Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-03-18
Battle Of BrazitO, New MexicO-.-ClOrio,,
lictOry!!

Battle Of BrazitO, New MexicO---Clorio,,
Victory!
On the 25th Of December, the Mexican, ma, Il.
forces under the command Of Col. Douinb.n wv
one hundred men, comprising part Of Mai Cja,t.
Battalion, under the command Of Lieut. Col
Mitchell, Of the I'd Regiment, twenty-five nI''
this side Of III Paso. Col Doniphans comm,
was only six hundred, while thar Of the Ms,,s..
was twelve hundred
The following is the substance Of a letter Go.
Col Donphan;
Col. d. states that he has met the enemy -,
conquered, and is going on 10 take II Paso n.
further states that the enemy attacked hm via.
his men were in great confusion, but they w.,'
tailed together Immediately, aud drawn % 4, n.
fintry, and received three fires from the en,n,
when the whole line opened broadsde. ,sb.,
with great effect and breaking the entire line y
the enemy. Capt. Reid made gallant eharge 4
ter the third fire, with sixteen mounted men ma
in his attack killed several Of the enemy. On.
mule load Of powder and several horses and mol,
we're captured. Most Of the Mexicans who v,,,
killed were shot in the head, an evidence ,br ~,
men shoot too high. The battle lasted about lv,,.
ty-lour minutes There was only about us,,
minutes 10 prepare from the time the enemy n.
discovered
Thomas Forsyth, who brought the expires, ,,u
that the Americans had glorious Christmas lfs,
on the liquor, bread aud wine which they captured
DETACHMENT or Mo LiGnr ARTultpy
Camp Jeiov BrGzitO. Rio Grande, Dec 20. IslG
Dean STR III can only write TO you few lss
being on the point Of breaking up camp One d.
tachment al Fra Chfstobal, overlook Col. Don.
phans command Major Gilpin, with $50 men
had previously LEFT for Fl Paso, and Col. Jacks,
was following him with 900 men. Col Doniph,,
had but $50 men with him. the remainder Of N
regiment being sick, attending on the sick, ed
scattered about the country. From Fra Chnge
bal, one detachment marched with Col Donphu
south, when al the Lsguna Of the Tornado del Ma.
to, news reached Us through an express, seul u
Major Gilpin, that the Mexcans had determined
resist at III Paso and had collected a consdefsis
+ number Of troops. intending TO give US battle A
, express had been sent 10 Santa Fe for part Of d,
/. artillery under Major CLARK, but no news bad,
yet reached Us from there, 50 that the deiaehmea
cfihiry men from three companies Of our corps, 80.
all that are here from the battalion At The soua.
ern end Of the Tornado, ten miles north Of Donib
the traders had encsmped Contradictory runsi
, oflhe enemy's approach reached Us daily Ye.ls.
day, (Chfistmss day. when we had Just arrived d
camp here, with about FIVE hundred men, had un
saddled our animals, and most Of the men Herets
gagged in carrying wood and water, the neus va
brought into camp, Of the enemys being in sgt
: and advancing II was about lgo O'Clock, P N,
aud The day was very pleasant. Dor horses graz
. ing some distance from camp al the time we fora.
ed single line, determined TO meet The enemy
, infantry. Their attack being evidently designed
) on the LEFT flank. near which was our wagon uin
one detachment was ordered from the eIlrens
right to the left, where we soon took up our pos
ton. One piece Of artillery, 500 regular lanea
aud cavalry, and one hundred regular infantry Il
sides some FIVE hundred militia troops from FL Pas
. composed the enemy's force, according 10 the Is
information can obtain. The enemy had ran.A
themselves on the east, within half mile Of OF
' line, the mountains in their rear. In our rear vs.
: : the river, with little brushwood on its banks
D Previous TO the encounter, Lieutenant ron
. their ranks came forward. waving black flag IA
his hand, but hailed when within one hundred steps
. of our line. Thomas Caldwell, our nierprsie',
rode out TO meet him. The messenger with the
black flag Of defiance, demanded that Ibe Comman'
der should come into their camp and speak 10 hsr
General. The reply was, " II your General wants
= 10 see our Commander, let him come here" we
shall break your ranks, then, and take him there,
was the relort Of the Mexican. "Come and taAs
: him." said our interpreter, unwiitingly using 'he
+ phrase Of the Spartans At ThermopyG A euis'
: on you, prepare for a charge" cried the MeAleaA
1--WE give no quarters and ask none, and wa'Inl
his black flag gracefully over his head, gallop''
: back towards the enemy's line. Their charge w
made by the dragons from their right, directed 2
b on our left flank, bringing one detachment 'nlo u
closest hre-their infantry, with one howllzer VIII
them, at the same time attacking our righl ha0A
Their charge was handsome one, but was 70
, well aud too coolly met 10 break our line AaS
their fire had been spent, their front column pep.
\ at about one hundred steps from the front OIL Oa
: flank, our line poured voley into them, whl''
being few times repeated created such na'''
in their columns, that their forces wheeled % Us
leli, reireating from our fire, and in Their hgA
made an attack on the provision train. Here lns
, met very warm reception, and were soon eonpe'
ed 10 fly in all directions and in the utmost eOa'
! sion. Their infantry had been put to flight eva
\ before, and the Howard County company, uHds
/; the command Of Lieut.. N. Wright, taking ad''i'
' age Of their position, on the rout OF the en.n'
4 charged upon them and took their cannon 40
q them this was soon manned by the ARTILLERY G
tachment in Col Mitchelrs escort. The ensfl
had by this time fed. leaving their arms, Pf'''
! ions, and other stores, on the field Of battle.
: small body Of mounted men, under the con-
0 mand Of Capt Reid, had by this tine gathered v
gether in line and charged upon the enemy pI,
suing them into the mountains, where they 'ous-
5 refuge. The number of their dead is sad 70 y
4 thnty-thai OF the wounded was sight, as IA
asceriained. We lost not a single man, ana Y"
but seven slightly wounded-we took eight P ~.
. ers, six Of whom died last night. Thus ended "
battle Of the Brazito, the FIRST baIle Of the A@ls
s the West, and as bravely fought by our men >
ever men fought in any engagement.
/. more in Store for us. C. II. KRIBDN
CAPTURE OF Ell PAso-Mr Coons el' Paw aD,
/. Fe on the 18th of January. AT that time nonns