William Delay to Jefferson Davis

(From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.)

Report

Of the operations of Company F. of the first Regiment of Miss Riflemen on the days of the 22d & 23d of Feb. 1847, in the

Battle of Buena Vista.

On the morning of the 22d Feb. '47, this company encamped with its Regiment at Saltillo, received orders to prepare each member with one days provision and march immediately with the Regiment to the Pass Buena Vista about 6 miles from our then encampment. This order was immediately executed, and at the signal to form the Regiment each member of the company appeared in his place excepting 3 one left sick in hospital at Monterey, one sick in camp & one on extra duty as Wagoner, the two latter both manifested much anxiety to join their company and march The Regiment took up the line of march and after arriving within one mile of the above named Pass no guns had been heard fire as yet but an immense column of the Enemy was seen a few miles beyond the Pass advancing. As the Regiment was advancing near the pass by the right flank, by order of the Col it filed to the left and marched 2 or 3 hundred yards and formed on the left of an Indiana Regiment, which position it held until dark. At 27 minutes past 3 P. M. a cannon was heard to fire from the Mexican Army, and soon after several others in succession but none from our army that I knew of. At about an hour & a half by sun P. M. a large party of Mexicans had ascended a ridge of the mountain on our left flank and opened a brisk fire upon a portion of our troops (I learned was the Kentucky Cavalry who had ascended another Ridge in the Mountain) which fire was briskly returned by them; the firing was kept up by both parties until after dark when our Regiment returned to Camp. Early next morning (23d) we heard a report of a cannon from the Enemy and so soon as it was sufficiently light we could see that the firing was resumed upon the Mountain; the Regiment took up the line of march as the morning previous,-when we arrived in about a mile and a quarter of the scene of action we heard a number of cannons in quick succession with a multitude of smali arms, we then marched hurriedly until we arrived at the scene of action, we filed to the left as the day previous, to take our

position on the left flank. As we advanced near, we discovered a considerable portion of the troops on the left flank of our Army retreating and a large column of the enemy of both Cavalry & Infantry passing through A number of the troops retreating passed our Regiment rapidly while we were hurriedly advancing, and I was told they were the 3d Indiana Regi ment. I heard many voices in our Regiment soliciting them to return which some of them did, though but few. We had now arrived in plain view of the whole Mexican force which had passed through which looked to be between 6,000 & 8,000 in numbers. I saw no other Regiment or piece of Artillery to support ours in a charge So soon as the Regiment arrived in shooting distance with Rifles of the enemy we opened a fire upon a Column immediately in our front, which column I discovered turn to retreat.-We were then ordered to charge and after crossing a deep Ravine, we continued our fire for a short time, when it was discovered that the enemy were firing upon us from three different directions on our right in front & on our left flank. We were then ordered to retire a short distance to Rally again; Whilst retiring I learned that Sergeant Hagany, Corporals Blakely & Butler, & privates Donovant, Jones and Garrott of my company were all killed & that Bigbie, Simpson, Morris and Courtney of the same were severely wounded & Malone and Lieut Stockard slightly wounded. 3 members of the company were dispatched to take the wounded to hospital, all the wounded went except Lieut. Stockard & J. T. Malone who kept their places in the company during the whole day2 of the three who went back with the wounded returned to their places in time for the next charge, the other one did not return during the day. Each of my Lieutenants had Rifles, and I noticed them firing frequently during the day at the Enemy. Every member of the company then present kept his place until the company with the Regiment returned to camp at night.

The many interesting scenes which transpired during the latter part of the day, I leave for others more competent to depict

R. N. Downing to Jefferson Davis.

(From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.) Camp 1st Regt Mississippi Riflemen Saltillo 1st March 1847

R. Griffith Adjt

Sir

1st Regt Missi Riflemen

I herewith submit a statement of the operations of the first Regiment of Mississippi Riflemen commanded by Col Jeff Davis, and G. company, same regiment, in the battles of Buena Vista fought near this place on the 22nd & 23rd ultimo. I assumed the command of G company on the evening of the 22nd when the troops were being arranged in order of battle near the ranch of Buena Vista, at the pass of En Cantada, for a conflict with the enemy who was advancing with a large and superior force. Whilst engaged in arranging the order of Battle, skirmishers became engaged with the enemy in the mountains on the left of the line, and continued a brisk fire until night fall, without any material result on either side when our regiment which was in reserve was ordered to return to Camp at this place, a distance of near eight miles. Early in the morning of the 23rd we returned to the battle field. As we approached the roar of cannon & the heavy discharges of musketry were distinctly heard, giving assurance that the battle had earnestly commenced. As we approached nearer rumors of every character reached our ears, the most alarming, that the day was going against us that our left wing had been turned & that the enemy were pouring into the plain to attack us in rear. Our regiment moved forward & not a man did I hear expressing any fear or alarm as to the result. When we arrived in sight, we discovered the left wing had broken & were flying in every direction, & were being pursued by a large & overwhelming force of the enemy. We met many of our friends flying in haste from the field. We endeavoured to rally them but in vainbut few could be rallied, who joined us & fought gallantly through the day. The enemy were following the fugitives cutting them down at every step. Our arrival on the field arrested their attention. I counted six heavy armed regiments of Infantry & four detachments of Cavalry of the enemy, in echelon at the base of the mountains and on the Plain. Our regiment in column command moving rapidly in the direction of the enemy having a ravine on our right, I looked behind to see what assistance we would receive. I could see none. When we arrived in proper distance we deployed into line, gave three hearty

