Source:Fleming-buena-vista/content
IN the story of battles in Mexico, commemorated in some North Side streets, we come now to Buena Vista street—signifying fine view and fine fighting. In fact, Buena Vista was one of the most remarkable battles in history.
It is a story of intrepidity and daring, of the victory of the few over many; of the valor of the American volunteer soldier, filled with that heroic spirit of patriotism which made the American volunteer of the Civil War renowned for marvelous fighting qualities.
The war in Mexico, 1846–48, prepared for the greater war of 1861–65 some of its ablest officers and leaders.
The American, that is, the volunteer soldier of the United States of America, is on the Rio Grande today. In the story of the volunteers of his grandfather's days he can draw deep inspiration, none deeper and greater than that brought forth from the consideration of the name—Buena Vista, commemorated in many localities throughout our country and for 60 years a living name of a fine thoroughfare in the former city of Allegheny—now the North Side, Pittsburgh.
From its lofty summit it justifies its name—a fine view, indeed. This, one of the main streets in that portion of the North Side, formerly known as "Mexico"—sometimes called "New Mexico," extends from North avenue to Perrysville avenue.
Properly "Mexico" on the North Side is the "Buena Vista" plan of lots laid out by William Robinson, Jr., in 1856, part of his patrimony. William Robinson, Jr., was the first white child born on the North Side, and that he was generally called Gen. Robinson from his militia title and that his name is now commemorated in Gen. Robinson street.
Remember, also, that the Buena Vista plan of lots was surveyed by Alexander Hays, civil engineer and surveyor of Pittsburgh, recording regulator of the former municipality of Allegheny, and a soldier of two wars, a lieutenant in the Fourth, later with the Eighth Infantry, U. S. A., in Mexico, brigadier general commanding Hancock's Third Division at Gettysburg and brevet major general, United States Volunteers, killed May 5, 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia.
Two battle names in the Buena Vista plan had a homelike sound to Alexander Hays, Palo Alto and Resaca. Shortened from Resaca de la Palmas [sic], for in both these battles he had participated with his regiment.
At Palo Alto he had received his baptism of fire and at Resaca his first wound. Regarding it but slight, he paid scant attention to it, but it developed into a disability and resulted his being invalided home and put on recruiting service, much to his chagrin, for he missed the battles of Monterey and those fought by Scott's army.
Buena Vista was the last battle fought by Gen. Zachary Taylor, a well-loved commander known to his men as "Old Zac," and in the regular army as "Old Rough and Ready," president of the United States after the Mexican War, succeeding James K. Polk, a change of administration also from the Democratic to the Whig party.
Alexander Hays recorded his views on the unkind fortune of war in his case, in several letters to his townsman, boyhood friend and fellow student and cadet, Judge John S. McCalmont, formerly of Franklin, Pa. Extracts from one of these letters were published in last week's story. Another appears today.
After the battle of Monterey September 21, 22, 23, 1846, an armistice was granted the Mexicans. Gen. Taylor received instructions from the War Department November 13, 1846, that the armistice was at an end.
Two weeks later official news of the battle of Monterey was published in the Pittsburgh daily papers. Reference was made to the "Pittsburgh Gazette and Advertiser" as The Gazette Times was then called, and under a small italic head, "News From Mexico," told that the ship "Floyd" had arrived at New York 15 days from Havana with news to the date of November 7. All was quiet then at Monterey.
Gen. Taylor's and Gen. W. J. Worth's official dispatches were published in Pittsburgh November 28. Taylor's occupied nearly a column of the "Gazette" and Worth's two columns.
The paper was then a large folio, all advertisements on the first page—news, local and general and editorial matter mixed on the second page, and the balance of the paper close set in advertisements. There were no display adds. The proprietors were White and Harris.
Taylor's and Worth's reports were dated September 28, 1846. The armistice ended, Gen. Worth marched for Saltillo with 900 men. The next day Gen. Taylor followed, but he left Gen. William O. Butler at Monterey to hold that city.
Saltillo was occupied November 15. Several minor engagements followed. Most of Taylor's troops were requisitioned by Gen. Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the United States forces in Mexico, then preparing for an attack on Vera Cruz, and the campaign he carried out to the capture of the City of Mexico. Scott took from Taylor most of his regulars, leaving him but 5,000 men, mostly new troops, and excepting those engaged at Monterey, untried in action.
Herrera, president of Mexico in 1845, not in favor of war, had been deposed in favor of Paredes. This was in the spring of 1846.
Paredes' government was violent and oppressive. There followed a revolution. Santa Anna, former president, then a political exile in Cuba, was recalled. He landed at Vera Cruz August 16 by the express permission of the United States government in the expectation that his influence would be favorable to negotiations for peace. It was decidedly otherwise.
Santa Anna triumphantly entered the capital September 15, proclaimed the savior of Mexico. He left at once for San Louis Potosi [sic] and with energy began to levy and equip a new army. A very wealthy man, he devoted much of his private fortune to this end.
