Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-23

PEELED nm TO fall back. In tnlS tIeHehu'
contest we lost three pieces OF artillery near,
ly all the men and horses having Deen kliieu
or crippled, which put it out our power 10
bring them off; nor did deem 1t advisable 10
attempt to regain them.
The enemy made his principal efforts against
our tanks. He was handsomely repulsed in
every attempt on our right, but succeeded ear
" in the day in gaining our left in conse-
6uence of the giving way of one of the volun-
teer regiments which could not be rallied with
but few exceptions, the greater portion retir-
ing about mile to a large rancho or farm
house, where our wagons and portion of our
stores were left These were soon after at
tackled by the enemy's cavalry, who were re-
pulsed with some loss.
For several hours the fate Of the day was
extremely doubtful, so much so that was ur-
ged by some of the most experienced officers
to fall back and take up a new position. MS
| knew it would never do TO attempt with vol
unteers, and at once declined it. The scene
now became one of the deepest interest. Be
tween the several deep raylnes there were por-
tons OF level land fIom one to four hundred
wards 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 mountain for about
two miles, and the struggle for them may be
very appropriately compared to 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 had done the two previous ones, without
fires, there being no wood to be had, and the
mercury below the freezing point, ready anC
expecting to renew the contest the next morn
ing; but we found at daylight the enemy had
rctreated during the night, leaving his killed
and many of his wounded, for us to bury anC
take care of-carrying off every thing else
and taking up position at this place. We
did not think it advisable to pursue, not know.
ing whether he would renew the attack, con
tinue his retreat, or wished to draw rs from
our strong position but contented ourselvc:
with watching his movements closely. Find
ing, on the Goth, he had renewed his retreat
early in the morning OF the 9th, the army
was put in motion for this place, where W.
arrived about 3 o'clock, p. m.-their rea
guard, consisting of cavalry, leaving as on
advance got in sight. | at once determined
on harrassing his rear; but on examining thu
state of the men and horses, found that five
days and nights marching, incessant watching
and sixteen hours hard fighting, had so ex
hausted the first and broken down the latter
it was next to impossible to accomplish an,
thing without rest. We remained quiet herr
until the I'd inst, when pushed a commant
on the San Luis road to large plantation
called Incarnation, where we found between
two and three hundred wounded, in the mos
wretched condition, besides those they carried
with them and left here and on the field
Here we took about ten prisoners, the mail
part of their army having proceeded on in thu
direction of San Luis, in very disorganizeC
condition.
On the 22d, the enemy threw in our rear
through the passes of the mountains, 1900
cavalry, and early in the morning of the mex
day, 23d, made demonstrations against Saltil
10 and throughout the day. They succeeded
at one time in cutting off the communication
between the city and the battle ground, ant
making several prisoners, but were driven a
way by the officer commanding in the city
with two pieces OF artillery, covered by abou
sixty men. They, however, while in posses
sion of the road, prevented good many from
running off to the city, to which place abou
200 of our men had succeeded in getting pre-
viously to the cavalry occupying the road
they, the runaWays, reporting that our army
was beaten and in full retreat.
The loss on both sides was very great, a
you may suppose-enough so on ours to Gov
er the whole country with mourning, for a
mong the noblest and purest of the land hav
fallen. We had 24O killed and 500 wounded
The enemy has suffered in still greater nun
hers, but as the dead and wounded are scatter
ed all over the country, it is difficult to ascer
tain the number. The prisoners who hav
fallen into our hands, between 200 and 300
enough to exchange for all who have been ia
ken from us,) as well as some medical officer
| left behind to take care of the wounded, sa
| their killed and wounded snot less than 1906
and they say perhaps more.
hope the greater portion OF the good pee
pie of the country wilt be satisfied with wh5
we have done on this occasion. | flatter my
self that our compelling Mexican army {
more than 10000 men, completely organized
and led by their Chief Magistrate, to retrea
with less than 500 regulars and about 400
volunteers, will meet their approval. | ha
not a single company of regular infantry, tn
whole was taken from me.
| was truly gratifed to observe that til
Chief Magistrate of your State had conferre
on you the rank of brigadier general in til
militia, and had hoped the President of II
United States would have called you into Sc
vice as such with the new regiments, and hoI
he may yet do so, as need hardly repeat II
pleasure it would give me to be associate
with you in carrying on this war. The roe
to the city of Mexico from here is now ope
and we only want a few thousand of GOO
regulars, in addition to the volunteers, to en-;
Bile us to reach that place What effect OF
late battle will have on Santa Anna and Il
Mexican Congress, time must determine; b.
| sincerely hope it will lead to peace. Or
thing is certain, their principal army has b
come demolished, and it will be very diffcu
for them to raise and equip another.
[ regretted to hear your crop of sugar w;
a short one, but sincerely hope, as the failu
of the crop was general, that the high pric
obtained will fully make up for quantity.
| much fear | have spun out this long, al
to YOU uninteresting epstle, beyond your p
the consolation to know you are not compe
led to read the whole or any part Of it. Nv
conclude by desiring you to present me mo
respectfully to your excellent lady, as we'll
to my friend Col. Nicholas, and accept II
sincere wishes for the continued health al
prosperity of you and yours thro' long lii
With respect and esteem, your friend,
Z. TAYLOR.
Gen. E. G. w. BUTLER, Louisiana.
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: MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.-Messrs. HALEY
LLOYD, Agents for the Magnetic TelegraI
Company, have been on avisit to us the pre-
ent week, and have met with success, in t