The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-06

1
of IN full gallop. repeated the command, and
thought saw all the men started when dashed
on myself When ! got about midway between
the bars and the huts, looked for Capt. L. and
saw him near the bars in front of the enemy. The
| enemy had possession Of the bars; and the next l
saw of Capt. L. he turned 10 the right and was
| skrting the interior Of the ehappara fence. BY the
| time got up to the place last mentioned, about
100 infantry had got INTO the field had formed into
| line perpendicular 10 the fence, and were shoot
ing at our men. The firing Of the infantry caused
| our horses TO shy, and the men broke OIL about
midway lat o. between the bars and the houses, and
| towards the fence.
"When the retreat commenced the men were in
complete state of disorder. The horses were made
frantic by the firing, which was continued by the
infantry and by the horsemen who were around the
chapparal fence. THIS field is enclosed by high
chspparal fence, wholly mpracticable for horse
man, and rests the river. Within this field there
were also three cross-fences, very difficult for
horse 10 Jump; the whole field comprising about
300 acres. The eross-lences ran perpendicular TO
the main fence, IN length about 10 yards and rest
ing upon morass situated between them and the
riyer The morass was very boggy.
"lmmedately after the retreaB the squadron fell
into the hands of the enemy 46 being taken prison.
ers. do not know the number we started with,
but believe il was between SO and 90. The road
through which we passed. in almost its entire length,
is perfect defle surrounded by thick chapparal on
each side, and narrow IN some places as 10 render
IL difficult for horseman TO pass.
Question by nudge Advocate. What precautions were
taken if any to prevent surprise, before the squad
ron passed the bars, and after
Wines. | do not know Of any.
Question BY Judge .aduOeais. Do you know If any
picket sentinel in advance Of the bars up the
ryei
Witness. | do not
Question by Judge Advocate. Where was your po-
siuon on entering the barsi
Winsss. Ia the rear.
Question by Judge .4droeats. Would you have
known If a sentinel or videtts had been thrown in
advance OF the baTsl
Witness. When | went in, might not have
known il, but certainly would have known after
wards, by his being driven in by the enemy, had
one been posted.
Question By Judge .4dUOeGis. Was guard or senu-
mel placed the bars to them after the squad
ron had entered the field?
Wines. No.
Question by Judge ADVOCATE State more particular
w the condition OF the squadron after II had entered
the plantation, in reference to batiIe-arrayl
UtintSs. As | have stated in my narrative, the
command was scattered about; some Of the men
looking in at the houses; some getting water from
the ryer or bayou. A small portion was dlsmount-
ed, how many do know. No part Of il was uni
ted to receive or repel an attack.
Question BY Judge .idDoeais. What lis the name Of
the place where this affair occurred!
WiinesS. | have heard il called Caraeiia IL il
about three miles below La ROEier where the enc
my crossed.
Question By Judge .4droeais. How long after the
squadron entered the plantation before it was at
tackled
Witness. About FIVE minutes after | got to the
houses.
Question by Judge ADVOCATE. What is the distance
between the bars and the housesi
Witness. About two hundred yards.
Question by Judge .4dpOcate. What was the force Of
the enemy
Witness. About 1000 men. l make this estimate,
as much from what | saw afterwards, as from what
| saw al the time Of attack.
Question by Judge AdpOeaie What was the dispo-
silion of the enemy's force, when the squadron
attacked, and Immediately thereafter
Witness. When first saw the enemy, horsemen
ard footmen were seen running peIl-mell for the
bars. When next saw them, they we're inside Of
he field, in line perpendicular TO the force, and
facing the road from the bars to the houses Horse
men surrounded the exterior fence, and fired upon
US, we were retreatng around il.
Question by Judge Advocate. Describe the manner
IN which the squadron passed the bars-whether in
order or otherwise.
Witness. 1t passed in single file, in a regular man.
ner
Question by Judge .4dpocaie Were there any indi-
cations of an enemy W hist the squadron was moving
around the paniation'
Witness. When we entered the chapparal, lat c.
there a slight rain sufficient to obliterate the
tracts we had made on the road and on coming out
| examined the road, and found that horseman
had passed up and down this road whilst we were
in the chapparal. This was suspicious, but do not
know that Capt. Thornton knew Of it. Some two or
three horsemen were seen in the field, but they
seemed more like peasants than soldiers.
Question by Judge .adpocate Have you any reason
to believe, that Capt Thornton suspected the exis-
tence Of the enemy near him, whilst skirting the
plantation
IFf,ns,. No o,ber re,oop tb,, ,yb,, 7 b,,o ,..
viousiy mentioned; that when he endeavored to pen
citrate the field by the rear he ordered me back to
my position, stating he did not know how soon it
would be before we were attacked-Capt T. how
ever, stated to me at Matamoros, since then, that
this was only precautionary measure; for, he did
not believe the enemy had crossed.
Question by Judge .4dpocate What ia the distance
from Fort Brown to Caracita, 30 called?
Witness. About % miles.
Question by Copi-Was the chappara SO thick
throughout the march to prevent fankers being
used at any time; and was there any advance or
rear guard at any time during the march,
Witness The country through which we passed
was thick as to render fankers impossible at any
time. From my position in the rear it was impos-
sible to see the advance guard, if there was one
There was no rear guard
Question by Court Was the command under Cap
tain Thornton "entirely cut off"
Waness. l do not know If any escaped except
Captain Thornton, who subsequently, taken
prisoner, and private of the name of James, who
was brought in two or three days afterwards.
The witness retired.
Second Lieutenant Z. X. Kane, Cd dragons, a
witness for the prosecution, having been duly
sworn, says:
| commanded the first platoon of Captain
Thornton's squadron on the 25th of April last, and
was with the squadron when il was attacked by the
Mexicans between 25 and 80 miles from Fort
Brown. This sketch (refcrring to the diagram)
conveys generally correct idea of the place Of at
tack.
Question by Judge Advocate In what order did the
squadron pass tho bars into the pantation and was
it in confusion, or otherwise
Witness. 1t passed the bars in single file, and in
good order.
Question by Judge .aduocaie. During the march of
the squadron from the camp of the army to Cara
cita what precautions were taken by the accused, if
any, to prevent surprsei
Witness. Previous to our leaving camp, there was
an advanced guard, under a non-commissioned Of
icer, about $50 yards in front. This, with direc-
tons to keep SILENT and to prevent the ngling Of