Santa Anna notified Gen. Taylor he would entertain no propositions for peace and was informed that the armistice was ended.
Taylor, with Saltillo in his possession, commanded the mountain pass to the vast table land of Northern Mexico. Taylor took possession also of Monclova, Linares, Victoria and Tampico.
Taylor asked for an army of 25,000 men, 10,000 to be regulars which should be landed at Vera Cruz or Alvarado, and one or the other port made the base of operations against Mexico City. Taylor was allowed 5,000 men as we have seen. He was a Whig. So was Scott, but Scott was allowed to fight it out, before his removal from command and supercedure by Gen. Butler. The administration was Democratic.
Taylor forced upon the defensive, was joined by Gen. John E. Wool at Saltillo February 23, 1847. Wool had crossed the Rio Grande at Presidio with 3,000 troops. Santa Anna with more than 20,000 troops, was approaching to attack.
Taylor and Wool fell back from Agua Nueva, 20 miles south of Saltillo to Angustura, a narrow defile in the mountains facing the fine estate of Buena Vista. Here Taylor encamped in battle order and awaited the foe.
The Buena Vista estate contained a large hacienda and properly named, "The Hacienda San Juan de la Buena Vista."
February 22 Santa Anna was within two miles of Taylor's position. There was some correspondence. The Mexican chief with characteristic bombast wrote:
Camp at Encantada.
February 22, 1847.GOD AND LIBERTY.
You are surrounded by 20,000 men and cannot in any human probability avoid suffering a rout and being cut to pieces with your troops, but as you deserve consideration and particular esteem, I wish to save you from catastrophe and for that purpose give you this notice in order that you may surrender at discretion, under the assurance that you will be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican character, to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to commence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in your camp. With this view I assure you of my particular consideration.
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
To Gen. Z. Taylor, Commanding the Forces of the United States.
The consideration belonging to the Mexican character had given rise to a battle cry in the United States Army. It was "Remember the Alamo."
Gen. Taylor's reply was exceedingly brief: "I decline acceding to your request."
The United States forces waited for the enemy to take the initiative. The twenty-second was appropriately celebrated. It was a poor day to entertain even the remotest thought of surrender. There was light skirmishing throughout the day. At night the men of Taylor's little army slept on their arms in bivouac. They had no cots and none were homesick.
The Mexicans in the mountains were meanwhile attempting to throw a cordon around Taylor and Wool with their small force of fewer than 5,000.
Santa Anna brought on the battle by attempting to flank the American left. Ampudia, who had commanded at the opening of the hostilities in the spring of 1846, commanded a division of Mexican light infantry at Buena Vista and his forces were soon hotly engaged with the American riflemen.
The battle began early the morning of the twenty-third and continued all day. The struggle was terribly severe and the slaughter great. There were critical moments and until near sunset the issue was doubtful.
Santa Anna, the Mexican leader, was desperate. He performed a pitiable trick—that of displaying a flag of truce—to throw Taylor off his guard and then making a tremendous assault on the center where Taylor commanded in person. The batteries of Capts. Bragg, Washington and T. W. Sherman resisted this attack with double charges of grape and cannister and their fire became too hot for the Mexicans, who began to waver.
It was then that Gen. Taylor gave his celebrated order that immortalized Braxton Bragg—subsequently a lieutenant general of the Confederacy.
"A little more grape—give 'em a little more grape, Capt. Bragg."
The grape was given freely and at twilight the Mexican line broke and fled in confusion. Night closed the battle.
Expecting its renewal in the morning, the soldiers of the United States again slept on their arms, but when the day dawned no enemy was in sight.
Santa Anna had had enough and in a few days his utterly dispirited army was almost dissolved.
He had left 500 dead and dying upon the field. With wounded and prisoners taken he lost more than 2,000 men. The American loss was 746.
Actually engaged in the battle Gen. Taylor had 4,691 men, of these 264 were killed and 460 wounded. Some were missing. Among the killed was Lieut. Col. Henry Clay, Jr. of Kentucky, son of the great statesman.
More than 4,000 of Santa Anna's troops deserted on the night of the twenty-third. Besides, his 20,000 and more infantry, he had a brigade of 2,000 cavalry.
The road to Agua Nueva was strewn with the bodies of dead and dying Mexicans. The scenes on the field are stated to have been indescriable [sic]. The plateau, the mountain slope, with its narrow gorges and ravines were filled with dead and wounded men.
The American wounded were taken to Saltillo. Taylor took care of the prisoners that fell disabled into his hands, also exchanging 300 unwounded prisoners for such of his army that Santa Anna had in his charge.
The lying Santa Anna, safe at Encarnacion, sent tidings of his great victory to the capitol and there was great rejoicing. The truth soon was known, however.
Had Taylor been defeated the war would have been prolonged. The fate of his army would have been dubious. The Mexicans had previously fought under the black flag.
