AMERICA. [From the Australian, Aug. 20.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 222, 15 September 1847, Page 3

AMERICA. [From the Australian, Aug. 20.]

BATTLE BETWEEN THE AMERICANS AND MEXICANS. In our last issue we gave amongst the English extracts, a short notice of the latest news from the seat of war in Mexico, in which it was affirmed that another victory had been gained over Santa Anna. We are now enabled to lay before the public full particulars of the battle, which we extract from the Hobart Town Courier of the 7th instant.

NEWS OF THE BATTLES CONFIRMED OLD ROUGH AND READY STILL VICTORIOUS ! ! GEKERAL TAYLOR SAFE. Mexican loss, 4000— American loss 700 Pittsburgh, Monday, March 29. Brazos dates to the 10th, and Camargo to the sth, have been received at New Orleans. They are of great importance, bringing intelligence of the protracted and bloody struggle between the armies of Taylor and Santa Anna. General Taylor was attacked in his position at Aqua Nueva, by the Mexicans, under Santa Anna. After a very sharp action General Taylor commenced his retreat towards Saltillo. He arrived at the latter place in safety, when he was again attacked, and an obstinate engagement took place. The combat was carried on in the streets of the town with great slaughter, until at last the Mexicans were repulsed ; and General Taylor re-commenced his long and perilous march upon Monterey, pursued by the enemy in strong force. Before abandoning Saltillo, the American ( Geueral was forced to spike six pieces of artillery, which, with 30,000 rations, fell into the hands of the eoemy. •■ After a retreat conducted with great skill and courage, General Taylor succeeded in reaching Monterey. Here Santa Anna declined attacking him. Reinfoiced by the troops in the town, however , General Taylor sallied out and assailed Santa Anna in turn, and the battle was renewed. After a stubborn resistance Santa Anna was forced to retreat, retiring before Taylor a distance of eighteen miles on the Sal illo road. Taylor ordered immediate pursuit to be made with a battery of flying artillery, and several squadrons of dragoons. These troops assailed the Mexicans, creating immense havoc — our dragoons charging over piles of dead, three deep. At the latest advices, General Santa Anna was endeavouring to rally his troops for another desperate assault upon the American forces. The Mexican loss in these repeated battles is reported at 5,000 men. Our loss, though heavy for the number of troops engaged, is but a little over one-fifth of that number — being 1100 men. General Urrea, with B,ooo' Mexican cavalry, has thrown himself in the rear of Gen. Taylor, between Monterey and Camjirgo, for the purpose of preventing reinforcements and supplies from coming to his aid. General Taylor is confident of being able to maintain his position, until a sufficient force shall be concentrated under his standard to render certain the complete overthrow of Santa Anna.

„ (from the N. 0. Picayune, March 23.) General Taylor victorious — the Mexican Army, led by Santa Anna, defeated at Buena Vista with great slaughter. Memorandum of the Battle of Beuna Vista, prepared by J, J. Bibb, U. S. Army : Dr. Turner, of the army, who arrived at Matamoras on the 9th instant, from Monterey, brought tbe glorious intelligence of another brilliant victory over the Mexican army. The scene of action was Bnena Vista, a hacienda about six miles west of Saltillo. The fighting commenced on the 22nd, and ended on the next day. Santa Anna retired to Aqua Neuva a distance of ten miles, leaving 4,000 killed

