The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-19


Sacramento fought for the possession Of the city Of
chihuahua. We do not find Sacramento laid down
We presume it cannot be far from Chihuahua however
IL will be recoected that the 23d Of February the
American troops were at Carmen, moving south. Car
men 10 not much over 100 miles from Chihuahua The
battle took place the 2sth Feb, when NAY sup
pose the Americans had advanced 90 so miles further
south The number OF the Americans according to the
Mexican report gave Tuesday last only 900,
while the Mexicans, by their own showing, had about
We will only add further that the despatch Of Gen.
Hereda, who commanded the Mexcans is given in Ell
Repubeano of the aad ut from the papers in the War
Department relating to the loss of chihuahua"
DIVISION OF THE Army IN NFw MErIco,}
To His Exceuency the General in Chief
Having positive information that the enemy was
marching the capital of this state, which have al
ready communicated to your Excellency called upon
the governor concert with him the for its
fence determined to meet the onemy impelled by the
be encountered but having overcome them and hast
ened all the supplies succeeded (aded by the valuable
force which, although perfectly raw as not man had
ever heard the whispering Of q cannon ball. was
animated by enthusiasm aud ardor displayed in a
thousand ways The imperious necessity mako last
effort to save the State abandoned to its fate without
resources in spite of repeated of the
impending iminont peril ad not having received any
endorsements Of troops, placed in the difficult po
ston to stake all hazard to abandon nglorously
this State to its fate Honor duty country
made ME choose the former alternative determined that
the enemy should not obtain possession Of the capital
until after having overcome my resistance in which
was willing to sacrifice my life
Having completed my arrangements in the midst Of
the greatest difficulties ordered Gen Don Pedro Garcia
Condo to start the 10th Of February with 800 cavalry
mot overwel mounted) to watch the movements Of the
enemy and to annoy him on his march. On the 2lst
followed with 70 Of the 7th infantry $50 of the
battalion Of chihuahua, $50 National Guards SO Of
the I'd squadron Of Durango (which for want of horses
and Founders, under the charge of ll9 arerylnsn
and also log men Of the LIST squadron Of the Durango
cavalry which succeeded in mounting, and intended
to augment the force Of Gen. Garcia Condo. On the
25th Gen. Garcia informed that the enemy ap-
preaching upon which ordered the cavalry to join me-
in order to make stand at Sacramento, which consid-
cred favorable position, and where established my
lines throwing up Notifications and redoubts, and
taking other necessary precautions
advanced guard and at O'Clock p. NJ he appeared in
sight of my camp instantly drew up three columns Of
infantry under the command Of Don Vicente Sanchez,
three OF cavalry under the orders Of Gen Garcia Conde
and posted my artillery in the most suitable manner
but the enemy changed his route. and marched to
the right in order to turn my position, was obliged to
change my whole PLAN and ordered Gen Garcia Condo
with the cavalry to oppose the passage Of tho enemy
while supported him with the remainder of my forces.
The enemy halted when the cavalry came in front Of
him. and with the greatest despatch and all possible
order arranging TO form the infantry and artillery
into bate the right Of the cavalry and already
placing the pieces of artillery when the enemy opened
with his the cavalry, and at the third fire
had the modification to sec it completely dispersed My
activity while was trying to form the infantry, which
had been thrown into confusion by the cavalry and
owing to my great exerton and to those Of Capt Don
Angel Trias Don Francisco Padilo. and Don Cayetano
Justiniani succeeded in again forming the infantry
and collecting nearly all thu cavalry which station
ed in my former encampment, it being necessary to
establish line with the position. which accom-
plished in the midst Of the firing all the infantry and
cannon that had been dismounted, and bringing
away all the dead and wounded.
Being by this time established at Sacramento with all
my forces the enemy attacked with q heavy fire Of
artillery and a charge which his cavalry made
doubt was most chvarousy beaten off by fifty of
under the command Of the valiant captain Of
dores, d. Rathe Gonzales, who fell victim to his
moments. At the same time fell 1t d. Augustus Qun-
tana and several men Of both companies. While they
thus defending the redoubt, the cavalry which
had sent TO its assistance He'd and dispersed completely
carrying confusion into the ranks Of tho infantry In
this critical situation withdrew the artillery to ele
walton in the vicinity and succeeded in collecting 900
infantry and there maintained myself until without ha-
wing the power to prevent it, was completely abandon
cd except by Coils d. Francisco Padlla and D. Cayetan
Jutinani Capt salvado Santa Maria of the artillery Of
the National Guard, and the veteran Lieut.. ID. Manuel
Flores and Lieut. Col d Natas Coudc the COMMANDER of
the artillery, who with few of the artillery main
tanned the fire for nearly haitian hour Under these dsas
trous circumstances Col. D Angel Trias aud the
most efforts to reorganize the infantry assisted by Co.'s
Padia and Jusniani whom had sent for the pur-
pose but was in vainthey could not collect twenty
The rest fled to the mountains terrified, following
the example of the cavalry of which only the first squad
ron of Durango made any rcsstmce-their commander,
Don Manuel Apontc having ordered them to dismount
in order to exricate them from the confusion in which
they involved Abandoned by their men, the
officers OF artillery already mentioned were forced to
retire extremely mortified because them. Having
lost all hope of regaining the day, obliged
treat with bitter grief all in the camp remained in
the possession of the enemy nothing being
eight rounds OF ammunition which servant Of Colonel
ed TO collect infantry lead them Chihuahua,
but all my efforts useless
On account Of the complete dispersion it is mposi-
bio TO give exact detail Of the number killed and
wounded, but can assure your cxcelency that they
cannot be less than 81 to 100 nearly all Of the 18th in
antry and the two squadrons of Durango. among whom
we have to mourn the Captain Of Cazadores D. Rafael
! Rosalez, Lieut.. ID. Romon Mesa, and Lieut.. Don Au-
ed captain Of the eth infantry D. Guadalupe Moutaya
Ensign Of the company Of Guayquilla D de Fontana,
and Sergeant Of the National Guard d. Eugcnio Corde-
! ro Tho preceding camo under my observation.
The disasters of this battle which have not cores
ponded with my anxious wishes and exertons, with
the great sacrifices Of Col D. Angel Trias and nearly
all the citizens Of the State Of chihuahua owing TO
the greater part of my forces being recruits s
being the FIRST time of their meeting an enemy and To
the inexperence Of most of the officers, who deficient
in that military energy necessary in such emrrgen
cies could not control their in the of dan
ger and such is generally the when hastily col
lected mass Of men have no regular troops to sup
port them, which have exposed to your excel
lency many time when applied for reinforce
ments These, unfortunately, were not sent. in spite
of the repeated orders Of your Excellency and the
reasons unknown to but which placed under the
necessity of undertaking desperate defence the result
be avoided with honor it better to make des
perae effort than to let the take quiet possession
of the State
Notwithstanding these sad rcvcrses take the liberty
of recommending the following individuals for the cool
and bravery shown during the action your fa-
vorable consideration. And here follow the Of
twenty eight colones lieutenant colonies. captains &c
arrived last night at this point, whore shall remain
two or three days to pick up stragglers with which
proceed to the town of Santa Rosaa about 10 leagues
from the capital to endeavor to raise forces
derstand that the enemy is going to march into the
State of Durango which will also be lost unless at least
1000 infantry 500 cavalry and 10 pieces of artillery
the regular army be sent for it's defence experience
has shown in mony instances that regular troops in
dispensable in have to inform your Excccn-
cy that of the dispersed only expect to collect
men OF the 18th infantry and of the Durango horse and
perhaps some few Of the active battalion of Chihuahua
most of the Others have returned to their homes To-
day some officers of the National Guard have presented
themselves, but without single soldier
All which have the honor to submit his Excelency
the Vice President exercising the functions of the SUI
premc Executive God aud liberty.
JOSE A. HEREDIA.
March 2 1877.