Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-07
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or THE WEST,
~. l.
inner California Jan. u, ls4T


Quest OF Commodore r. f. Stockton, United STATES
navy, (who in September last assumed The lille OF
governor OF California; consented to lake com,
mand OF all expedition 10 this place tine caphai
oi the counlry,) and that, on the S9ih December
| left San Diego with about 500 men. consisting oi
90 dismounied Dragons under Capt runner, ou
California volunteers, and the remainder 81 ma
rincs and sailors, with battery o. aniiierv-
Lieut.. Emory Qoposraphical engineers achne as
assistant adjuiant general. Com. Stockton ac-
companied us.
We proceeded on our route without seeing The
enemy. till on the 9Th instant, when They showed
themselves in full force oil 600 mounted men, with
four pieces OF artillery, under their governor
,F'lores,) occupying the heights in front Of us,
which commanded the crossing Of the river San
Gabriel, and they ready TO oppose our iufher pro-
sress. The necessary disposition OF our troops
was Immediately made, by covering our front
with a strong party OF skirmlshers, placing our
wagons and baggage train in rear OF them, and
projecting The flanks and rear with The remainder
of the command. We then proceeded toIded the
river. carried The heights, and drove The enemy
from them, after an action OF about an hour and
half during which they made a charge upon our
left faux. which was repulsed; soon alter. which
they rereaed and left US in possession OF The field
on which We encamped hat night
The next day Ohe 9Th nstanD we proceeded on
our, march a, The usual hour, The enemy in our
front and on our TANKS; and when we reached
The plains OF The Mesa, their artillery again open
ed upon US, when their hrc was returned by cur
guns as we adva need, and alter lowering around
and near us for about two hours, occasionally
skirmishne with us during that time, they con-
centra,ed their force and made another charge on
our left flank. which was quickly Iepnsed; short
ly after which they retired, we c.DlnuinS our
march, and We lin the aiernoon) encamped on
the banks of The Mesa three miles below this CT.
ty, which we entered The following morning Qhe
10 instantly without further molestalion.
Our loss in The actions Of The 9Th and 9th was
small, being but one private killed, and Two Off
GERS (LieCl. Rowan Of The navy, and Capt. Gil
lespie OF The volunieeis) and eleven priyales
wounded. The enemy, mounted on fine horses,
and being the best riders 10 the world, carried Of
their killed and wounded, and we know not the
number of them, though il must have been con-
siderable.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. W. KEARNY, Brig. Gen.
Brig Gen. R. JONES' Adj't Gen. U. S. A.,
Washington.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
Ciudad &c los Angeles. Upper California,
January Id, ls47.
Sir: This morning Lieut.. Col. Fremont. of
The regiment Of mounted rifemen, reached here
with 400 volunteers from the Sacramenlo The
enemy capiluaed with him yesterday, near San
Fernando, agreeing 10 lay down heir aims, and
We have now the prospect OF having peace and
que;ness in this country, which hope may not
Be interrupted again.
have not yet received any information Of The
troops which were 10 come from New York, nor
oi those 10 follow ME from New Mexico, but pre-
sumo they will be here before long. On their al
rival, | shall, agreeaby 10 The instructions Of The
President OF the United States, have the manage
menl OF affairs in this country, and will endeavor
la carry out mis- views in relation TO il.
Very respectfully, your ob!t seTv't,
J. w. KEARNY, Brig Gen
Brig. Gen. R. JONES, Adj. Gen. U. S. A,
Washington.
Chihuahua--Col Doniphan's Letters.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY IN CHlHuAnua,
City OF Chihuahua, March TO- lSi7.