and wounded on the field. Santa Anna's Ad-jutant-General and many other officers and men, are among the prisoners. The loss on our part was 700 killed and wounded. Santa Anna's force amounted at least to 15,000 men; that of Gen. Taylor to about 5000 — almost entirely volunteers. His army is composed of Washington's Bragg's, and Thomas' batteries ; one squadron of the Ist and one of the 2nd dragoons, the Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, a brigade of lUinois,and one of Indiana volunteers, the first Mississippi and Kentucky regiments, and one company of Texas volunteers. Dr. T. brought a list of 63 officers killed and wounded. I left in such haste I was unable to obtain a copy, but recollect among the killed — Captain Lincoln, Assistant AdjutantGeneral, U. S. Artillery ; Colonel Yell, of the Arkansas Cavalry ; Captain Moore, Adjutant Vaughan, and three others not named, of the Kentucky Cavalry ; Colonel M'Kee, Lieutenant- Colonel play, Captain Willis, 2nd Kentucky Infantry : several of the Indiana Brigade; Colonel Hardin and Major Gorham Illinois Brigade ; several of the Mississippi Regiment, and two Lieutenants of Texas Volunteers. Among the wounded I remember General Lane, Colonel Jefferson Davis, Ist Mississippi Regiment; Captain Stein, lstU. S. Dragoons ; Captain Connor, Texas Volunfeers ; Lieutenants S. G. French and OBrien, U. S. Artillery ; Lieutenant Barber 2nd Kentucky Infantry ; Lieutenant Corlwin Ist Mississippi Regiment: and Lieutenant Whiteside, of the Indiana Brigade. The official despatches of General Taylor have been cut off. Colonel Morgan's regiment, Ohio volunteers, having been reinforced by a command from Monterey, had reached that place in safety. Colonel Curtis, of Ohio, with Captain Hunter's company of the 2nd U. S. dragoons, his own regiment, one of Indian volunteers, the Virginia regiment, and one rank, some Texas rangers — in all about 2000 men — was about to leave Camargo to attack General Urrea, who is said to be about thirty miles south of that place with an array of from 4to 5000 men, principally rancheros. He is believed to have with him only 1500 regular troops. A great many, if not all, of these rancheros, as soon as they hear of the discomfiture of Santa Anna's army, will disperse, and the gallant Colonel will no doubt obtain the vjc--topy. This news-from the, pbove provej^thajt the various reports which have been received of General Taylors retreat upon Monterey, and the advance of a large force to attack our depot at Brazos and at the mouth of the Rio Grande, to be'untrue. Of the defences at the mouth of the river I know nothing, but have been told that they are sufficient to make a strong resistance. The fortifications at the Brazos, with the force of artillery and persons in the Quarter-master's employ, which can be raised as a garrison is sufficient to drive back a command of at least 2500 or 3000 Mexicans. The armament of the fort consists of four pieces of artillery — 2 twelve and 3 six pounders, in barbette, which sweep the foot of, and cross their fires upon, the level plain over which the enemy would be compelled to advance, and about 300 muskets to line the parapet. This was thrown up when the attack was daily expected. Nothing having reached us from General Taylor for mauy days, we believed him surrounded as reported, and gave some degree of credit to the rumour of the advance of a large force upon our depot. After waiting 3 or 4 days anxiously expecting the approach of the enertiy, we received the glorious news above — understood, of course, that the battle of Brazos Santiago was " no go ;" and when I sallied, the artillery of old fort Henry, instead of mowing down the Mexicans, was pealing forth a salute in honor of old " Rough and Ready" and his gallant little band at Buena Vista. We annex Santa Anna's own account of the actions of Buena Vista :—: — Camp near Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847. Excellent Sir, — After two days' hard battle, in which the enemy, with a force of 8000 or 9000 men and 26 pieces of artillery, lostsof his positions, 3 pieces of artillery, and 2 flags. I have determined to go back to Aqua Nueva to provide myself with provisions, not having a single biscuit or a grain of rice left. Thanks to the position occupied by the enemy, he has not been completely beaten, but he left on the field about 2999 dead. Both armies have been cut to pieces, but the trophies of war will give you an idea on which side has been the advantage. We have struggled with hunger and thirst during 40 hours ; and if we can provide ourselves with provisions, we will go again to charge the enemy. The soldiers under my command have done their duty and covered the honour of the Mexican nation with glory. The enemy has seen that neither his advantageous position nor the broken nature of the ground, nor the rigour of the season, for it h.<s been raining during the action, could prevent the terrible charge with the bayonet, which left him terrified. Santa Anna. The Tampico Sentinel accompanies the translation of the despatch of Santa Anna with a long article, giving the Mexican accounts of the battle, and say — " The enemy, outnumbering our army about 4 to 1, is reduced to

the necessity of inventing subterfuges to account for an unpardonable want of auccest, amounting, in a word, to defeat." We have copied the above from the Cincinnati .Commercial, of the 30th ult., where also we find the following, apparently from tha Picayune : — " It is highly probable that the loss on the part of the Mexican force is about 2000 men, while that of the American side is about 500. Taylor has no doubt fallen back on Saltillo, or continued his course to Monterey."