BUELL. 625 BUENOS AYBES. discussion with regard to liis career as a soldier, but by the majority of military critics he is con- sidered to have been an able officer and a good strategist, whose usefulness was impaired by an unfortunate lack of tact in dealing with his subordinates, and especially with civilians, and a tendency at times to be somewhat dilatory in his movements. His own side of the controversy with regard to the Kentucky and Tennessee cam- paign is presented in the t^tatement of Major- Gcncral Biiell in Reiiew of the Evidence Before the Military Commission Appointed by the War Department, and in Frv, Operations of the Army Under Buell (Xew York, 1884). BUELL, JiAKcrs D.4.Rros (1S51 — ). An American theologian, born in Wayland, X. Y. He was educated at Boston University School of Theology. at Cambridge, England, and at the University of Berlin. He became professor of Xew Testament Greek and exegesis at Boston University in 1S84, and dean of the theological faculty of that institution in 1889. His princi- pal work is entitled Studies in the Greek Text of the Gospel of Saint Mark (1890). BUENA VISTA, bwa'na ves'ta (Sp., good view). A small settlement in Mexico on the San Juan, a tributary of the Rio Grande, 7 miles south of Saltillo." Here, on February 22 and 23, 1847. during the war between the United States and Mexico, about 4800 Americans under General Tavlor defeated fully 20,000 Mexicans under Geii. Santa Anna in the most brilliant battle of the war. The Americans, having taken up a position of great strength on the 21st, stood on the defensive and awaited Santa Anna's attack. On the afternoon of the 22d the Mexicans began the battle, though the main attack was made on the 23d, the conflict continuing with slight inter- mission throughout the day, and the troops on each side fighting with the utmost gallantry. The American artillery was served with remark- able efficiency, and Santa Anna's attacks were uniformly repulsed, so that early on the 24th he was compelled to retreat. The Americans lost 746 in killed and wounded, the Mexicans fully 2000. The battle virtually closed the campaign in the north, and, by weakening and detaining Santa Anna, contributed materially to the suc- cesses of General Scott in the south. An inci- dent during the battle furnished the theme of Whittier's famous poem, The Angels of Buena Vista." Consult: J. H. Carleton, The Battle of Buena Vista (Xew York, 1848) ; H. H. Ban- croft. History of Mexico, Vol. V. (San Francisco, 1885) ; and O. O. Howard, General Taylor (Xew York, 1892). BTIENAVISTA, Sax Jos£ de. See San Josfi I)E BlENAVISlW. BITEN AYBE, bwan i'ra, or BONAIBE ( Sp. huen, Fr. bon. fair, good + Sp. ayre. Fr. air, Eng. air). One of the West Indian islands, be- longing to the Dutch, situated in latitude 12° 2' X. and longitude 68° 22' W., 30 miles east of Curacao (Map: West Indies, X 8). It has an area of 129 square miles, and a population of (181)9) 4926. BtTENDIA, bwan'd«-a, .Juan (1814—). A Peruvian general. He was born in Lima, entered the army at an early age, and gradually rose to the rank of general, in which capacity he put down the insurrection of Pierola in 1874. Dur- ing the greater part of the Chilean War of 1879 lie commanded the Army of the South. On Xo- vember 8, at the head of a combined Peruvian and Bolivian force, he attacked a Chilean army numbering about 10,000 on the heights of San Francisco, but was utterly defeated and was com- pelled to retreat to his headquarters at Tara- pacS, where, rallying his demoralized army, he repulsed the pursuing Chileans and captured a large part of their artillery. He then withdrew to Arica and afterwards participated in the de- fense of Lima. BUENOS AYRES, bwa'nos I'ras (Sp., good air; see Buen Ayre). The largest and most im- portant province of Argentina, on the eastern coast, bounded by the river Parana and the provinces of Santa F<? and Cordoba on the north, by the Atlantic on the east and south, and by the Territory of La Panipa and the Provin<« of Cordoba on the west (Map: Argentina, E 11). Area, 118,000 square miles. Excepting the south- ern part, which is crossed by two mountain chains, the province consists of an extensive plain dotted with small lakes and intersected in every direction by short streams. The coasts are generally low and sandy, and only slightly in- dented, though the southeastern part has a num- ber of promontories. The chief rivers of the province are the Parana (with its estuary, the Plata River), which borders it on the north- east, and the Rio Salado. There is. however, no scarcity of water, as the numerous lakes and lagoons are connected by short streams, too shallow for navigation, but of considerable value for purposes of irrigation. The climate is health- ful, with a temperature considerably reduced by sea breezes. The southern wind which blows in summer occasionally reaches the velocity of a hurricane, when it is known as the Pampero, and is at times quite destructive. The soil is very fertile, and especially adapted to grazing and the growing of cereals, though at present the raising of domestic animals is by far the leading occupation. The wealth in live stock was esti- mated in 1895 at about 52.000.000 sheep, 7,200,- 000 cattle, and 1.700.000 horses. During recent years the live-stock interests have shovn a ten- dency to decline, due in a measure to the in- creased activity in agricultural pursuits. The cultivation of wheat has of late been receiving more attention, and corn, which is used in the local distilleries, is raised in large quantities. The commerce and shipping are naturally very extensi-e, both on account of the large volume of local products and from the fact that through its geographical position the province controls the foreign commerce of the republic. The chief exports are wool, beef, and other animal prod- ucts. Of manufactured products very little is left for export, after domestic consumi)tion. Railways connect all important centres, affording excellent transportation facilities. In its administration the province is entirely independent of the central Government, not only in local affairs, but also in external financial transactions. The executive power is vested in a Governor and Vice-Governor, elected indirectly for a period of three years. The legislative power is exercised by a (Congress consisting of a Chamlwr of Deputies of not more than 100 mem- bers, elected biennially, and a Senate of not more than 50 members, elected triennially. Congress holds annual sessions from May 1 to August 31. The whole province is divided into four .sections
