New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-02-02
Col Mays Expedition.
Correspondence II the Delta.

VICTORIA. Jan J. 1sis.
Between and o'clock, P VI. on the lst Capt.
May cot in with be Dragons lie reports the loss Of II
men and their horses and pack mules. As far as can
gather the particulars and they come from Capt May
they are these between Monte Morales and Linares
Capt May ascesncd that there was pass In gorge Of
toe mountains sd determined 10 ascertain the nature
Of il. HIS command consisted OF two companies Of
dragoons-some 20 or 90 men. On approaching the foot
OF the mountain every precsuton was used to guard
against surprise Lieutenant with IL men acted As the
rearguard and guard Of the pack mules Of the command
who remained few hundred yards IN the rear and
in this way they progressed slowly and carefully. until
they found out the pass which was so narrow that Il
was with much difficulty single horse could 20 through
IT, But May was determined to traverse H. and make
what discoveries be could on the other side Die.
mounting himself and he led his horse and the
way, and after experiencing much difficulty in get.
ting from rock 10 rock. the command ultimately sue
cecied in getting through. On toe right hand side
OF this pass there Il a perpendicular chf OF some
600 feet or so high as some Of the mon say that
a man up there looks Ike little boy On the
left hand after 10 II feet Of perpendicular there was
gradual slope the top which enemy ;ould run
down re piece and then return Ii IS represented a.
being the dangerous pass 20 daring enemy that i
known and one where few determined men could stop
the advance of thousands. After going Tar on the
other side thought necessary they turned to come
back and the main BODY rerraced their steps with the
same caution observed IN efccfng the first passage. But
the rear sri we're acky IN getting hr0us "a this
time for appears after that the Lieutenant aud Sergeant
gol through. large bpc- OF men. who stationed Them
selves on the perpendicular side showered down stones
from the top last and heavy that their advance
wss completely cut of and that they either killed
taken prisoners made their escape 70 the other side
Il seems that Capt Nay not taken By surprise for
he continually urging vigilance and let his beat 5u'
ser in the sound tHe alarm m case ~ accident
a. though he anticipated attack rumbling sound
IN the pass caused him 20 malt for the reugusrd bur
they not coming up when he thought II was time iOr
them 10 reach him be wheeled about and went In the
direction Of the pass sgan a, full speed. lie shortly
met the Lieutenant and a Sergeant and Immediately de-
manded OF the former. Where's your menF The an
swer OF the Lieutenant was, CLOSE AZ hand, ~ the
same time turning his head around as II with the expec
taton OF seeing them Just behind him But there were
none there save the Sergeant and the truth immediately
flashed upon the commander that something was wrong
with them "A quick thou ghf, and the nature
the path would permit they dashed of for the pass and
when they reached IL found that a large number OF
stones had been thrown down and discovered traces Of
blood along tn dehe. They followed up "a fas posi-
bic bu, IL OF avail they could make no farther
discoveries nor learn anything OF the fate OF their com
panions they sOrrowuy rcraced their steps SUD ar
rived here above noticed.
Ihave gventhe above truly was related 20 me- with
out omission or addition Nay has put the Lieutenant
under arrest snd many blame him for being in adj
OF bis guard when his post was in the rear OF it
As 70 his travelling without discovering that his com
maui was absent will be readily credited by eny
who s familiar with travel In chApporal country or In
any narrow pas where two abreast cannot proceed In
coming through the pass the men were necessarily -
or % feet spart-iher safety demanded ths-and With
the noise on the stones made by his own horses feet
and those Of sergcsns horse, and this In coming
down decvry tits not strange, at least 70 me- that he
ala lot miss them; snd 70 bis looking back 70
them tina, may have been out OF the question, a. il il
natural 70 suppose he needed the constant use OF bis
eyes guide his horse over the rugged path Military
discipline no doubt demanded his arrest but censure
should be reserved until the whole statement OF the mis-
hap is made known by some who witnessed H. Up
20 this time do not believe that Gen Taylor possess
ed Of more detail than IL here set down.
Is not thought that any regular soldiers Of the Mex
can army had hand IN this business haneheros and
bandtt acluated by plumber than anything else,
are believed to have cut them of thinking probably that
there was more OF value than what they obtained In
the hands OF such the fate Of the prisoners doubt
full though they would be perfectly safe in falling into
the hands st On officer Of the army.