Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-10-30
From the Arkansas Democrat, Oct. y
Letter from Major BOrcland.

IcLttr lTOH MuJVi DuiCidHu' |
We are indebted to the poHtonsss of Mrs. Boz
LAND, for permission to make the following inter-
esting extracts from letter she received from
her husband, by Wednesday nights mail: :
.:CITY OF MEXICO. Sept. 26, lS47.
g: My Dearest Mary :--Once more. safe and
sound, out of the hands of the Phlllstines, write
YOU. with freedom of heart and buoyancy of
81 rit to which have long been stranger.
g together with Capt. Danley, concealed N.Y.
self on the lst of August. and made my escape
from the city on tho Sth--my birthday. Close
and repeated search made for US, both IN the
city aud afterwards; bnt the kindness and fidelity
of q few friends enabled us TO make good our re
treat. Lying concealed, about nine or ten miles
from the city, until tho morning of the 2Olh Au-
gust | Joined the army few minutes after the
action of Contreras and getting rnusket, fell
into the ranks, and did some little duty during that
day. While engaged in firing, in the midst of
some rihemon,, whom should | meet but our old
friend and townsman, [Capt.] STEVE TUcKER-
for it was his company among whom had fallen
n without being aware of 1t at tho time. We
took one cordial embrace, and went to firing
Steve, himself, handling rifle with rgh,
good will. Danley and myself would have join
ed the army sooner, but for his illness-for he
was almost al the point of death only few days
before the Doth, and, even, then, unable to
siI up. After reaching Tacubaya some three
x Santa Anna wanted paaver +
so al it they they went and, rs every
one else frresaw and predicted, in about weeks
the armisce was at an end, and more fighting
render cd inevitable.
Tho early morning of Tho Slh Sept. opened
upon the Division of Gen. Worth, in position, in
number, (reinf"rced) 3lO0 ready for action. 1t
was intended only that he should ;akc a cannon
foundry, &c, not deemed Of great strength or i'm.
Poriance; but II was soon found that Il very large
Inearly the whole) Mexican force was there So
| the actiQl cOmmenced-and, although of only two
hours duration, turned TO be one Of the blood.
lest ever fought by our troops. We accomplish.
ed all we intended, and far more than was expect.
ed, ond returned 10 quarters that day by noon.-
! 1t then ascertaincd that the Mexican forco
was at least 1000, commanded by Santa a ma
| III person. We killed great numbers, took 500
| prisoners, among them 50 officers, 4 pieces of
cannon, and large quantities of ammunition. |
offered my services to Gen. Worth, that morning,
and he made of his Aids.
" A. gain, on the 18Th, the whole of our little
army was pu. in mo:ion; and, after as hot and
gallant work evor fell 10 the lot Of men, our di-
vision (Worth's) entered tie CITY that night
and. next day, tho whole took up quarters in the
fac.tamed Halls of the Montezumas. You must
Imagine my feelings Ga contrast to my frSi eniyee)
when rode through the streets that morning +
L Will attempt no descriI ton.
On lhp I5Ih, Capt. Danlcy, having been able
TO leave his room, for the first time three days
before, offered his services, and was accepted )
Aid to Gen. Quitman. In the active and eni
nenty gallant discharge OF his duties, he received
rnuskct shot in the leti knee JOINT. which disabled
hm, and VIII, probably, contne him 10 his bed
some three or four weeks yet. | hope his knee
will not be stiff Gen. Quiiman said 10 me, the
other day, that Danley was of the bravest
and most gala mt men he ever knew.
tOf ,pflo
the balls flew thick and fast--three that were so
fnr sneei n Ia do no injury. Daid me lha cnmpli.
Inenl OF bow--one on the stomach one on the
arm, and one just above the knee. Tucker was
wound ID, bat not dangerously, on the 18Th
. Finding that most, if not all, the fighting was
over, was unwilling 10 be ide--and pa articuIarlv
desIrous to keep up my familiarity with practice
i offered my services ns Surgeon in Worth's di.
vislon--havIng in charge several wounded officers
and hospital of about 100 patients. The rank
am pay q Surgeon are tho same as my receut
rank IN my regiment. AT present, it is impossi-
oie 10 return home. The road is impossible, ex-
cept for a considerable body of troops | shall
continue to do duty in my presen, capacitv. mil
an opportunity offers for return when. be assured
shall hasten 10 YOU.
: | refer you TO the "Pcayune'' for partulors
OF our letters, &C., as Kendall is hore like nv.
self, one of Gen. Worths volunteer Ads-and.
what he writes may be relied upon
-Ao H'''C S"id 10 you, In fOrmer letters. we
have met many kind friends here who have been
as brothers TO Never can | cease to reuo ri
them with feelings OF the deepes. and trues, arati
Iude, while exIs--nevor cease seeking for on.
por'untles TO make some return for all their cet
erous and dlsInlerestcd kindness-kindness in one
instance, at least, which braved death itself 10
save me and DanIey.
NY fellow prisoners, who were silly enough
to 60 TO Ioluca. as miles distant,) bv order of
the Mexican government, on the Ist of A August
when MAJ. Gaines, Danley and myself would not
have been returned at last. They all, 6 Off
GERS and 10 mcn got here day before yesterday.
on may form somo judgment of the charac-
Ter OF me iiSht OF The Slh, from the following re-
port OF Killed. aud wounded, us well rs the forces
engaged make it from tho Adluianl Generals
report:
= ktHed--2 field officers (among them the col
ebraIed Martin Scot) l Captain, 6 Lieutenants.
II non commissioned officers musician and s.
privates.
Wounded--5 field officers, III Captoins. . |
Asst Surgeons. 81 Lieuenants, 96 non.commis.
sioned officers. musicians, 504 prva,os, and
sergeant and IL prlvates missing.
The force engaged Gen. FWorth's division
lrcinforccd by Cadwaader's brigade, y 300 men. |