The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-05-01

supplies which were in Saltilo, determined
at once TO fall back towards that place about
twelve miles, and occupy a strong position
between two spurs of mountain with mar.
row valley between them, where at one poin,
the road is so narrow as 10 permit the passage
of only one wagon at a time, with deep gul.
lies running up to the mountains, washed by
the rains SO as to prevent horses or carriages
from passing them without great difficulty
ISaid position had been closely examined by
1.-THE typographical engineers under the eye Of
Gen. Wool before my arrival, who deemed il
admirably adapted TO resist large with small
force, as well as adapted TO the description Of
force which composed our army We there.
fore fell back and occupied it on the evening
Of the 2lst, and at once made the necessary
preparations for giving battle.
The next day the enemy made his appear
ance early in the day, and, after reconnoiter-
ing our position for some time, at 2 O'Clock,
P. M received, by staff officer with flag, a
communication from Gen. Santa Anna, requir-
| ing me to surrender at discretion, stating that
in the event of my doing 50 we should be well
treated; that he had surrounded me with more
than 10000 men; that resistance was out of
the question-and, if ! attempted it, my COM
mand would be put to rout and must be des-
troyed. In reply, stated Icould not comply
with his demand, and he was liberty to COM
mence operations whenever he was inclined to
do SO. Soon after this, the action was COM
menced with his skirmishers on our left, which
was promptly met by ours, and continued with
out intermission on the side Of the mountain
until dark.
In the morning at sunrise he renewed the
contest with an overwhelming force-with ar
tillery, infantry, and dragoonsw which lasted
with very slight intermission until dark. A
portion of the time the contest was much the
81 verest have ever Witnessed, particularly to-
wards the latter part Of the day, when he
Santa Anna) brought up his reserve, and in
spite of every effort on our part, after the grea-
test exertions | have ever witnessed on both
sides, drove us by superiority Of numbers for
some distance. He had at least five to one at
that point against us. Fortunately at the most
critical moment, two pieces Of artillery which
! had ordered up to support that part Of our
line, met our exhausted men retreating, when
they were brought into battery and opened on
the enemy, then within fifty yards in hot pur-
suit with canister and grape, which brought
him to halt and soon compelled him TO fall
back. In this tremendous contest we lost three
pieces Of artillery, nearly all the men and hor-
SEES having been killed or crippled, which put
it out of our power to bring them off; nor did
deem it advisable to attemptto regain them
The enemy made his principal effects against
our tanks. He was handsomely repulsed in
every attempt On our right, but succeeded ear
ly in the day in gaining our left in consequence
of the giving way of one of the volunteer regi-
ments, which could not be rallied with but few
exceptions, the greater portion retiring about
mile to large rancho or farm house, where
our wagons and portion of our stores were
left These were soon after attacked by the
enemy's cavalry, who were repulsed with some
loss. atS
For several hoursthe fate of the day was ex-
tremely doubtful, SO much SO that was urged
by some of the most experienced officers to fall
back and take up new position. This knew
it would never do to attempt with volunteers
and at once declinedit. The scene had now
become one of the deepest interest. Between
the several deep ravines there were portions Of
extent, which became alternately pointsof at
tack and defence, after our left was turned, by |
both sides. These extended along and near
the base Of the mountain for about two miles,
and the struggle for them may be very appro-
priately compared tot game of chess. Night
put stop to the ontest, and strange to say,
BON armies occupied the some positions they
lid in the morning before the battle commence
ID. Our artillery did more than wonders. We
ay on our arms all night, as we did the pre-
Iious ones, without fires, there being no wood
o be had, and the mercury below the freezing
,oint, ready and expecting to renew the con-
est the next morning; but we found at daylight
he enemy had retreated during the night leav-
ng his killed and many of his wounded for US
% bury and take care of carrying off every
hing else, and taking up position at this
,lace. We did not think it advisable to pur-
ue, not knowing whether he would renew the
lttack, continue his retreat, or wished to draw
rs from our strong position: but contented our
elves with watching his movements closely
Finding. on the 26tb, be had renewed his re-
reat, early in the morning Of the 9th the army
vas put in motion for this place, where we ar
ived about 8 O'Clock, P. M.-their rear guard,
onsisting Of cavalry, leaving as our advance
'ot in sight at once determined on
arrassing his rear; but on examining the state
{ the men and horses, l found that five days
nd nights marching, ineessant watching, and
irteen hours hard fighting, had so exhausted
he FIRST and broken down the latter, it was
ext to impossible, to accomplish anything
,lthout rest. We remained quiet here until
be I'd inst, when pushed command on the
an Louis rad to large plantation called In
arnacion, where we founi between two and .
,rse hundred wounded in the most wretched
onditiou, besides those they carried with them,
tc - - a. c.lI h.. - to,k