a battery established
to cover the retreat of those corps. While the squadron was
detached on this service, a large body of the enemy was observed
to concentrate on our extreme left, apparently with the view of
making a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our
train and baggage were deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel May was
ordered to the support of that point, with two pieces of Captain
Sherman's battery under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the mean time,
the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of
Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had been, to some extent,
organized under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of artillery,
with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff, and were
posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached the
hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack; having been
handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under
Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately
divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a
destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and
then gaining the mountain opposite, under a fire from Lieutenant
Reynolds' section, the remaining portion regaining the base of
the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel
Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; we also lost
Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry, a young officer of
much promise. Lieutenant-Colonel May, who had been rejoined by
the squadron of the 1st Dragoons, and by portions of the Arkansas
and Indiana troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major
Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, holding in check
the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded in the
narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery was doing fearful
execution.

The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained
our rear was now very critical, and it seemed doubtful whether it
could regain the main body. At this moment I received from
General Santa Anna a message by a staff officer, desiring to know
what I wanted. I immediately dispatched Brigadier-General Wool to
the Mexican general-in-chief and sent orders to cease firing.
Upon reaching the Mexican lines, General Wool could not cause the
enemy to cease their fire, and acco