The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-01

passing Within our range. had expended about soe
| rounds Of ammunition for each gun.
About sunset withdrew my battery into the raYjpe
from which could readily move to any assasbe psint
Here COMMUNICATIONS and on the alert and
horses in harness At Dwight the next morning the
minute examination of the aed showed the awful de-
before but which now fully accounted for ms move
ment.
am respectfully kK 1uy TssSi SRxGa
Capt Sd Art y, commanding light Co T..
To Mai W. w. S. Bliss, Asst Adjt General, Army oi
Occupation
Lieut.. Showers Despatch.
CAMr Aqua NuEvA, MEXICO
sR:-By your direction have the honor to report my
operations with piece Of artillery from tho battery
22d and 23d February, 1917
en- the morning Of the a2d was left at the camp near
sato with piece of artillery Is pounder to assist
ia protecting the camp. Two companies of Mississippi
rfemen left in camp for its defence. During the
the were so placed AS to form barr
cade part of the camp the front being protected by
my gun and the two companies Of rihemen with cross
fire in front from the fort.
On the morning of the 23d the general gave drec
lions to watch the motions of large body Of the enemys
cavalry in the plain below saltlo; If they camp up
upon the plain above the city and attacked the camp to
defend it to the last extremity
Soon after the general left for the lines beyond Buena
Vista discovered small parties of the enemy coming up
from the lower plain and climbing high into the noun
ains to the left of the road evidently to overlook the
"PPsN p''A "'~ ~"Ss.' "s
Just at this time two heavy squadrons of the enemys
and above Arispas Mills They advanced rapidly to-
wards the road and halted it, to DO just out
Of the reach Of my gun and those at the fort fred
two shots but without effect In this position they
picked few stragglers AS the runaways from the
have to make desperate stand to defend the camp
deemed 1t impossible at that moment to attack them
the open plain had my gun ready horses hsrnessed
watched with glass, from elevated position and
saw that our troops not all routed and that from
the direction in which our cannon firing that
thing going well in lines The lookouts in the
mountains had evidently communicated by signals with
the enemy in the plain below the city early in the
afternoon the whole body Of the eneys cavalry (most
ly lancers) came upon the plain in vast column.
they halted in column behind the advanced squadrons
near the road Captain Webster from the fort, fred
some shells at Them but without effect as the distance
After remaining short time in this position they
wheeedinto line and moved of towards the mountain,
and obliquey towards Buena Vista saw this was the
time to attack them believing that could drive them
from the plain else bring them down charge upon
position, where knew perfectly WELL with two com.
and then rout them Thus my first intention to ad
rapidly upon them, and fro. and retire to camp
If they attempted charge with their whole force
Accordingly advanced at rapid gallon, with sin,
gle piece in an plain, upon from fifteen hundred
to two thousand cavalry, mostly ancers By the time
was within striking distance the whole column was in
motion towards the lower plain halted and fred
upon them, halted, and fred few unds In rapid
cession, producing some confusion at least in their
teamsters &c., something like s hundred had gathered
about gun, mounted in all sorts of STYLE and armed
some with swords, some with pistols some with muskets
rifles, double barreed guns &c. and all yelling tremen
dously, but without any order or organization
again advanced and fred several rounds when dis
covered that Captain Webster had started piece to my
support. About this time found getting rather
too far from camp to retreat if the enemy made rapid
charge, thus placing myself and command in imminent
danger unless observed great caution. discovered
that the head ofthe enemys column was far advanced
along the foot of the mountains and in consequence
could
ance of the rear again advanced with confidence, be-
When within good range Of the foot of the mountain
nearly all the enemy had passed into the ravnes and
behind small hill in my front Suddenly discovered
suspected at that there large force drawn
under of the hill to charge upon my gun the
moment should come upon the hill, thus being within
two or three hundred yards of them advanced alone
at full galop several hundred yards, when suddenly
ready for the charge. gaoped back, moved my piece
to the right to commanding position and fred single
by accident the pole of the timber bro
ken Immediately caused the timber of the caisson to
tivty replaced it with spare pole from the
Whilst this was being DONE gaoped to the top of the
n vsw wo s a burst
the foot Of the mountain and through the ravines
ns in Of
rapidly into their crowded ranks producing considera
bic confusion and much execution One squadron was
ly with the evident intention of charging me- when
shot sent INTO tne ranks sent them on TO the
IN a galop contihGed 10 nre upon them as long AZ
tney were In reacn evidently doing them much damage
owing 70 the deep ravines over which they passed
ionow tnem no put iet very much graft
ne tnat we nad peen ape TO drive them from the plain
the iattel part OF the nring the howitzer under
hm ala Serious as we csuid see
snens bursting IN ana near their ranks .
Thus having followed the enemy open plain fol
tnree miles from wnicn ne WAS compelled TO retire
iie'surey returned 10 camp
, w. II SHOWER, LIST Lieut.. Sd Art.
To Capt B. BRAGG, Comd'g. light comp. c, Sd Art.
-, 49,, D~
, l: NAay DesPatch'
! DRAGON CAMf' Near aqua Nueya, Mexico,
: MAJOR In compliance with your directions, have