsistence department, were engaged with the duties of their departments, and also served in my immediate staff on the field. Captain Sibley, a.s.sistant quartermaster, was necessarily left with the head-quarter camp near town, where his services were highly useful. Major Mansfield and Lieutenant Benham, engineers, and Captain Linnard and Lieutenants Pope and Franklin, Topographical Engineers, were employed before and during the engagement in making reconnoissances, and on the field were very active in bringing information and in conveying my orders to distant points. Lieutenant Kingsbury, in addition to his proper duties as ordnance officer, Captain Chilton, a.s.sistant quartermaster, and Majors Dix and Coffee, served also as extra aids-de-camp, and were actively employed in the transmission of orders. Mr. Thomas L. Crittenden, of Kentucky, though not in service, volunteered as my aid-de-camp on this occasion, and served with credit in that capacity. Major Craig, chief of ordnance, and Surgeon Craig, medical director, had been detached on duty from head-quarters, and did not reach the ground until the morning of the 24th, too late to partic.i.p.ate in the action, but in time to render useful services in their respective departments of the staff.

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, _Major-General U. S. A._, _commanding_.

_____

_General Order Congratulating the Army._

Headquarters, Army of Occupation, February 26, 1847.

1. The commanding general has the grateful task of congratulating the troops upon the brilliant success which attended their arms in the conflicts of the 22d and the 23d. Confident in the immense superiority of numbers, and stimulated by the presence of a distinguished leader, the Mexican troops were yet repulsed in efforts to force our lines, and finally withdrew with immense loss from the field.

2. The general would express his obligations to the officers (p. 347) and men engaged, for the cordial support which they rendered throughout the action. It will be his highest pride to bring to the notice of the government the conspicuous gallantry of different officers and corps, whose unwavering steadiness more than once saved the fortunes of the day. He would also express his high satisfaction with the conduct of the small command left to hold Saltillo. Though not so seriously engaged as their comrades, their services were very important and efficiently rendered. While bestowing this just tribute to the good conduct of the troops, the general deeply regrets to say that there were not a few exceptions. He trusts that those who fled ingloriously to Buena Vista, and even to Saltillo, will seek an opportunity to retrieve their reputation, and to emulate the bravery of their comrades who bore the brunt of the battle, and sustained, against fearful odds, the honor of our flag.

The exultation of success is checked by the heavy sacrifice of life which it has cost, embracing many officers of high rank and rare merit. While the sympathies of a grateful country will be given to the bereaved families and friends of those who n.o.bly fell, their ill.u.s.trious example will remain for the benefit and admiration of the army.

By order of Major-General Taylor, W. W. S. BLISS, _Act. Adj. General_.

No. 64. (p. 348) PLATE LXV.

_March 5, 1849--July 9, 1850._

Zachary Taylor President of the United States 1849. [Rx]. Peace and friends.h.i.+p.

PRESIDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR.

[_Twelfth President of the United States of America._]

ZACHARY TAYLOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1849. Bust of President Taylor, facing the left.

PEACE AND FRIENDs.h.i.+P. Two hands clasped in token of amity; on the cuff of the left wrist three stripes, and b.u.t.tons with the American eagle on them; the other wrist bare; above the hands, a calumet and tomahawk crossed--Indian emblems of peace and war.

The obverse of this medal, though not signed, was engraved by Franklin Peale, as may be seen by the following extract from a despatch of R.

M. Patterson, director of the Mint, to Orlando Brown, office of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, and dated Philadelphia, November 26th, 1849: