The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-10
ARMY AND NAVY INTELLIGENCE.
SALrILLo, Capital OF Coahuila, Mexco,)
February l., lSi7.
To the Editor Of the Union :

Of Mexico was then encamPed before the city OF parras
1 Is miles N Of w. from Sahlo Inc ion9wlnS gay nc
received by express letter from General Worth, who
with his brigade then occupying TINS city, stating
that from the best information ne could receive, the
Mexican forces contemplated an attack upon hu Which,
Il made would take place IN very few days. and he de-
sired Gen Wool TO Join him with all his troops, as soon
as possible The centre division took up its line OF march
that sseV Gen Wo a sn ns
70 San Luis Potosl, and at strong pass near Aqua
Nueva.
The intelligence Gen Worth had received proved TO
be incpnect but still desmed advisable that Gen
WOODS whole force should remain within supporting DIS
lance OF Sato, rather thap retace its steps towards
Parras, Soon after the main body Of the troops en-
camped at La Encantada, an easily defended pass ~
miles south of Salhllowhile the cavalry was posted IN
the advanced positions Of Patos on the Durango road
San Juan de "a vaqera on that leading to zaeaeeas
Worth still occupied Salto and portions OF the Indiana
and Kentucky troops thrown INTO the passes TO me
norhwad Of the town line whole Were on Sao
from Monterey just before Gen. Wool arrived from
Paras Our spies contrived by apparently regular
system to gys Ss s Iom a ba before chs%as up
the present moment About the llth ut, 1t was re-
ported that $4,000 Mexcaps were on the road and with
in few leagues of foremost position At that time
battle was confidently expected TO take place on Friday,
the 18th but like all the other alarms. this too, subsi
ded, and for two three days again, everything was
quiet However ordered that the principal roads
leading from San Luis Potosi should be reconnored for
Captain Cassius M. Clay and Lieutenant Davidson, OF
Col Humphrey Marshalls regiment OF Kentucky cavalry
Major Borand and Captain Danley, of the Arkansas
mounted gunner, and eighty men selected from their
several regiments, detailed for that servlce-one
he San Luis road from Aqua Nueva--the other
under Major Gaines to take the Paomas Pass.
and making large detour to the lett, to fall INTO
the Potosi trace near Estauque la Vaca-haf-way
from Aqua Nueva to Encarnacon, and about 70
miles from Saltilo The two commands performed this
service without meeting with any force, and united at
the Estuque la Vaca and from thence marched together
to Encarnacion thirty miles nearer San Luis Potosi
Major Gaines being the senior officer present with the
two detachments, became their commander when they
united On the 2lst instant the whole party pushed
towards Solado where the Major expected he should
find Mexican piquet which he hoped to capture. 1t
his DESIRE therefore, TO reach that place IN the night
thee but otter proceeding three leagues in advance OF
Encarnacion he ascertaned at rancho that from the
great distance, it would be impossible to do so and he
changed his determination, and fell back again to Encar
nacion being likewise urged to the latter course by a
terrible storm of rain which then set in
After his return to Encarnacon he put all his troops
the hacienda, barricaded the doors and windows and
placed large stones on the parapet wall Immediately
above, to be thrown down upon the heads OF any party
who should attempt to force Them Eighteen men were
then detailed for guard, six sennes at time being on
duty at the various points on the top or and about the
hacienda.
The night wore away without anything having trans
pred to disturb the little garrison until o'clock on the
morning of the 22d, when OF the sentnels stated he
thought he had heard the cankng OF arms. All the Of
Ss sso bi got @ S Snd co ind IN
which could have occasoned the alarm. ex-.
cept the rude machinery and jngling chains of
two wells from which water was procured Tor the sup
night and day by number OF mules and all the officers
and even the sentinel himself at length became satisfied
that its noise was what he had mistaken tor that OF arms
when quiet again restored and all retired again. but
the six men post. es.tH'
When daylight appeared to the establishment Of the
whole party the hacienda was entirely surrounded by
the cavA n the and distant side
a half to three quarters OF mile. consultation was
Immediately had upon the best to be pursued
der these unhappy circumstances, and all at first deter
mined to defend their position the last, and in the
time 10 send some man 10 force if possible, his
way through the enemy to alarm our troops at Saltllo
that they might come TO the rescue A Mr.. Dan d.
Henrie, who was with Major Gaines as an in
terpreter, and who, as of the Mier pris-
ones, had been taken to the castle OF Perote, and es
capped from there with General Green, the man
lected for this service He Immediately prepared his
horse for the OCCASION but before everything ready
for his departure, Major Gaines called to him from
ing in from the enemy, and he wished Henre to come up
there and interpret for him. The flag was borne by
subalten, accompanied by three men, one OF whom was
distance it was halted when the interpreter who was
with it, said TO Maj Games that he surrounded by3 900
regular Mexican cavalry under the command OF Gen Mi
non, who desired that there should be no sacrifice OF
life, and who wished Major Gaines to and
hold parey with him TO arrange some terms OF captu
aton, promising at the same time, officer of equal rank
u
sence OF their commander Maj Gaines went to the place
where General Minon was, taking with him Mr. Henre
his interpreter The general and his interpreter alone
present at the interview the other officers being at
distance and beyond earsho General Minon then told
the major that he surrounded by aforce 1900
stronghold the troops were all in sight, and he could
count them if he pleased That if he would surrender,
his whole force should be treated prisoners of for
which he pledged the honor OF his nation and his ownat
the same time saying. if his promise not kept, he
would resign his commission He also said that the Off
should be allowed to retain their horses and the
jor his arms That MIR. Henrie, who had already
been recognised one OF the Mier psonersshoud be
regarded prisoner Of ALSO and that the Mexi
should have fair trial Major Gaines then returned to
the hacienda and made known TO his officers the pro-
posals Of the general, and they unanimously agreed
accept them-ther hope OF a successful resistance be-
the true numbers of their opponents and the strength OF
their positions the various roads The Americans
then marched out and surrendered their armsthe Mexi
gathering well in around them the while. No
sooner had this been done-han the man who had acted
Major Gainess guide allowed five minutes to
Tess himself to pries-when party OF men shot him
on the spot ~ F WIGS
One hundred and fifty men were then detailed
guard to the Amercans--all of whom disnounted
but the ofcers-and their horses and horse equipage
taken OF by the enemy The whole remained
Encarnacon the Dad During that day many of the officers
of the Mexican army took from soldiers their blan
kets, and whatever else they desired-hrowng them
dollar so, payment for what they thus obtained On
the morning of the 23d the prisoners took up their line
OF march for San Lous Potos During that day several
circumstances TRANSFERRED, which led officers TO be-
eve that the Mexlcans intended to shoot Mr. Henre, and
all Of them urged upon him the necessity OF escaping
possible MAJOR Games gave him his thorough bred
the holsters on the saddle--and told him to make
dash through the guard the first good opportunity thai
should present itself Tor doing Mr. Henne had been