The Arkansas banner., 1847-03-17

The following from the St sLos'fs OAsOf, ,ooesrs to give lhe most correct and graPsic ...oun, of the baitle beswsen portion of ,he Mexican army, ,aud Col Doniphan's com uand in New Mexico.
 n>,aclmem of Missouri Ligks Artillery
 Camp 6ebos Brueiie, Rio, ,6rande, Deeem-
 Ley 26, 1916, lgsT .isET
 DEAR SIR-J can only wrise 10 you few lines. being upon tlse point of breaking mp Camp. Our Detachment at Fray Cris.ohal overlook Col Doniphan's command. Mai Giloiu. win 250 men, had previously left I'll Pasa. and Col Jackson was following with POO men. Col. Doniphan had but f00 men with him, the remainder of his regiment being sick, attending on sick, and detached through the country, From Fray Cristobal, our detachment marched with Col, Doniphan sou,h, when, at the Laguna Of the Jousnaa!a del Muer,e, news reached us through an ex-. press. sent by Major Gilpin, thal the Mexi- cans had determined to resist at El Paso, and had collected considerable numberof troops, intending to give us battle. An express had been sent lo Santa Fe for par. of the Artillery under Major Clark, but no news had as yet reached us from there, SO that the detach- ment of 30 men from the three companies of our troops are all that are here from the bat tsIlion. At the Southern end of the Jouraada, ten miles north of Don Ana, the traders Had eucamped Contradictory rumors of the enemy's approach reached us daily.
 Yesterday, Christmas day when we had just arrived in camp here, with about 600 men, had unsaddled our animals, and most of the men were engaged in earryipggwood and water, the news was brought into camp of the enemy's being in sightand advancing It was about Two o'clock. P. si., and the day was very pleasant. Our horses grazing some distance from camp at the time, we formed single line and determined to meet the enc my as infantry. Their attacking being evi- den.ly designed on the left flank, near which was our wagon train, our Getachment was ordered from the extreme right 10 the left, where we soon took up our position One piece of Artillery, 490 Regular Lancers and Cavalry. and 100 Regular Infantry, besides some five hundred Militia troops from Fl Paso composed the enemy's force, according to the best information can obtain from reports of prisoners and from papers found amongst the baggage on the field of battle. The enemy ranged themselves on the East within half mile of our line, the mountains Tn their rear. In our rear was the river, with little brush-wood on it's banks.
 Previous to the encounter a Lieutenant from their ranks came forward, waving black flag in his hand, but halted when with ia 100 steps of our line. Thos Caldwell, our interpreter, rode out 10 meet him. The messenger, with the black flag of defence, demanded that the Commander should come into their camp, and speak to their General. The reply was, elf your General wants to see ouI Commander, ie. nim cone here.n We shall break your ranks then and take him therc," was the retort of the Mexican. Come and take him, said our Interpreter, unwhtlngly using the phrase of the Spartan al ThermopylG. A curse on you, prepare for chargs,s cried the Mexican, "We give no quarters, and ask none,' and waving his black flag gracefully over his head gaIloped back towards the enemy's line. Their charge was made by lhe dragoons from their right, directed upon our left flank, bringing our detachment into the closest fire. Their infantry, wiih one howizer with them, at lhe same time attacked our right flank.
 TheIr charge was handsome one, but was too well, too cooly, met to break our line. After their fire had been spent, their front column being at about 100 steps from the front of our flank, OUT line poured a vol ley into them, which being few times re- pea,ed, created such havoc in their columns, that their forces wheeled to the left, retreat ing from our fire, and in their flight made an attack on the provision train. Here they met with very warm reception, and were soon compelled to fly in all directions and in the utmost confusion. Their infantry hav- ing been put 10 flight, the Howard company, under the command of Lieut.. N. Wright, taking advantage of the panic, charged upon them and took their cannon from lhem--ths was soon manned by the artillery detacil. ment under Lieut. Kribben, in Col. Mitchel's escort. The enemy had by this time fled, leaving sheir arms, baggage, provisions and other stores on the field of ba,Ile.
 A small body o( mounted men under ihe command of Capt Reid, had by this lime gathered together in line and charged upon the enemy, pursuing them into the noun 'ains, where they sought refuge. e.
 The number of their dead Is said 10 be at least thirty, that of their wounded was slight as far as ascertained Had we single piece ol cannon with us they would have lost more ol their men, but having no artillery on our sde, we had to act as Infantry until we got possession of the howitzer, so gaiianlty cap lured by the Howard company.
 We lost not q single man, and had but seven slightly wounded-we took eight Pr'soners, six of whom died last night, Thus ended the battle of Bracito, tIie first battle of the army of the West, and as brave- 'y fought by our men as ever men fought at any engagement se
 We have evsry reason to believe that their !" more in store for us.
 C. II. KMBBEN,
 lst Lieut. Mo. Light Artillery.