Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-10-22

er was intensely cold the river ran with ice !;
we had no tents, and our animals starved up
on the harsh, dry grass In FL Paso, 200
miles below, is comfort and plenty, wine and
corn, and houses. and delicious climate; but
there, too, is Regular force of 1900 Mexicans
and five pieces of artillery Between the ar
mics is the ''Jornada," or Journey of the
Dead" dreary sketch of 100 miles, without
wood or water
At the entrance of the tornado, awaiting
our advance, were the American merchants,
having 300 wagons, charged with 81 600, 900
worth of merchandise The hundred men un-
der Capt Hudson subsequently came 10 us
from Santa Fe, called the chihuahua RAN
gers" They Were drawn from the ID Regt.
Col. Prce's.) An express was sent back to
Santa Fe for one company of artillery, COM
manded by Capt. Weightman. This company
overlook us afterwards in FL Paso, about the
lst of February
On the 18th, forlorn hope of 300 passed
onward 10 open the passage through the Jor-
NADIA with this were Capts Parsons, Waldo,
Reid, and Rogers. We expected to meet the
enemy as we should pass outward f'om its
Jaws. The passage was accomplishments
enemy obStructed our exit at the father end
we descended TO the river and quenched our
thirst-continued during three days and nights
Robledo is the name given TO the lower mouth
of the Tornado - miles below is The little
town of Dona ana it has plenty of orn and
900 people, This is the only settlement about
FL Paso, which is 80 miles distant On the
morrow we entered bona lana and there learn
ed that the Mexican army would advance TO
meet US as we would descend to FL PasO
On the 23d our whole force, having sue
cessfully passed the Jornada, reunited at Do
na-ana. On the oath our march was g miles.
On the 18th, advancing rapidly ahead of the
wagon train, we encamped at BraZito, 10 miles,
about l o'clock; the camp guard, 60 strong.
the wagon guards, and many men with faded
horses, were in the rear. This was Christ
mas day.
AT O'Clock the approaching cloud of dust
revealed the advance of the Mexicans The
bugles sounded to arms, our force was deploy-
ed in single line on foot, upon the prairie in
! front and enveloping the wagons-we num-
bercd 424. The N1eXcans dcployed immedi-
ately in our front in gallant style, and rapidly
they numbered 1850 The veteran Vera
| Cruz Dragons were on the right, the Chhua-
hua Cavalry on the left, in the centre Infan-
! try. Now it was that a back flag was flap
| ped in our eyes from the centre of the Mexi-
can line II was defiled-the shock of battle
! followed
The MeSicans charged upon our line
their cavalry converging TO our front, theil
infantry advancing. Our men, sitting down
and receiving many voleys from their artille-
~, musketry and escOpetas, deCoyed them
cIose-when suddenly rising and pouring in d
Turing sheet of fire, the enemy riddled every
where, fled bowling. Their artillery was ia
ken, 60 were killed, and vast quantity O.
arms taken from them. Those who escaped
deserted from the Mexican army.
| Victory FASTENED our marches-on the NOR
ming of the 9th we entered Ell Paso. Await
ing the arrival of artillery, we fingered SIX
weeks in the delicious settlements of FL Paso
About 10000 MeXicans here cultivate the
grape, and enjoy much prosperity and deli
ClOus climate.
On the 9th February, we moved on to Chi
huahua. The interval, $50 miles, if seen BY
You who inhabit this our verdant land, would
be pronounced bowling desert, such is it,
austere and forbidding aridity-Sahara does
not exceed it-jornaddS of IS miles, withou
water, wood or grass-gravel, sand and rocks
possess it Notwithstanding cold at night
at midday hot and dusty. On the 9th, We
reached Taos, 40 miles from Chhuahua-mid
way between Taos and chihuahua is Sacra
mento-here is the only water in that whole
distance, and between us and the opportunity
to slack our thirst, we entrcnched the MeXi
can army On the the afternoon of the 28th
was gained the marvellous victory of Sacra
mento, in which your soldiers covered them
selves with imperishable glory. On the fol
lowing and succeeding days our whole column
entered chihuahua.
At Chihuahua we heard with exultation oil
the gallant conduct of the Cole infantry anC
Fishers artillery, at Canada and Taos--o
their good discipline and gallant bearing Wills
in garrison at Santa Fe. These were soldiers
of the first requiSition, and tried with us the
opening campaign of the prairieS Let us here
then, as at chihuahua, crown with the same
chapet the soldiers of BraZito, Sacrameto
Canada, Taos and FL Paso-sharing alike the
honors won by all.
During two months did the Missouri col
umn hold undisturbeI possession of the me-
tropolis of Chihuahua, and control lis Deepen
denotes Instructions planned both here ant
at FL Paso, were anticipated and nipped in the
germ American traders and messengers ira
yersed the State unmolested. 1t had beer
said that so small force could not hold Chi
huahua. II 1ras done and that with firm
and tranquil grasp.
But the period of our service nearel its
close. From our own government nOta Whts
per had reached us from the oustart-no pay
no ammunition, (Our cartridges were made o
powder taken at BraZltol--no reinforcement
no money-no Renaissance of our own eX
istence was dscernble Gen Wool had de
fected from his first intentions, and nerer ap
peared at ChihmhuG. On the 18th Of April
Chihuahua was evacuated, in obedience TO al
order from Gen. Taylor, that we should JON
his column at Buena Vista and Monterey.
The march to monterey, $50 miles, was &C
complished in % days-17 pieces of artlIer,
with their calssons, and train of two hun
dred heavey wagons, accompanied us. Ii wa
upon this descent from the table lands to tn
maritime region, that our sufierings from brack
ish water, suffocatng dust, night marches rem
dered necessary by long stretches and heat
now were most excessive. Here, too, at {
Paso, near the city Of Famas, was won Clio
rious victory over the Camanche Indians, by
small handful of eui gallant men, led by Cap
tain Reld-17 Indians bit the dust. From tn
outposts OF the @ southern sum-" beyond Bue
ma Vista, We reached Camargo, Oh the Rio de
Norte, in days, passing throug h the cities
Saltillo, Monterey. and through CerralVo
Since the departure of the Missouri collm
from the iyest9rn border, up to our return
our homes by the eastern border OF our State
we have traversed the full distance OF $50
miles No position OF equal importance
that of chihuahua has ever yet been held b
the United States in Mexico, nor anywhere b