New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-09
Iater-O6iciai Account of the Battle.
Correspondence Of the St Louis Union.
INDEPENDENCE, Feb. TO- 1851.

INDEPENDENCE req. TO- EST
DEAR SIR: To-day another company arrived
from the plains bringing Santa Re dates as late as jan
uary 7. -,
The news which l sent you yesterday lie confirmed
in almost every particular. and enclose you an ohclA
report Of the battle printed In santa re- ana SEM me
by friend. Yours &c H.
On the os,h Of December 1916, the Mexican forces
from the City Of Chihuahua Chout eleven hundred in
NUMBER met the united states forces under command
Of Col A w. Doniphan, consisting Of AK hundred men,
500 Of them being OF his troops the Isl regiment OF
NJ NJ Volunteer end a detachment Of 100 men from
SAINTS Fe under command OF Ii Col Mitchell OF the 20
Regiment consisting Of 30 men from Maj Clarks Bat
talon of Llght Artillery under command oil capt hud
son and IL Krbben9 and ~ from Col Prices Res lment
aud Col Willecks Battalion miles tHis side Of ~
Peso.
Col DOniphan;
Col D states that lie has met the enemy and conquer
ed land Is going on 70 take Fl Psso. He farther
states that the enemy attacked him when his men were
ia great confusion but they were called together imme
dsiey and drawn up as Infantry and received three
fires from the enemy, when the whole line opened a
brosdside telling with great effect and breaking the
entire line Of the enemy. Capt Reid made gallant
charge after the third Are with l6 mounted men and 10
his attack killed several Of the enemy. One mule load
of powder and several horses snd nue were captured
Most Of the Mcxcans who were killed were shot in the
head ar evidence that our men shoot too nigh Inc
battle lasted about halt hour There only about
% minutes 10 prepare from the time the enemy were
discovered.
Thomas EOrsyth. who brought tue EXPRESS
the Americans had glorious Christmas froic on the
liquor bread and wine which they captured.
We under the greatest Obligations 10 hsj Clark
for the following report from Lieut. hriooen giving
trus and account and the full particulars OF the
battle.
Camp below BEAcITE RIO GAANpE, Dec. p, 1916
DIARsm. can only write to you few lines,
being upon the point Of breaking Up camp. Our de
tachrnent II Fra Cri.tobal overlook Col DonPhSns
command Major Glpin, with go men, had previous
" LETT for IL PssO. and Col Jackson was following
vSith 900 men Col DoniphAn had but 80 men with
him. the remainder Of bis regiment being sick. attend
ing on sick and detached through the country From
/ Fra cristoesi, our det-shHent marched with Col
opel Douiphan south. when al the Laguna OF the
| Tornado del Muerte, news reached Us through
an express sent by Msjor Gpn that the Mexcsns bad
determined 10 resist Al Il Paso and had collected
considerable number Of troops intending 10 give US bat
lie An express had been sent 10 Santa 70 for part Of
the Artillery under MAJOR Clark but no news had as yet
reached from there that the detachment OF 81 men
from the three companies Of our corps are al hs mere
are here from the battalion Az the southern end OF me
Jornsda ten miles north Of Don Ana the traders had
encsmped. Contradictory runners OF the enemyss p
prosch reached as daily. ,,
Yesterday Christmas day when we had just arrived
In camp here with about COO men, had unsadded our
animals and most Of the we're engaged IN carrying
wood and water the news was brought INTO camp Of the
ensmys being in sight and advancing IL was shout
O'clock ~ and the day very pleasant Our horses
were grazing distance from camp al Toe ume We
formed single line and determined 10 meet tne enemy
as lnfsntry Their attack being evidently dssgneo on
! the LETT flank near which was cur wagon ualhl OaI
/ Attachment was ordered from the extreme rgnt
| 10 the left where soon took up our position one
piece Of Artillery 490 regular Lancers and cavalry and
100 regular Infantry, beside some I'VE naneIee
| troops from Fl Paso composed the enemys iorce ae'
eording to the best infsrmston can obtain nom re-
ports Of prisoners and from papers found anons ne
| baggage on the field Of batile. The enemy rsnged
themselves on the east within bali mig Of our Inc
the mountains ia their rear In rear was the rlFer
with little bush wood on its banks -
Previous 10 the encounter. Lieutenant from theI
ranks came forward waving blsck nss IN MS nana Out
halted when within enc hundred steps Of our line
Thomas Caldwell our Interpreter. rode out to meet
him. The messenger with the black rag OF oeIAnce nc
mAnded that the Commander should come INTO mel
camp and speak 10 their General The reply was
II your General wants 20 see our Commander
let him come here We shall break your RANKS
then and take him there the retort oil me
Mexican Come and take linn said ouE N
terpreteT, unwittiDgly using the phrase Of tne
Spartan AZ Thermopyle curse on you, prepare ior
scharse- cried the Mexican. we give no quarters
over his head saloped hack toward the enemy line
Their charge wa made BY the Dragons nom tneii
right directed uPcn left Sank ernsins our det.eh
neui into the closest IRE. Their Infantry Vic one
howitreT with them AZ the same time attacking oui
right 1xnk. 4.
Their charge was q handsome one, bat was too wei
too eooy met 10 break line Amer thsir are bad
been spent their front column beng ABOUT Nv sep
from the front Of aAnk, our line poured voIey
into them, which being few Zines repeated created
such havoc in their columns that their forces C
the EFF retresrns from Ere and II their 1ishi made
an attack the provision train Here they meta yerJ
warn reception and were soon compelled 70 ~ u a. o.
REGIONS and IN Tie eoufuson- Their ntsnfy nav
Ing been put to ssbt Tie Howard Company under the
eonnsne VI LIN taking advantage OF me panic
charged up0n them and took their eannoc TON tnsm
This was manned BY the artillery cetaennenf IN
der Lieut. Kriooen. in Col xiisbeIs escort TIE enc
my had By This time Fed leaving thar ANA baggage
provisions sad other stores. the teld Of battle.
A anal body OF mounted man under me command o.
Capt Reid lad By this time gathered together IN q Ina
and charged upon the snsny pursuing iaen inio the
mountains. whore hey sought refuge
The number Of thsir dead said TO be al least 81 tns
Of their wounded was sighr far a. sssertAnsd Hsd
We single piecs Of cannon with u they would have
lost OF their men but having nc artillery on on
sids ~s had 70 act ~ infantry unrl ~s got possession
the hovrsr % CALAMITY captured % ne HOWARD CON