The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-06


two killed, Col s. c. Owens of Independence and law
yer by the name Of Kirkpatrick, of Lexington Mo-
There were wounded. The enemy lost 1853 killed
ON the field and 80 died next day. The battle was
fought near chihuahua, on the 2sth February An the
Americans prisoners at chihuahua, re-captured
except MagoEin, who is sent to Durango. Particulars
eo-""r'ow. Yours IN haste, ARGUS.
[From the Washington Union May4l
lay before readers very interesting series
OF dispatches which have been received at the War
Department The one embraces the letters which have
been brought by Lieut. Emory from Gen. Kearny, in
Caliiorna-explaining his route from Santa Fe to the
Colorado--hs first encounter with the Mexican troops
mis- Junction with Commodore Stockton's marines and
seae and Their Joint engagement with the hexicans
on the aud 9th of January-the defeat of the enc
my aud the arrival Of Gen. Kcarny and his troops at
This embraces the first series of dispatches The
Others are from Col Donphan at the head Of the Mis-
souri, volunteers They detail his first engagement near
the paso del Nortc, and his battle the Sacramento
and his subsequent capture of Chihuahua.
cALIFoRNIA-GENERAL KEARNYs LETTERS.
HEApQuARrERs, ARMY OF THE WEsr,
San Diego Upper California, December II, 1SlG
Sih:-As have previously reported to you, / left
Santa Fe New Mexco) for this country on the 25th
September with 800 Of the LIST dragons under Major
Sumner We crossed to the bank of the Del Norte at
Albuquerque (65 miles below Santa Fe) continued down
that bank till the 9th October when we met MIR kit
Carson with n party Of sixteen men, on his way to
Washington city, with mail and papers-an express
from Commodore Stockton and Lieut. Col Fremont re-
porting that the Cafornians already in possession
Of the Americans under their command; that the
American flag was flying from every important position
from Mexican control; the ended and peace and
harmony established among the people In consequence
OF this information directed that 200 dragons under
Major Sumner, should remain in New Mexico and that
the other 100 with two mountain howitzers under Capt
Moore, should accompany guard to Upper Cali
ornia With this guard we continued our march to the
South the right bank of the Del Norte to the dis
lance OF about 2so miles below Santa Fee when leaving
that river the 10th October in about the degree
OF latitude marched westward for the Copper mines
which reached the eighteenth the twentieth
reached the river ella, proceeded down the Gila
crossing and recrossing it often as Instructions in
our front rendered necessary; the 18th November
reached the Pimos village about miles from the set
Elements in Sonora. These Indians we found honest
and living comfortably, having made good crop this
year; we remained with them two days to rest our
men, recruit animals and obtain provisions On the
22d November, reached the mouth of the ella In lati-
tude about 30 degrees-our whole march on this river
having been nearly 500 miles and with but very little
exception between the 32d and sd parallels latitude
This river the Gila) particularly the northern
side is bounded nearly the whole distance by n range of
lofty mountains; and if tolerable wagon road to its
mouth from the Del Nore discovered it must be
ON the south SIDE Inc country destitute of timber,
producing but few cotton wood and mesquite trees and
though the soil the bottom lands generally good
yet we found but very little vegetation
sequence of the dryness of the climate the little rain
which falls here The Pimos Indians who make coed
crops Of wheat corn vegetables, &C. rrgate the land
by water from the Gila as did the Aztecs he former
inhabitants Of the country the remains whose Sc
quias or little canals seen by well the po-
ston of many Of their dwellings, and a large quantity
of broken pottery and earthenware used by them
We crossed the Colorado about 10 miles below the
mouth OF the Ciila and, marching near it about 30
miles further, turned off and crossed the descrt-a dis
lance of about go miles-without water grass.
On the ID December, reached Warmers rancho (Agua
CalentcO the frontier settlement in California on the
route leading to Sonora. On the 4th marched to Mr.
Stokess rancho (San Isabea and the 9TH were met
by small party Of volunteers, under Capt Cispie
sent out from San Diego, by Commodore Stockton to
give us what information they possessed the enemy
eSo or 700 CT whom are now said to be in arms in
the neid throughout the territory determined upon OBJ
posing the Americans and resisting their authority In
the country Encamped that night another rancho
lSan Maria) OF Mr. Stokes about 40 miles from San
Diego.
