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

mento
The Mexcans report your late battle having been
entirely favorable to themselves but taking 1t for grant
ed they never report the truth have fired salute for
our victory in honor Of yourself and Gen Taylor pre-
Stunning, from report, you were both present
very respectfully, your obedent servant,
A. w. DONIPHAN,
CO., Comdg LIST Reg Missouri Mounted Vols
should the horses mules of those bearing this
press IAN or prove unit TO return upon have to
quest that they may be supplied by the with
4. W. poNIpHAN
W. Colonel lst Reg Missouri Vols
Battle Of Sacramento Defeat of the Enemv-Capture
of Chihuahria
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY CHiHuAnuA.
City of chihuahua. March ith, ls47
, have the honor to report to you the movements of
the army under my command since my last official re-
port.
tho evening of the sth of February 1917 We left
the town of FL Paso del Nortc escortng the merchant
train or caravan of about 35 wagons for the city of
chihuahua. Our force consisted of e24 effective men
III officers and privates Of the artillery % of Lieut.
Col Mitchels escort and the remainder tho LIST reg
ment Missouri mounted volunteers We progressed In
the direction OF this place until the 25th when
informed by our spies that the enemy to the number
1000 men, at Inseneas the country of Cover
nor Irias, about % miles in advance.
When arrived the evening of the 26th near that
point found that the force had retreated drec
ton oil TINS city On the evening ofthe 27th arrived
Sans aud learned from spies that the enemy in great
ioree had fortified the pass of the Sacramento river
about nfteen miles in advance, about dis
lance from this city were also informed that there
was no water between the point we were at and that
occupied by the enemy therefore determined to halt
until morning At sunrise the 29th, the last
February took the line of march and formed the
whole train, consisting of 3l5 heavy traders wagons
ana our commlssary and company wagons, into four
columns thus shortening line as to make il more
easily protected. We placed the artillery and all the
command except 200 cavalry proper in the intervals
between the columns of wagons. We thus fully con
ceaied our force and its position by masking
force with the cavalry When we arrived within three
miles OF the enemy, we made reconnaissance of his
position and the arrangement of his forces This we
could easily do-the road leading through an open
he tha ta,,,
OF the Sacramento is formed by point of the noun
tains on eur right their left extending into valley
half miles On left was deep dry sandy channel of
creek, and between these points the plain rises to
sixty feet abruptly This rise is in the form of crescent
the convex part being to the north of forces On the
right from the point Of mountains narrow part of the
plain extends north ~ miles further than on the left
The main road down the centre of the valley
across the crescent, the left dry branch The
rises in the mountains the right and the
ROAD ias on TO about one mile below the le-ed
or cntrenchment of the enemy. We ascertained that
the enemy had battery Of guns, nine pound
ers ON the point of the mountain right ther lefty
at good elevation to sweep the plain and the point
where the mountains extended furhest into the plain
On left heir rght they had another battery on an
elevation commanding the road and three emf repch
mens of two six Founders apd the brow the cres
cent the centre another of two six and two four and
SIX cuverins, or rampant pieces mounted carriages
and on the crest of the hill between the
ries and the right and left they had 81 redoubts dug
and thrown up extending at short intervals
whole ground In these their infantry placed and
were entirely protected Their cavalry drawn up
=
front of the redoubts deep as to mask them as far
as practicable When had arrived within ~ miles
Of the entertainments along the main road advanced
the cavalry still further, and suddenly dverged with
columns to the right to gain the narrow part of
the ascent on our right which the enemy discovering,
endeayored to prevent by moving forward with ca
valry and 4pieces of in their masked by
them. Ourmovements were rapid that we gained the
elevation with forces and the advance of wagons
in time to form before they arrived wit reach Of our
gans The enemy halted and we advanced the head of
column within 200 yards them so as to let our
highlands as efo
