Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-13
VERT LATE AND IMPORTANT FRom
SANTA FE.

8hNTA FBs
Battle Of Briciso-- The Americsns vscsorioxs
- Another Probable Battle at .Chihxohuo--
FmN Accounts.
The ST Louis papers, o; the oSth. which
came to hand yesterday, bring us accounts
Of the battle near El Pssso between the Mh.
s'uiisos and the Mexicans. Thess accounts
confirm the reports previously received By way
Of Mexico, except in the exaQgers,ion OF the
loss Of men. The Americans, with Q great 10
ferior force. without loss. defeated the Mexi.
csns, who had thirty killed in the engagement.
The 6sht occurred on Christmas day.
INDEPENDENCE, Feb. i6. l947.
Dear Sir ITO day another company arrived
from the plains, bringing Santa Fe datcs as
late a. January 9Th.
The news which sent you yesterday L. coo.
6rtned in slmost every particular. and enclose
you an official report Of the battle. printed In
Santa E'e and sent me BY friend.
Yours, &c. r.
On the 25th Of December. ls48, the Mexican
forces from the city Of chihuahua. (about elev.
On hundred in number.) met the United States
forces under command Of Col. A. w. Doniphsn.
consisting Of six hundred men, 500 Of them 30.
ing o: his own troops, the let Regiment Of nj
NJ Volunteers, and detachment Of lUO men
- s~~... r. nrdc- command of Lieut. Col
men from Maj C'ark's Battalion of Light Artil.
lery, under command of Capt Hudsoo and Lieu,
Kribben. and 20 men from Col Prices Regi.
reent and Col Willeck's Battalion. 25 miles this
eide of Ell Passo.
The following 10 the substance of letter
f,um Col Donipban.1
Col ID states that hc has met the enemy and
conquered. and is going on to take the E Passo
He further states that the enemy attacked him
when bis men were ia great Confusion. but they
were called together Immediately and drawn
up ns infantry, and received three fires from the
enemy. when the whole line opened q broad.
eide. telling with great effect, snd breaking the
entire line Of the enemy
Captain Reid made gallant charge after the
third fire. with sixteen mounted men, and in his
attack killed several o. the enemy. One mule
load ofpowcer and several mules were captured.
Most of the Mexicans who were killed were shot
in the head, all evidence that our men shoot too
high. The battle lasted about half an hour.
There wns only about twenty minutes to pre-.
Thos. Forsyth. who brought the Express, ssyr
'ha, the Americans had glorious Christmas
froic on the liquor, bread and wine which they
captured.
We are under the greatest obligations TO Ma.
jor Clark for The following report from Lieut.
krbben, giving true and correct account, and
the full particulars of the battle:--
DETACHMENT OF Missouri LreHr ARTILLERY. I
Camp below Braci!e, Rio Grande, Dec. 2e, AZ (
Dear Sir--I can only write to you few
lines, being upon the point of break ing up camp
Our detachment ot Fray Cris'oba overlook Col
Doniphans comnand Msjor GlIpin. with two
hundred aud fifty rnen. had previously left for
FL PGsso. and Col Jackson was following with
two hundred men. Col Donphan had bu, one
hundred and fity men with him, the remainder
of his regiment being sick. attending on sick.
and detached through the country. From Fray
Cris,obal, our detachment marched with Col
DOM phan south, when at the Laouna Of the
JornsJa del Muerte, news reached Us through
an express sent by Maj Gilpin that the Mexi.
cans had determined to resist at E. Passo, and
had collected a considerable number of troops.
intending 10 give us battle. An express had
been sent to Santa Fe for part Of the Artillery
under Major Clsrk but no news had as yet
reached us from there, so that the detachment
oi thirty men from the three companies Of our
troops are nll that are here from the battalion |
Al the southern end of the Jornsd,,, ten miles |
north of DON Ana, the traders are rncamped |
Contradictory rumors of the enemy's approach
reach Us daily.
Yesterday. (Chratmns tay) when we had !
just arrs ed in camp here. with a5ou, 600 men, |
bad unsaddrd our animals, and most of the men |
were engaged in carrying wood and water. the |
news was brought intn camp of the enemy's !
being ~ si.h, and Advancing. II was sbout ? !
O'Clock. P. 81, snj tho day was very plcasani.
Oar hors'e we're Erazrg some distance from
toe camp 3; the time. ~e formed a single line |
and determined 10 meet tHe enemy as infantry. |
Their attacking being evidently designed on /
;he lett flank, near which was our wagon train.
our detachment was ordered from the extreme |
right to the left, where we soon took up our po-
stion.
One piece OF artillery. 400 regular laneers
and cavsiry, and 100 regular infantry, besides !
some $40 militia troops from FL Pusso composed |
the enemy's force, according to the best infor.