The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-02 00:00:00

INDIAN BATTLE IN NEW MEXICO,

An officer of the army furnishes the Santa Fe
Gazette of the 11th ult. with the following particu-
lars of the late battle with a party of Indians :
" I left Albuquerque on the evening of the 25th,
with Captain George M‘Lean of the Rifles and 12
men of his company. On the 27th we were joined
by Captain Blas Lucero and his spy company, com-
posed of 50 Mexicans. We proceeded rapidly
on our march until the morning of the 29th,
when we reached Bear Spring, about 40 miles
distant from this post. On the 28th we had
noticed Indians and their trails going east, which
with • other information and evidences in posses-
sion of Captain M`Lean, determined him
to prepare for a contest whenever he might meet
any considerable number of them. As we were pass-
ing the Spring on the morning of the 29th we dis-
covered a large body of Indians and ponies to the
left
.and half a mile distant from us. Capt. M'Lean
detailed four of his men, and Capt. Lucero 20 of his
men, who, with their respective captains and my-
self, proceeded to where the Indians were encamped.
" As we approached in a rapid gallop the Indians
gave, the war-whoop, received us with threatening
gestures awl a volley of arrows, and then quickly
deployed off to the right and left and in front—
those to the right and left remaining concealed be-
hind trees, while those in front, who were much
further off, seemed to invite a contest. As one of
the Indians.(a chief, I presume) was riding to and
fro where his men were, apparently giving com-
mand, Capt. M'Lcan fired a pistol shot at him.
This seemed to arouse them, and they then mani-
fested with great earnestness their hostile feelings
and intentions. The captain gave orders for his
men to dismount, who, with himself, did so, and
commenced a desperate execution among the In-
dians at a distance of 400 yards with their rifles.
This seemed to surprise them, and they rapidly
flew to the trees, occasionally jumping and running
some distance across, as if to draw our fire, and
also to decoy us into a closer or an ambush fight.
" The valley which leads to the spring cannot be
more than 200 or 300 yards on either side, and in
front of which rise hills covered with pine timber.
M‘Lean's party operated about the middle of
this valley, and were not more than 150 yards from
either side. As Capt. M`Lean was aiming a shot at
an. Indian in front, some 300 yards distant, an In-
dian took deliherA e aim with a rifle at him. He
fired,brought down the Indian in front, andquickly
wheeled to get another cartridge. Just as he turned
the Indian fired, the ball entering the front of the
d
right breast, and, passing roundsome 21 inches,
came out, leaving a severe atunnning
2
painful but not fatal
wound. The shock was so much so that
it was several minutes before he could collect him-
self sufficiently to mount his horse, and, with the
assistance of two of his men, ride .to the waggon.
The engagement lasted about fifteen minutes As.
well as I could judge, and I sat on my horse imme-
diately in the midst of the attacking party, watch-
ing closelyeverything that passed, there were about
300 Indians on the ground, against whom were 26
of our men, including the 20 spies under Captain
Lucero, Captain M‘Lean, and myself. hink there
were eight or ten killed, and three or four wounded.
Four were taken prisoners, a number of ponies cap-
tured, blankets taken, and camp destroyed. The
attacking party lost nothing but a profuse dis-
charge of blood from. Capt. M‘Lean's wound.
" Thus has (Toned the campaign against the Na
vajoes. Capt. Mean did himself great credit in
the mode in which he made the attack. The sud-
den, determined, and active manner in which he
?wilted completely dumfounded the savages, and
inspired confidence and courage into the spies who
were. with him. He is a gallant soldier and an ele-
gant gentleman, in both of which characters I have
had an ample opportunity to observe him, and as
brave and.
insenspaw a-rualt_ As- ever smelt gunpowder—
.,4ixtels. eiteat• timid. be -fostered.