We now commenced the faction by brisk fire from
also; our fires proved effective ut this distance killing
men, woundiDg and disabling of the enemys guns
We had two men slightly wounded and several horses
and mules killed The enemy then slowly reiterated be-
hind their works in confusion and we resumed our
march in former order, still diverging to the
their strongest redoubts, which the left near
where the passes After as we safely
on our right Captain weghtman, Of the artillery was
ordered to charge with the two l2pound howtzer
supported by tho cavalry under Capts Reid Parsons and
Hudson. The howitzers charged at speed, and were
calamity sustained by Capt Reid but by msunder-
standing, my order not given to the other COM
panies Captain Hudson, anticipating my order charged
in time to give ample support to the howtzers Captain
Parsons, at the same moment came to me and asked
permission for his company charge the mme
diately the left of Captain Weightman which he did
very calamity The remainder of the two battaions of
the first regiment dismounted du ring the cavalry
charge and following rapidly foot, and Major Clarke
advancing fast practicable with the remainder of
the battery charged their redoubts from right to
Clarke opened rapid and well directed fire column
OF cavalry attempting to pass to left attack
the wagons and our rear The fire well directed
to force them to fall back; and rhemen with the
cavalry and howtzers, cleared after obstinate resist
redoubts and attacked them with ther.sabres when
the redoubs cleared and the batteries in the centre
and our left were silenced, the main battery
right still continued to pour in constant and heavy
fire, it had done during the heat of the
but the whole fate of the battle depended upon
ing the redoubts and centre battery this on the
right remained unattached and the enemy had rallied
there FIVE hundred strong.
Major Clark directed to commence n heavy fire
upon it, while Iieuts Col Mitchell and Jackson CON-
handing the LIST battalion ordered to remount and
charge the battery the left, while Major Gpin was
directed to pass the ID battalion foot up the rough
ascent of the mountain the opposite side The fire
battery effective completely silence
theirs and the rapid advance Of column put them
to flight to the mountains in great confusion
Capt. Thompson of the LIST dragons acted my aid
and adviser the field during the whole engagement
and of the most essential service to Also Lieut.
Wooster, Of the United States army who acted very
cooly and calamity. Major Campbell of Springfield
Missouri also acted volunteer aid during part of
the time but left and joined Captain Reid in his gal
liant charge Thus ended the battle of Sacramento The
Of the enemy 200 cavalry from Durango and
chihuahua with the Vera cruz draSoons 300 infantrv
from chihuahua 300 artierists and ,42O rancheros
badly armed with lassos lances and macheoes
knives, ten pieces OF artillery nine, eight six and
four FOUNDERS and six cuve rims, rampant pieces
Their forces were commanded by Major Gen. Hcndca
general of Durango, chihuahua, Sonora, and New
Mexico Brig Gen. Jastmani, Brig Gen. Garcia Condo
formerly minister of for the republic of Mexico
who Is scientific man and planned this whole field of
defence; Gen Uguerte and Governor Trias who acted
Brigadier General on the field and colonies and
other officers without number.
Our force effective men; at least one hundred
Of whom were engaged in holding horses and driving
teams
The loss of the enemy was his entire artillery, 10 wag
ons masses OF beans and pinoa and other Mexican
Visions about three hundred killed and about the
number wounded, many Of whom have since die d. and
forty prisoners.
The field was literally covered with the dead and
wounded from artillery and the uncrrng fire of our
rhemen Night put stop to the carnage, the battle
having commenced about three o'clock Our loss was
one killed mortaly wounded and seven so wounded
as to without any loss of limbs cannot speak
too highly Of the GOODNESS gaantry and bravery OF the
officers and men under my command.
was ably sustained by the field officers Lieut. Co.'s |
Mitchell and Jackson of the first battalion and Major
Gipin Of the I'd battalion and Major Clark and his ar
cry acted nobly and did the most effective service in
every part the Held IL IL abundanty shown In the
charge made by Captain Weghtman with the section Of
howitzers they be used in charge of cava
ry with great effect Much has been said, and justly