Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-03-17
important from Santa M.

= 1
: TIE ATsEL PkSo-GREATvfC.
TORY.
Weharn before given the report ofthe
battle fought near Ell Paso. We are now
enabled to give full particulars.
lNDRpENDENcE, Feb. 16, l847.
Dean SlR:-To-day another company
arrived from the plains, bringing Santa re
dates as late rs Jan. 7th.
The news which | sent you yesterday is
confirmed in almost every particular, and
I enclose you an official report Of the bat
lie printed in Santa Fe and sent me by a
friend. Yours, &c.
On the 25th of December, ls46, the
Mexican forces from the city Of Chihua-
hua, (about eleven hundred in number,
met the United States forces under the
command Of Col. A. w. Doniphan, con-
sisting of six hundred men, five hundred
Of them being of his own troops the first
Regiment Of M. M. volunteers, and a de.
fachment of 100 men from Santa Fe, un-
der command Of Lieut.. Col. Mitchell, of
ethe ID Regiment, consisting Of 10 men
from Maj. Clark's battalion Of Light Ar
,illery, under command Of Capt. Hudson
and 1t. Cribben, and 10 men from Col.
. Prices Regiment and Col. Willeck's Bat
talon, 25 miles this side Of Ell Paso.
[The following is the substance of let
ter from Col. Donphin.
Col. D.says that he met the enemy and con-
quered, and is going on to take Ell Paso.
He further states the enemy attacked him
when his men were in great confusion, but
they were called together Immediately and
drawn up as infantry, and received three
fires from the enemy. when the whole line
opened broadside, telling with great el-
feet, and breaking the entire line Of the
enemy. Capt. Reid made a gallant charge
after the third fire, with l6 mounted men,
and in his attack killed several horses and
mules were captured. Most Of the Mexi-
cans who were killed were shot in the head,
an evidence that our men shoot too high.
The battle lasted about half an hour. There
was only about 20 minutes to prepare from
the time the enemy were discovered.
Thomas Forsyth, who brought the Ex-
press, says that the Americans had glori-
Gus Christmas frolic on the liquor, bread
and wine which they captured.
Extract from letter written by Lieut.
Kribbee: "Yestderday, (Christmas day.
when he had Just arrived in camp here,
with about 600 men, had unsadded our an
imals, and most Of the men in carrying
wood and water, the news was brought into
camp of the enemy's being in sight and
advancing. 1t was about two o'clock, p.
M. and the day was very pleasant Our
horses were grazing some distance from the
camp at that time. We formed single
line and determined to meet the enemy as
infantry. Their attacking being evidently
designed on the left flank, near which was
our wagon train, our detachment was or
dered from the extreme right to the left,
where we soon took up our position. One
piece ofartillery, 400 regular lanees and
cavalry, and 100 regular infantry, besides
some 500 militia troops from Ell Paso CON-
posed the enemy's force, according to the
best information can obtain from reports
of prisoners and from papers found in fhe
baggage on the field. The enemy ranged
themselves on the field within half mile
of our line, the mountains in the rear In
our rear was river, with little bush
wood on its banks.
Previous to the encounter Lieutenant
from their ranks came forward waving a.
black flag in his hand, but haulted when
within 100 steps of our line. Thomas
Caldwell, our interpreter, rode out to meet
him. The messenger with the black flag
of defiance demanded that the Commander
should come into their camp and speak to
their General. The reply was, 'slf your
General wants to see our Commander let
him come here.' I'VE shall break your
ranks and take him there was the retort
of the Mexican-'C Come and take him. said
our interpreter, unwittingly using the
phrase ofthe Spartan at Thermopl@. "A
curse on you, prepare for charge cried
the Mexican. 'Wegive no quarters and
ask none and waving his black flag grace.
fully over his head galloping back towards
the enemy's line. The charge was made
by the dragons from their right directed
upon our left flank, bringing our detach-
ment into the closest fire. Their infantry
with one howitzer with them, at the same
time attacking right flank.
Their charge was q handsome one but
was too well, too coolly met, to break our
line. After their FIRE had been spent their
front column being at about one hundred
steps from the front Of our flank our line
poured volley into them, which being
few times repeated, created such havoc in
their columns, that their forces wheeled to
the left, retreating from our fire and in their
flight made an attack on the provision train.
Here they met very warm reception and
were soon compelled to fly in oil directions
and in the utmost confusion. Their intan.
try having been quito flight the Howard
company, under the command Lieut.. N.
Wright, taking advantage Of the panic
charged upon them and took their cannon
from them--this was soon manned by the
artillery detachment under Lieut.. Kribben,
in Col Mitchell's escort the enemy had by
this time fed, leaving their arms, baggage,
provisions and other stores on the fisld of