The following account is the next installment in a series of eyewitness accounts which THE COURIER will carry from time to time (or more frequently if you, the readers rate them favorably in Volley Fire). The accounts will stress tactical details from all periods presented by eyewitnesses. They will thus be either historically significant or important from a wargaming standpoint. In the latter case, the accounts will provide information about weapons, formations, and tactics. I would like to solicit contributions from all readers. WITH TAYLOR NEAR BUENA VISTA On February 23, 1847, General Zachary Taylor's detached army of about 5,000 men was attacked by the Mexican army of Santa Anna near Buena Vista. Santa Anna's plan was to advance on the left with his infantry and turn the American left with his cavalry. The Mexican force had a large superiority in strength, numbering about 14,000. The cavalry engagement is described in a letter from Colonel Humphrey Marshall to Brigadier General Wool written on the battle ground of Buena Vista, Mexico, February 25, 1847. It is included in Executive Documents No. 1, 30th Congress, 1st Session, Washington, 1847. Ralph Reinerstein contributed this account. It vividly describes the repulse of a cavalry charge with firepower and the resultant penetration of a attacking column by a counterattacking force. The Colonel Yell referred to cammanded a regiment of Arkansas cavalry, the Kentuckians belonged to a regiment of Kentucky cavalry. So to the slopes of a Mexican mountain where a superior force of Mexican cavalry is attempting to turn the flank of the outnumbered American cavalry: The infantry of the enemy at once descended to the plain, and formed a line of battle parallel to the mountain's base; their cavalry formed a column of squadrons, to charge upon my regiment. We formed at once to receive them, Colonel Yells companies being on my left. The enemy came down in most gallant style and beautiful order. They numbered from 1,200 to 1,500 and constituted the brigade of General Torrejon. Our force did not exceed 400. Our men were armed with rifles, or with carbine, pistol, and sabre; theirs with sabre and pistol, or lances. I waited their approach until they had arrived within sixty yards of my line, when our men delivered their fire. Under its effect the head of their column wavered, and for a moment checked its march, when the order was given to my command to charge upon them. Their column parted - some went right, and some left. The men on our side pressed through them, pursued one part, and the melee became general. The whole crowd was enveloped in a cloud of dust, and all order on both sides was for a few minutes lost. Mexicans and Kentuckians, and some of the Arkansas soldiers were together and so continued until we had reached the valley in the rear of the ranche. A large body of the Mexicans broke through the ranche where they were fired upon as they passed; and thence, pursued by my men, they fled across the mountains. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. III #3 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1981 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com