The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-27
Interesting from the Army.

Col. MAYS ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE
OF HIS REAR.GUARD-TRrAL OF LIEUT..
STURGEs, THE CoMMANDER OF THE
GUARD.
The New Orleans Delta publishes a
letter from Victoria, giving an account
Of the first days proceedings of the
court-martial convened for the trial of
Lieut.. Sturges, who was in command
Of the rear-guard Of Col. Mays COM
mand when it was captured by the
Mexicans. @a
The first charge was that of neglect
of duty, with an attendant specification
that the accused had, by his neglect,
lost men, horses, and pack-mules-to
all of which he pleaded ''not guilty.
Charge the second set forth that he
had disobeyed orders, and the specif-
cation said that he had separated him
self from his command during an attack
by the enemy to this hs also set up
the plea Of "not guilty. The first wit
ness called OH the part Of the prosecu-
ton was Lieut.. Col. May, and the fol-
lowing is the evidence Of thai gentle.
man, from which you will probably
gather more succinct account Of the
affair than if Otherwise obtained. Col.
May said:
"On the 26th day Of December,
846, in obedience to orders from head
quarters, marched from Monte Mo-
raIes, in command Of a squadron OF dra-
soons, for the purpose of protecting
Capt. Menard, Typographical engineer,
in reconnaissance. Before leaving Mo-
rales | was impressed by the command
er-in-chief, both in writing and verbal
ly, with the dangers Of the expedition,
and the great probability Of an encoun-
ter with the enemy before my return.
The command reached Sabador, after
having passed through many dangerous
and difficult defes, on the evening Of
the 9th, and remained there during the
night. 1t was necessary to remain
there the next morning, in order to
shoe some of the horses. From sud
den indications became satisfied that
before | could again rejoin headquar-
ters should meet with the enemy. OF
this Informed the officers al the COM
nand. Finding that every obstacle
was thrown in the way by the Mexi-
cans to prevent the shoeing Of the
horses, | left without being able to do
so. After we had proceeded four
miles from there, in the direction Of San
Pedro, we discovered large number
Of fresh horse-tracks in the road; and
short while after observed mounted
man on the mountain side, watching
our movements, whom we took to be a
spy. Before reaching San Pedro we
observed another. -..... .t.. %
"Arrived at San Pedro at or near
sunset, and remained there till morn
ing. Fit is proper to state here, that
at the time we discovered the horse
tracks, and the person we took to be
spy, | directed the adjutant (Lieut.
Wood to order Lieut.. Sturges to take
command OF the rear-guard, with in
structons to be vigilant and keep a
constant lookout to the rear. Lieut..
Campbell | ordered to remain with the
main body, in command, whilst J kept
with the advance guard. We march
ed from San Pedro on the 99th, and
soon after entered the pass Of Santa
Rosa. At this time sergeant and ten
men composed the rea:-guard. We
marched eight miles, and fonnd that the
pass in which we were proceeding was
constant succession of defies. Still
believing that we would meet the enc
my before we could get out Of the pass,
| ordered the adjutant to stop and get
on high rock, and wait for the rear TO
come up, as he could not get to it. and
order Lieut.. Sturges, when he came
up, to take command of the rear-guard,
and to be constantly on the alert.
also directed him TO detail particular
bugler, whom | named, to remain with
the rear-guard, TO sound the assembly |
in case Of attack or alarm. In case
Lieut.. Sturges was not in front Of the
squadron, he was to order the bugler to
halt till he came up. and advise him Of
my orders, as | wished the adjutant to
rejon me. In a short space Of time
the adjutant returned and informed me
that he had delivered his orders, in per-
son. TO Lieut.. Sturges. 1-3 a}
-"'rhe command had marched four or
FIVE miles from the time ] gave the or
der, when it became necessary TO dis
mount the men, as the rocks were so
bad that it was impossible TO ride a
horse over them. As we were passing
the most difficult defile we had yet en-
and over two-thirds of the
command had gotten through it, an at
tack was made by the enemy. ! was
in advance when the attack was made.