Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-07
Battle Of Sacramento--- Defeat Of The Enemy
Capture Of Chihnahua
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army IN CHnuAuuA,
o.. - lL..I....I---- -

HEADQUAKrERs THE Army IN CnmuAuuA
City OF Chihuahua, March 9Th, le47.
have the honor report to you the movement, o tho
army under my command since my last official report.
On the evening Of the 9Th Of February Is7 we left the
town Of FL Paso del Nore escorng the merchant train or
caravan OF about 3l5 wagonsor city Of Chihushua-
Our force consisted of 924 effective mem IL officers and
pvatos OF the artillery; 80 of Lieut. Col Mchels escot,
and the remainder the LIST regiment Missouri mounted vol
unieers We progressed the direction Of this place un-
III the 18th when we were informed by spies the
enemy the number 500 men, were at Inseneaa the
country seat Of Gov. Tras, about - miles advance
When arrived, the evening the 10Th near that
point found that the force had retrcated in the dice
lion OF this city. On the evening OF the 97th we arrived
at sans, and learned from spies that the enemy in
great force, had fortified the pass at the Sacramento river
about 10 miles N advance, and about the distance
from his city We also informed that there vas no
water between the point and that occupied BY
the enemy we therefore determined halt until morning
At the ISh, the last ay of February VIC took
mp the line Of march and formed the whole train con
sising oi J5 heavy traders wagons and our commits
say aud company into four columns thus short.
enng our line 10 as TO make 1t easily Protected
We placed the artillery and all the c,mmand except 300
cavalry proper, IN tho intervals between the columns
OF wagons We thus fully concealed our force and its
position by masking force with the cavalry Wbsn
we arrived within three miles OF the enemy we made r.
c"nnossnnee oi his position and tho arrangement Of his
io'ces. This we could easily do-the road Leading
through open prore valley between the sietI moun
tains. The pass OF the Sacramento is formed by poin f
the mountains on our right their lett extending into tho
v1ley plain 20 the valley 10 about miles
On our left q deep dry sandy channel of creek and
between these points the plain sixty feet abrupiy
TINS rso is IN the form Of crescent the convex part be- ing
10 the north OF our forces On the right from tho point of
mountains part Of the plain extends north mills
further than the left The main road passes down tho
centre Of the valley and the crescent near the left u
dry branch The Sacramento rzCs IN tho mountains ON the
right, and the road fails about mile below tle BAT,
uo-hed or enifcnchment OF the enemy We ascettaned
that tho enemy had battery Of 4 guns, nine snd L
FOUNDERS, on the point o the mountain right fhcr
LETT good elevation sweep the plain and AZ the pon,
where the mountains extended furcst ino the plain On
our left Their right they had another battery on an Gle.
VauOn commanding the road aud three snronchments
OF Two six FOUNDERS, and the brow Of the crescent near
the centre another Of and four and six culysfu
or rampant pieces mounted caages; and on tho eres
OF the bill ascent between the battcrc and the right and
e they haG - rcdoubts dug aud thrown up extending
short intervals the whole ground In those their in.
iantry were placed and entirely protected Their
cavalry was drawn up m front Of the fcdoubts the in
efvals four deep, and IN Of the redUubs deep 70 s
10 mask thom fpr practicable When we had arrived
within miles Of the entertainments along the main rood
VIC advanced tho cavalry still further and suddenly dverged
with the columns the right gain tho narrow bar,
OF the ascent on right, which tho enemy discovering
endcavored to prevent by moving forward with 900 cav
airy and pieces Of in their maskod by them
Our movements rapid that gained tho elevation
with forces and the advance Of wagons in time 10
form before they arrived within reach Of our guns The
enemy hsled and advanced the head Of our column
within 200 yards Of them, LOT oar wagons attain
| the high lands and form % before
We commenced tho action bya brisk fro from our
battery, and tho onomY unmarked and commenced also
our fires proved effective 81 This distance, killing fifteen
men, woundng and disabling Of tho enemies gups -
We had Two slightly wounded and several horses
and mules killed. The enemy then slowly reueated be
hind thoir works IN confusion and we resumed an,
march IN or former order, still dveging more 10 tho
right 10 syod their battery left their rqht) and
their strongest redoobu, which were the leh near
where tho road pssos. After marching a. far AZ W. s,v
could, without coming within range Of ho'r heavy bate
~ on our right Captain Woghtman u the artillery was
ordered TO charge with the two l2pouad aowi 1ors 10 be
supported by The cavalry, under Captsins Reid Parsons
end HUDSON The howitIer charged At speed and we're
gsanty sustained by Captain Reid; bot by some misun-
ders'sndng my order was not given the other two