cheers & rushed impetuously on the enemy's lines. Such was the impetuosity of the onset, one regiment of the enemy retired rapidly to a heavy reserve in their rear. At this time my attention was directed to a large body of Lancers, approaching us on our right, evidently with the intention of attacking us in rear. I called all the riflemen I could around me, crossed the ravine in the direction of the enemy placed them in a safe posi& commenced a fire on the head of their column, when I received orders to retire, which was done, the enemy firing down the ravine at us, retiring & we returning the fire. Two riflemen were killed near me in retiring. On emerging from the ravine I discovered the Lancers had retired, as also their Infantry & took a position near their reserve During this time we had received no assistance from any arm in the Service. At the moment we commenced the rapid movement on the enemy, he was evidently making his disposition to advance on the open plain, (which was altogether open to him) & attack our army in rear, he was waiting for the arrival of the heavy body of Lancers who made the demonstration on our right to make the movement. The charge on our part checked their movement effectually & compelled them to fall back on their heavy reserve. Our regiment retired about two hundred yards to the rear, & rapidly formed a line, when an Indiana Regiment came to our support, together with Lieut Kilborn with one piece of light artillery. We commenced moving slowly upon the enemy with the artillery in the centre. This piece was admirably served & with such effect, that Col Davis perceived a demonstration on the part of the enemy to charge us. This we prepared for by changing the line, forming in right angle, the Indiana Regiment on our right, their flank protected by a deep ravine & our left by artillery. As we had finished making this disposition the enemy's Lancers came down upon us in gallant style to within sixty or one hundred yards, when they received a fire from the whole line which was so destructive it caused them to wheel & retreat rapidly from us. Being reinforced at this juncture by Capt Sherman & three pieces light artillery & Col May with the dragoons, we continued to advance upon them, with the artillery, Col May with the dragoons moving up on our left, making a demonstration to charge, the Infantry & artillery moving directly upon them, had the effect of dispersing them in the mountains or driving them entirely from the field. After resting from the fatigues of the charge we were ordered to the front near the centre of our line, to assist our friends who were gallantly struggling against terrible odds,

When advancing to their relief we discovered a large body of Mexicans, charging in fine style down the hill on the artillery. We opened a fire upon them at the distance of two hundred yards which arrested their progress. We gave many hearty cheers & charged them-the enemy broke & fled over the point of the hill, we pursuing-we perceived a Mexican Battery to our left next the mountains which commanded this hill. I ordered my company & those of the Riflemen, who followed, to pass with me rapidly over the point of the hill, to the next ravine where I supposed the enemy were-This was performed by a portion of the regiment & the enemy commenced retreating from the ravine, we received a raking fire from their Battery, & were ordered to retire, which was done, not however until we had succeeded in killing and dispersing this force of the enemy. Nothing further occurred worthy of mention during the remainder of the evening. We had been engaged with the enemy near eight hours. The conflict for the day was over, the enemy had been driven from all our line, & we remained victors of the day. Towards night our regiment was ordered to return to camp & after the nights repose, we again prepared ourselves for the field, when we received intelligence that Genl Santa Anna with all his forces had retreated in the direction from which he came, in great haste & apparently in great confusion.

I take pleasure in mentioning the good conduct of Lieuts Greaves & Hampton who were very efficient & rendered good service throughout the day. Also the good conduct of the non commissioned officers of G Company & Sergeant McNair of E company who acted with me a portion of the day, & all the men of my company. Of the four corporals one was killed & three were wounded, Corporal Atkinson, Privates Thompson, Neely, Gibbs, Sanders, who were wounded, continued the fight during the day. Lieut. McNulty fell while leading a portion of the company against the enemy in the morning. Private James H. Graves, Bond, Felts, Parr, Seay, L. A. Cooper & Corpl Alexander, also fell in the first conflict with the enemy in the morning Very Respty

yr obt Svt

R. N. Downing

Capt Comdg 1st Rgt M. R.

Endorsed: No. 8 Com. "G.”

R Griffith Adjt1

1st Regt Missi. Riflemen

'Richard Griffith, Brigadier General, C. S. A. Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.