Sir:-The forces under my command are
portion OF the Missouri volunteers, called into
service for the purpose Of invading New Mexi
CO, under The command of Bfisadirr General
Chen ColoneD Kearny. AiIer the conquest Of
New Mexico, and before General kearnys de-
par,ure ior California information was received
mat another regiment and an extra battalion OF
Missouri volunteers would follow us 10 Santa
Re- The service OF so large force being who'll
i unnecessary in that Stale, prevailed on Gen.
nearny TO order my reg iment 10 Tepor. 10 you al
'i.s city. The order was given on the 23d Sep
!.mae,, 1916; but after The General arrived al La
'tya, III The Southern part oi The STATE hs issued
u:Gtf requiring my regiment 70 make cam
aga iuio he county Inhabited BY the Navajo
Indians, lying between the waters vi the Rio del
NoIte and The Rio Colorado oi The West This
campaign detained me until The l4th OF Deem
ber before our return 10 The Del Norte. We i'm
u alu .at attr t0r
lei More with about 800 rfemen A commu
Eicaton between Chihuahua and New Mckee
vas enliieiy prevented. On the 25i' .! Decem
bef 1876, my van guard was attacked at bl"zu"
by The Mexican forces from dis Stat; our ;"ict
vas about $50, and the force oil The enemy 100;
HE engagement lasted about 40 minutes, when
lne enemy fed, leaving 63 killed and since dead,
80 wounded, and one howilzer, lie only piece Of
artillery in The engagement on either sie. On
the ooh We entered FL Paso without further op.
position. From The prisoners and others learned
that YOU had no, marched upon this Stale.
,:eG determine. 10 order a battery ard 100 arlil-
crisls from New Mexico. They arrived in FL
Paso about The 5;h February, when we took mp
the line OF march Tor This place. A copy al my
official report OF The battle Of Sacramento, en-
closed 10 yeu, will show you all our subsequent
movements, up 10 our taking military possession
Of This capital. The day of my arrival had de-
isrmined 10 send an express 10 you forthwith, but
the whole intermediate country WAS in The hands
oi The enemy, and We were cut of, and had been
tor many months from all information respect
ing the American army Mexican reports ale
never 10 be FULLY credited, yet, tom all We could
learn, we did not doubt that you won!d be forced
b. overwhelming numbers 10 abandon Sallillo,
and al course we could send no express under
such circumstances. On yesterday we received
III. first even iolerably reliable information that
81 nff taI hnnn mo- m aan
The American and Mexican tcrces, and that San
IA Anna had probably fallen back on San Luis
de Polosi.
Ny position here is exceedingly embarrassing
In The frs; place, most If The men under my
command have been in service since the Isl OF
jane and have never received one cent Of pay. |
Their marches have been hard, especially in the
Navajo country, aud no forage; so that they are
literally without horses, clothes or money, no.
hing bnt arms and disposition 10 use them.-
They are all volunteers, nfiicers and men. and,
alnoueh ready for any hardships or danger, are
wholly unfit 10 garliS"h iown or city. III IS
confusion worse coniounicd' Having perform
ed Il march of more ihan 1900 miles and their |
term OF service rapidly expiring, they are rest
les6 10 join The army under your commando
Still we cannot leave This point safely Tor some
days--ihe American merchants here oppose il
vi Identity, and have several hundred thousand
doSars al stake. They have ssnl me a memo
mosal and my determination has been made
knawn 10 them. a copy Of both they will send
You. O one Thing il is necessary 10 inform you:
the merchants admit that their goods could not be
sold here in five years; if they go south they will
be us neal 10 the markets of Durango and Zaca-
tecas as they now are. am anxious and willing
10 project The merchants as tar as practicable;
but | protest against remaining here as mere
wagon guard, garrison a city with troops wholly
urhued for il, and who will soon be wholly ruin
Ell by improper ndugence>. Having been orr
siDay ordered TO Tins point, you know The wish
es Of the government in relation 10 il, and OF
course your orders will be promptly and cheerful
ly obeyed fear there j. ample use for US with
you, and we would greatly prefer joining you be-
fore our term of service expires
All information relative 10 my previous opera
tons, present condition. &C., will be given you
nv Mr. ] Collins the bearer Of these dispatches.
He is highly honorable gentleman, and was an
amateur soldier al Sacramento