Buena Vista was a brilliant, close to Taylor's operations. His victory made him president in 1849 but he did not long survive this great honor. In the fall of 1847 he returned to Louisiana, everywhere received with ovations. A son of President Taylor, Gen. Richard Taylor, was one of the last Confederate generals who surrendered his forces in 1865.
Some recall the oration of H. W. Hilliard, to be found in "Kidd's Elocution" and often declaimed in the district and other schools where Prof. Robert Kidd's selections were favorites.
In part Hilliard said:
Perhaps in the history of the world the power of a single will never was more triumphantly exhibited than it was at Buena Vista. Taylor had been advised to fall back for safety on Monterey—stripped of some of his best troops far advanced in the enemy's country, with an army numbering only 4,000, and but one-third of them regulars; with no reserve force to support him; with the intelligence brought in that Santa Anna, at the head of 20,000 men, was marching against him; then he took his position in a gorge of the Sierra Madre and determined to meet the shock of battle. He would neither retreat nor resign; he would fight.
There flashed forth a great spirit! The battle came; the odds were fearful, but who could doubt the results when American troops stood in the modern Thermopylae and in the presence of such a leader? It was in vain that Mexican artillery played upon their ranks, or Mexican infantry bore down with the bayonet, or Mexican lancers charged. The spirit of the great leader pervaded the men who fought with him, and a single glance of his eye could reanimate a wavering column.
Like Napoleon at the Danube he held his men under fire because he was exposed to it himself, and like him, whenever he rode along the lines mounted on a white charger, a conspicuous mark for balls, men would stand and be shot down, but they would not give way. Of Taylor on that day it may be said, as has been said of Lannes at Montebello, "He was the rock of that battlefield, around which men stood with a tenacity which nothing could move. If he had fallen, in five minutes that battle would have been a rout."
That battle closed Gen. Taylor's military career, and that battle alone gives him a title to immortality.
The Fourth United States Infantry had been sent to Gen. Scott's Army. But with the echoes and the griefs of Monterey still in mind Lieut. Alex. Hays unburdened his mind to his old comrade as follows:
Buffalo, Nov. 19, 1846.
Dear Old Boy:
I have almost come to the conclusion that you don't care a ⸻ for old friends, or else you have lost yourself in some of those intricate labyrinths of the Law, of which I have heard tell. I have not heard from you for a dog's age, or for that matter from anyone else—much as my heart yearns to see old friends, I have not been able to "go down into Egypt" since I came out of Nazareth. If some change is not effected in the bearing of my old friends I will be obliged to forget them.
There will then be nothing left for me but to draw closer around me the dark mantle of Misanthrope or to concentrate all my affections upon my little household gods. A wife and a country affords a wide field for the development of any man's affections, but what will become of the niche in the temple, so long reserved for friendly images?
You have no doubt heard of the death of Woods and probably of the friendship existing between us. For me I believe he would have dared heaven and earth. And what a void there will be in the old camp circle when I join it again—Barber, Graham, Hoskins, Irwin, Woods and poor Bob Hazlet, who never intentionally in his life injured even a red-bellied Mexican. Bauman, I believe, had a tight squeeze, but got off safe after doing the thing decently.
Monterey will always be a hateful name to me. If I could have been there to take my chance with the rest I would not have cared. It is a soldier's business to die—he enlists for that—and has the satisfactory knowledge that it is his last duty. I was deceived when sent out to Mexico. I came with the understanding I was to enlist only one company and return. I have filled the company, but am told now "your services cannot be dispensed with in the recruiting service." Misery loves company," and I have plenty of it. Lee is at Rochester, 125 miles from this, cursing his luck also.
In my opinion December will decide the question with Mexico, of war. We must have peace then or "war to the knife" for two years to come. I do not like to be thought a "croaker," but I believe we will have war, war, war, and that we have not another honor to gain by it. The conduct of the present administration would bring disgrace upon the legions of Rome. Never has any president had such an opportunity to immortalize himself by "taking the responsibility" to raise himself and party supreme to all. In such an emergency there can be no question of the desires of the dear people. "Our country, right or wrong," is the popular motto, but it will end in a disgraceful war, and a more disgraceful peace. James K. Polk will be disgraced and in '48 the Democratic party will be routed "horse, foot and dragoons." But I am tired of politics.
I suppose my lot is cast in Buffalo until next spring. Montgomery and Reeve, with their "subs," have been ordered to return to Mexico, and my turn may soon come. When it does I will send my little wife home, give three cheers for old Pennsylvania, and go at it again with a will. If possible I will be in Franklin before I return, but if not the sod has my best wishes. I have written more than I at first intended and more than you deserve. Write soon and give our love to all.
Yours sincerely,
A. HAYS.
Indorsement on back of letter:
John S. McCalmont, Esq.,
Clarion, Clarion county, Pa.
Somewhat of a prophet, someone may remark.
Lee, Montgomery and Reeve were regular officers who had been invalided home with Hays. The others mentioned were young lieutenants he had known at West Point and in the service, Woods of Pennsylvania, a classmate and intimate friend.
