Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-06

The rapid slopes Of the mountains rendered the
enemy's position very strong, and It's strength was
increased by the dense masses Of cedar and large
fragments of rock which everywhere offered them
shelter. The action was commenced by Captain ST.
Vrain, who, dismounting his men, assembled the noun
tain ON the left. doing much execution. Thanking
parties were thrown out on either side, commanded
respectively by Lieutenant White, ID regiment Mis-
souri, mounted volunteers, and by Leutenants Nell
vaine and Taylor, LIST dragons. These parties as
cended the hills rapidly, and the enemy soon began
retire in the direction of Embudo, bounding along
the steep aud rugged sides of the mountains with
speed that de6ed pursuit. The firing the pass of
Embudo had been heard at La Joya, an3 Capt. Slack
with twenty-five mounted men, had been Immediately
despatched thither. He now arrived and rendered
excellent service by relieving Lieutenant White,
whose men much fatigued. Lieutenants McIl-
vaine and Taylor were also recalled; and Lieutenant
Ingalls, was directed to lead fanking party the
right slope, while Captain Slack performed the same
duty ON the left. The enemy having by this time re-
treated beyond our reach, Captain Burgwin marched
through the dele and debouching into the open valley
in which Embudo is situated, recalled the thanking
parties and entered that town without opposition,
several persons meeting him with white flag.
Our loss in this action was one man killed, and one
severely wounded. both belonging to Capt. ST. Vrains
company. The loss Of the enemy about twenty
killed aud sixty wounded
Thus ended the battle of the pass Of Embudo.
On the 3Ou, Capt. Burgwin marched to Trampas,
where he was directed TO await the arrival Of the
main body, which, account of the artillery and
wagons, was forced to pursue more southern route
On the 3lst reached Trampas; and being Joined by
Captain Burgwin, ma rched to Chamisal with the
whole command. On the LIST of February VIC reached
the summit of the Taos mountain, which was covered
with the depth of two feet; and the I'd,
quartered at small village called Rio Ghetto, in the
entrance of the valley of Taos The marches of the
Ist, Ma ,off he
frost-biiten, and all were very much jaded
with the exerons necessary to travel over unbeaten
roads, being marched in front of the artillery and
wagons in order to break road through the snow
The constancy and patience with which the troops
bore these hafdshps, deserve all commendation and
cannot be exceiled by the most veteran soldiers On
the Sd, marched through Don Fernando de Taos,
and finding that the enemy had fortified themselves
in the Pueblo de Taos, proceeded TO that place.
found IL place of great strength, being surrounded
by adobe walls and strong pckets. Within the en-
closure and the northern and southern walls,
arose two large buildings of irregular Pyramdal form
TO the height Of seven or eight stories Each of these
buildings capable of sheltering five six hum
dred men. Besides these. there many smaller
buildings, ard the large church of the town stu
ated in the northwestern angle. small passage being
left between it aud the outer wall The exterior wall
and all the enclosed buildings were pierced for rifles.
The town was admirably calculated for defence every
by some projecting building, will be seen from the
enclosed drawing.
After having reconoitered the town. selected the
western flank Of the church the point of attack
and about two o'clock, P NJ, Lieut.. Dyer order
ed to open his battery the distance of about $50
yards. A fire was kept up by The FOUNDER and the
howItzers for about two hours and half when as
the ammunition wagon had not yet come up, and the
troops were suffering from cold and fatigue returned
To I'm nd To lv on fho ~ fhaA
again advanced upon Pueblo. Posting the Dragons
under Capt Burgwrn about $50 yards from the west
ern flank Of the church, ordered the mounted men
under Captains ST. Vran and Slack to a position on
the opposite side of the town. whence they could dis
cover and intercept any fugtives who might attempt
to escape towards the mountains, In the direction
of Don Fernando. The residue of the troops took
ground about 800 yards from the northern wall. Here
too, Lieut.. Dyer established himself with the six
FOUNDER and two howitzers, while Lieut. Hassandau-
bel, of MAJOR Clarks battalion light artillery, re-
NAMED with Captain Burgwin, in command of two
howitzers BY this arrangement fire OBJ
tanned, sweeping the front and eastern flank Of the
church.
All these arrangements having been made the bat
teries opened upon the town at nine o'clock, A. Nj.
At eleven O'clock, finding it impossible to breach the
walls of the church with the FOUNDER and howitzers
determined to storm that building. At signal,
Capt Burgwin, LIST regiment United States dragnons)
at the head of his company, and that of Captain
McMIllin, (of the volunecrs,) charged the western
flank 1f the church, while Captain Anguey, infantry
battalion. and Capt. Barber, and Lieut.. Boon, I'd
giment Missouri mounted volunteers, charged the
northern wall. As soon as the troops above men,
toned had established themselves under the western
wall OF the church, axes were used in the attempt to
breach 1t; and, temporary ladder having been made,
the roof was fired About this time, Capt. Burgwin,
at the head Of small party, left the cover afforded
by the flank of the church, and penetrating into the
corral in front of that building, endeavored force
the door. In this exposed situation, Capt. Burgwin
received severe wound which deprived me of his
valuable services, and Of which he died on the 7Ih
inst. Lleutenants Mclvaine LIST United States dra-
goods, and Royal and Lakeland, ID regiment mount
ed volunteers, accompanied Captain Burgwn into the
corral; but the attempt on the church door proved
fruitless, and they were compelled to retire behind
the wall In the meantime small holes had been cut
IN the western wall, and shells were thrown in bV
hand, doing good execution. The FOUNDER was
now brought around by Lieut.. Wilson, who at the
distance of 300 yards, poured heavy fire Of grape
INTO the town. The enemy during all this time kept
up a destructive FIRE upon troops. About half
past three O'Clock the FOUNDER was run up within
sixty yards of the church, and after ten ronnds-one
of the holes which bad been cut with the axes was
widened into practicable breach. The gun was now
up within ten yards of the wall-a shell was
thrown in-ihree rounds of grape were poured into
the breach. The storming party-among whom were
Lieut. Dyer of the ordnance, and Lieutenants Wilson
aud Taylor LIST dragoons entered and took possession
of the church without opposition. The interior was
filed with dense smoke, but for which circumstance
our stormng party would have suffered great loss.
A few Of the enemy were seen in the gallery where
open door admitted the air. but they retired with
out firing gun. The troops left to support the bat
terry the north now ordered TO charge on that
side The enemy abandoned the western part of the
town. Many took refuge in the large houses on the
east while others endeavored to escape towards the
mountains. These latter pursued by the mount