The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-12-12
The Battle of saltillO.

AMO DdGSAO VI 0uAtAAAVS
The 24th of October last, was the sixth an
niversary of the battle of Saltillo, a battle
which took place during the struggles of Tex
as for liberty. The New Orleans Bulletin
has been furnished with the following des-
cription of the battle, by Lancelot Abbots,
Of New Orleans, who participated in the
fight.
"That division of the Federal army which
was under the immediate command of Don
Juan Nepumoceno .Molano, was composed of
about 140 Mexicans and ia Texans and was
the first to cross the Rio Grande, Col Jordan
commanded the Texan portion of the division,
From Camargo they marched to China to Pilon-
to Linares, and other places in the route to Vic
toria the capital of the State of Tamaulipas.
There they remained one week during which
time the citizens pronounced in favor Of the
Federal cause. The officers Of The State gov
eminent were elected and new ones installed.
From Victoria they marched to Saltillo. On
the evening of the 22d October, they encamped
within six miles of that city and on the fol-
lowing morning took up the line Of march for
it. When within two miles of the city the
enemy was discovered about one mile distant,
formed in order for battle. A halt was COM
manded. A parley took place betweenG eneral
Montoya and Molano. They entered into
stipulations, and Molano returned, and inform
ed US that the stipulations were to the effect
that we should have possession of the city;
be supplied with six days rations and have
sixty thousand dollars raised to pay our men.
Montoya observed that it was necessary to
obtain the assent of the Government, then
in the town, and after waiting some time for
this, Molano and he again held a parley,
midway between the two armies. Molano ex-
pressed a desire to advance alone to hold the
parley but two officers insisted upon accom-
panying him. While the parley was going on
a party of the enemy advanced and took
Molano-asitwer by SURPRISE prisoner, but
subsequently it became known thathe had been
in correspondence for several months with
Arista, and all along designed betraying us
into the hands of the enemy. The two officers
who accompanied Molano escaped, and as the
advance of the cavalry was perceived the
Texans marched to the entrance of the Pass
Garcia which leads to Monterey. Here hey
dismounted, putting their horses in an enclos-
ure, and now the battle commenced.
The Federal Mexicans were to fight as ca
valry, for which purpose they separated from
the Texans, and went about two hundred yards
from them. Col. Lopez, who succeeded MoIa.
no in the command harrangued his men,-rep.
resented to them the folly of resistance, anc
invited them to Join the Centralists, and assisr
in killing the Texans. Lopez and two othel
officers were all that went over to the ranks o.
the enemy-they were fred upon by their men
which was returned by a volley of musketr,
from the enemy. Thus betrayed and deserted
by their officers, they instantly wheeled AM
fled in disorder, leaving the one hundred an,
ten Texans to maintain the unequal comba
: against one thousand and FIVE hundred of tn
enemy, which they did until night put an en-,
to the conflict. The enemy had two pieces o
ordnance-the Texans none. Twice did tn
Mexicans charge, and twice were they repuls
ed.
AT night the Texans commenced a retreat
Alter crossing a mountain, a halt was ordere
for those in the rear to come up. At this mo
ment tho cavalry Of the enemy, which ha
been sent round the mountain to cut off GU
retreat, blew a charge, Col. Jordan erie
aloud, Shalt! and return their fire. Fire q
the fash of their guns. Shoot low.n In te
minutes they we've routed. Not less than fou
hundred and ten of the enemy were left dea
on the field, in which number was include
their commander, Senior Vasquez, and nearl
one hundred MORALLY wounded. The Texa
: loss was small.
1--WE then resumed our retreat, and made
! good, notwithstanding that we traversed thre
hundred miles of the enemy's country; althc
! BY the treachery Of Molano, every preparatio
had been made to cut us off. The retreat I
the Rio Grande was made in seven DAYS; an
it was the rapidity of our marching lover fort
. miles a day. that bafled the schemes for GU
= destruclion.'
d The Secret Art of subduing wild HoI
n SEES and other Wild Animals.