Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-07

ti'y wards IN hot pursuit with canister and grape,
which brought him TO a halt, aud soon cOmpcll-
ed him to lall back. Ia this tremendous contest
we lost three pieces Of artillery, nearly all the
men and horses having been killed or crippled,
which put II out Of our power to bring them off,
nor did | deem il advisable To attempt 10 regain
/ them.
The enemy made his principal efforts against
our llanks. He was handsomely repulsedin every
attempt on our right, but succeeded early in the
day in gaining our left in consequence Of the CIV
ing way Of one of the vounteerregimenIs, which
could not be rallied with but few exceptions, the
greater portion retiring ubout a mile 10 large
anchero or farm house, where our wagons aud
a portion of our sior,s were left. These were
soon after attacked by the enemy's cavalry, who
were repulscd with some loss.
/ For several hours the fate Of the day was ex-
Wcmcly doubtful, so much so that was urged
/ by some of the most experienced officers 20 fall
back, and take up new position. This knew
il would never do TO attempt with volunteers, and
at once declined il. The scene now had become
one of The deepest interest Between the several
deep ravnes there were portions Of level land
/ from one to four hundred yards in extent, which
became alternately points of attack and defence,
after our left was turned, by both sides. These
extended along and near the base Of the noun
Iains for about two miles, and the struggle for
them may be very appropriately compared to a
game Of chess. Night put stop to the contest,
and, strange TO say, both armies occupied the
same positions they did in the morning before
the battle commenced. Our artillery did more
than wonders. We lay on our arms all night.
as We bad done the two previous ones, without
fires, there being no wood to be had, and the
mercury below the freezing point, ready and ex
peclng to renew the contest the next morning.
but we found at daylight the enemy had retreat
ed during the night, leaving his killed and many
of his wounded ior us TO bury and take care Of
carrying of every thing else, and taking up
position at this place. We did not think it advi-
sable to pursue, not knowing whether they would
renew the attack, continue his rercat or wished
10 draw us from our strong position; but we con-
tented ourselves with watching his movements
closely.
Finding, on the 26lh, he had renewed his re-
treat early in the morning of the 9Th the army
was put in motion for this place where we arriv-
ed about O'Clock =. M.-rheir rear guard con-
sising Of cavalry, leaving as our advance got in
sight. at once determined on harassing his
rear; but on examining the state Of men aud
horses, found that five days and nights march
: ing, incessant watching, and sixteen hours hard
fighting, had so exhausted The first and broken
down the latter, it was next tC impossible to ac-
!. compIlsh any thing without rest. We remained
quiet here until the Cd inst, when pushed
command on the San Luis road to a large planta-
ton called Encarnacion, where we found be-
tween two and three hundred wounded in the
most wrcrched condition, besides those they car
riod with them and left here and on the field
Here we took about ten prisoners, the man
part of the army having proceeded on in the
direction of San Luis in very disorgonIzcd con-
dition.
! Oh the 22d the enemy threw in our rear,
through the passes of the mountains, 1000 cava-
ry, aud early in the morning of the next day,
the 2jd, made demonstrations against Saltillo,
and throughout the day. They succeeded at
one time in cutting Off the communication be-
tween the city and battle ground, and taking
several prisoners, but was driven away by the
officer commanding in the city, with two pieces
ororlcry, covered by about sixty men. They,
however. whilo in possession Of the road, pre-
vented good many from running off to the city,
to which place about 200 of our men had sue
cocdcd in gorling previously to the cavalry oc-
cupyng the road-thcy, the runaways, report
ed that our army was beaten aud in full retreat.
The loss on both sides was very great as you
may suppose--enough so on our side to cover the
whole country with mourning, for among the
nobcsl and purest of the land have fallen. We
had $40 killed aud 500 wounded. The enemy
has suffered IN still greater numbers, but us the
| dead and wounded are scattered all over the
country, il is difficult TO ascertain their number.
| The prisoners who have fallen into our hands,
! (betwccn 200 and 3U0--enough to exchange for
all who have been taken from us,) as well as
some medical officers left behind to take care of
the wounded. say their killed aud wounded is
NOT less than fifteen hundred, and they say per-
hOps more.
hope the greater portion of the good people
Of the country will be satisfied with what we
have done ON this occasion. | natter myself
that our compelling Mexican army of more
than 10000 men, completely organized and led
| by their Chief Magistrate, to retreat, with less
than 500 regulars and about 1000 volunteers,
will meet their approval. | had not single
company of regular inlanwyi the whole was la
ken from me.
was truly grarifcd to observe that the Chief
Magistrate of your State had conferred on YOU
the rank of brlgNdcr general IN the militia, and
had hoped the President of the United States
would have called you into service as such with
the new regiments, and hope he may yet do so,
us need hardly repeat the pleasure it would
give to me to be associated with you in carry
ing on this var. The road to the city of Mex
co from here is now open. and we only want a
few thousand of good regulars, in addition to the
volunteers, to enable us to reach that place.
{ What effect our lalo battle will have on Santa
Anna aud the Mexican Congress, lmo must dc.
tcrmInc; but | sincerely hope it will lead to
peace. One thing is corlun, their principal
army has become demolished, and it will be
very difficult for them to raise and equip an.
other.
! | repretted 10 hear your crop Of suuar was n