===== Match: Bowls Source: [email protected] From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: [CORNWELL] Thornton Burgess Letter Dated 1847 Mentions Edmund and This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: elainecrockett1 Surnames: Burgess, Taylor, Gorman, Lane, Kinder, Laferty, Shoults, McDonald, Massey, Hardin, Harrison, Edwards, Morgan, Hostetler, Lewis, Prewitt, Bowls, Hungate, Dougherty, Cornwell, Brooks Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cornwell/2309/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The letter transcribed below was found in the Burgess Family File, Stevens Museum and Library, Salem, Indiana. The spelling and punctuation have not been changed from the original. Letter posted to Mr. Edward Burgess Paoli Indiana US Postage stamped 10 Camp Taylor March the 9, 1847 Dear Mother Brothers and Sisters I am once more permitted to write you a few lines to inform you that I am well and fain hopeing these few lines may find you all and my friends in general enjoying the same blessing - I have some news of importance to write but supposing you will hear it before you get this I deem it unnecessary to enter into a regular detail of things in general - the 22d and 23d days of February is long to be remembered by the American people - General Santa Anna and Ampuda marched against us with all the host of Mexico - numbering near 25000 and only had in our little band but 4500 that was able for the field - this was a fearful odds but the god of battles was with us. On the 22 the enemy appeared and Santa Anna sent a flag to Gen Taylor and requested him to surrender but old Rough sent him word back that he should not - for he thought he had just men enough to whip him - late in the evening old Santa let off one of his big guns to let us no that he was ready and the firing commenced between some of the enemy under Ampuda and our riflemen under Major Gorman they had climb some of the hights of the mountains to get around us but our sharp sooting riflemen kept them too busy - at dark the firing ceased and our men came down and we all lay on the cold rocks untill morning very early next morning our men again assended and the firing commenced nor was we idle spectators long when General Lane ordered us to move forward and we did against about five times our number and we opened a heavy fire on them - our little regiment stood up to them untill they fired about twenty rounds and there cannon at the same time raking our line with grape and canister shot - they disabled our artillery so they was obliged to leave and they gave us orders to retreat which we did in great disorder - we got some what scattered and fell in with other regiments and fought like heros - the fight was kept up steady all day and many a brave man fell at dark we lay down on the field again tired and hungry. Early next morning we arose to renew the fight but to our astonishment they had left us the victors of the field not was we very sorry of it - for we was very tired and sore - Gen Taylor sent a flag after them asking an exchange of prisoners which they granted we had taken about three hundred they was to releas all they had of ours untill they come up with what we had of therse - the 24 and 25 was taken up in buring the dead our wounded was all taken to Saltillo our loss was 264 killed and 450 wounded - the loss of the enemy was 1500 killed and 2500 wounded and 3000 deserted or missing - this is a glorious day for the volunteers for they done all the fiting - we lost in our company seven killed an eight wounded - the killed was our beloved Capt T.B. Kinder who was a gentleman and beliked by all who knew him - and Joseph Laferty John Shoults David Mcdonald Arthur Massey John Hardin and Joseph Harrison - the wounded was Eli Mcdonald Benjamin Taylor Severly ? Charles Edwards William Morgan Benjamin Hostetler David Lewis Joshua Lewis and Elisha Prewitt all slightly they are doing very well our officers all acted as brave as any men could Col. Bowls is a very brave man he acted very cool all day as much so as any man in the field - and we as privates leave it for the officers to say whether we acted brave or not - the same day we fought at Beuna Vesta the Mexicans attaced Saltillo Marine Seralvo Pontagoody and Mier but they was repulsed at every point but they cut off some of our trains and killed some of our wagoners and took a good many of our stores and then burnt the wagons - I think they aimed to make a fatal blow but did not succeed and I think they are satisfied for awhile the last we heard of Santa Anna and the remnant of his army he was on the way to San Louis Potosi as hard as he could cracket leaveing his sick and wounded all behind - Santa Anna says he thought he was going to fight the regulars but he said it was the fool volunteers that was fiting for fun. It is stated that Gen Santa Anna has made a great speech and said if his goverment will not give him the means he will not fight us any more - but if they will give more him troops and provisions he will try us again - and we expect to leave this camp tomorrow and return back to Beuna Vesta to entrench and throw up some breast works to be ready for them against they come we are expecting some new troops on soon to reinforce us and when they is a sufficient number comes to hold this plase that we will turn towards home. John Henry wishes to be remembered by all his old friends and sends his best respect to all - he is well and in fine spirits he was elected our first lieutenant - J. Hungate is well and sends his respect to all - he is a first rate soldier - tell Gabiel Dougherty family that he is well and in very good spirits - tell cousin Edmund Cornwell that he must not let the prisoners out of old Chalys cave until we get home for the Mexicans perhaps might come in and take them but if we get there we will try to keep them from being murdered - for Santa Anna said he intended to whip us here and then go down the Rio Grande and after taking all our forces then come on to the States and you can tell the boys that they had better keep in strong guard and I think they had better put old Jimmy Cornwell on picket guard for if his horse should get shot he can walk tolerable well - Abner Dougherty wishes to be remembered by his friends he is well and sends his best respect to all enquiring friends - Give my best respect to all enquiring friends and you accept my best wishes for the wellfare of you all. So nothing more but remain your brother untill death. Thornton Burgess Edward Burgess Sir if you please I should like you would let me know when you have that cider to drink for I want to see some of the girls in that quarter any way and you would confer quite a favor on your old friend. A.? G. Brooks Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. =========================================