The journals and maps, kept and prepared by Captain
Johnston (my aid camp) and those by Lieut. Emory
Typographical engineers which will accompany or follow
this report will render anything further from this
subject unnecessary.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
J. w KEARNY, Brig Gen. U. s. A.
Brig Gen. X. JONES, Adjutant General, U. S. A.
HEApaUARrERs ARMY Of THE Wrsr)
San Diego, Upper California, Dec. IT, ls46 I
SrR-ln my communication to you of yesterdays date
brought the reports of the movements of guard up
to the morning Of the 5th inst, in camp rancho
Of Mr.. Stokes, (Santa Mara) about 40 miles from San
Diego.
Having learned from Capt Gillispe of the volunteers
that there was an armed party OF Californians with
number of extra horses San Pasqua three leagues
distant, a road leading this place sent Lieutenant
Hammond lst dragons, with few men, to make a re-
connossaDce of them He returnad at two in the morn
ing of the 9th inst reporting that he had found par
y in the place mentioned and that he had been seen
though not pursued by them then determined that
would march for and attack them by break Of day Ar
rangeme nts were accordingly made for tepurpose My
aidde-camp Capt Johnson Dragons, was assigned to
the command Of the advanced guard Of twelve dragons
mounted the best horses had then followed about
fifty dragons under Capt Moore mounted, with but
few exceptions the tired mules they had ridden from
Santa Fe, New Mexico $50 miles then about twenty
volunteers OF Captain Gibson's company under his
mand and that of Captain Gillespie; then followed
two mountain howitzers with dragons to manage them
and under the charge Of Lieut. Davidson of the reei.
ment The remainder of the dragons volunteers and
citizens, employed by the officers Of the staff
placed under the command Of Major Swords Quarter
mastery with orders to follow trail with the bag
gage and to see to its safety.
As the day December 81 dawned, we approached the
Dau..
when Captain johnson made afurous charge upon them
with his advance guard and in short time after
supported by the dragoons soon after which the enemy
way having kept up from the beginning continu-
ed fire upon us Upon the retreat of the enemy Captain
Moore led of rapidly in pursuit, accompanied by the
Dragons mounted on horses and followed though
slowly, by the others their tired mules the enemy
well mounted, and among the best horsemcn in the
world, after retreang about half mile, and seeing
interval between Captain Moore with his advance and
the dragons coming to his support rallied their whole
force charged with and their
greatly superior numbers but few Of in front
ed untouched for five minutes they held the ground
from us when our men coming up we again drove them
and they fled from the field not to return to (which
occupied and cncamped upon.
most melancholy duty remains for me 1t Is to
report the death of my addecamp Capt Johnson, who
shot dead at the commencement Of the action, of
Captain Moore who lanced just previous to the final
retreat of the enemy, and OF Lieut.. Hammond, also
lanced, and who survived but few hours We had also
killed ty ergeans two corp0rals, ana ten privates OF
the LIST agoons private OF the volunteers and one
man. engage in the Typographical department.
Among the wounded are myself lin two places) Lieut.
Warner typographical engineers lin three places) Cap
tains Glispc and Gibson Of the volunteers (the for
in three paces,) sergeant, one bugleman and
nine privates the dragoons many Of these surviving
from two to ten lance wounds most Of them when
horsed and incapable Of resistance
Our howitzcrs not brought into the action put
coming to the front at the close Of It, before they were
turned admit of being fred upon the retreatng
enemy the two mules before Of them got alarmed
and freeing themselves from their drivers ran OIL and
among the enemy, and were thus lost to us 49,
The enemy proved to be party Of about 100 Caior'
mans under Andreas Pco brother of the late governors
the number of their dead and wounded must have been
considerable, though have no means OF ascertaining
how many, just previous to their final eat they
carried of all excepting six
The great number of our killed and wounded proves
that officers and men have fully sustained the hgh
character and reputation of troops aud the vco
ry thus gained over than double our force may as
sist in forming the wreath of our national glory
Ihave return my thanks to many for their gaantry
and good conduct the field and particularly to Cap
tain Turner list dragons, assistant acting adJtant
generally and TO Lieut. Emory Typographical engineers
nctiye In the nernrmnnee Of their duties and