The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-05-04

should be wellireated; that he had surround
ed me with more than 10000 men; that re-
sistance was out Of the question-and, II
ATTEMPTED il, nv command would be put TO
rout and must be destroyed. In reply.
stated could not comply with his demand
and he was al liberty 10 commence opera
tons whenever he was inclined 10 do SO.
Soon after this the action was commenced
with his skirmishers on our left, which was
promptly met by ours, and continued WIN
out intermission on the side OF the mountain
until dark.
In the morning at sunsisc he renewed inc
contest with an overwhelming iorce-~i"'
artillery, infantry aud dragnons-which 'as'-
ed with very slight intCrmission un''i "a'S'
a portion Of the time the contest was huch
the severest have ever Witnessed particular
Nv towards the latter part oil the day. "hen
he (Saata Auua) brought up his reserve
and ia spite Of every effort on our part al
ter the greatest exerIrbns have ever VII
messed on both sides, drove us by an I'M
mense superiority Of numbers Tor some as
lance. He had aIleast Eye TO one at that point
against us. Fortunately, al the most critical
moment, two pieces of artillery which had
ordered up to support that part oil our line
met our exhausted men refreatng, when
they we're brought into battery and opened on
the enemy, then within fifty yaIds in hot Pur-
suit with canister and grape. which brought
him 10 halt and soon compelled him to iall
hack. In mis- tremendous contest we lost
three pieces Of artillery, nearly all the men
and horses having beeu killed or crippled.
which mt il out OF our power to bring them
off: nor did deem il advisable 10 attempt TO
regain them.
;ns, ,ur TANKS. He was handsomely repuls-
ed on our right, hut succeeded early IN the
d,y in gaining our left in consequence oil the
giving way Of one of the volunteer regiments
which could not be rallied with hut few eX-
ceptions, The greater portion retiring about
mile to large iancbo or farm house, where
our wagons and portion of our stores were
left. These were soon after attacked by the
eneny's cavalry, who were rePulsed with
some loss.
For several hours the fate of the day was
extremely doubtful, so much SO that was
urged by some Of The most experienced Of
ficers to fall back and take up new position.
This knew, il would never do TO attempt
with volunteers. aud at once declined H.
The scene now haI become one OF the deep
est interest. Between the several deep rayin-
es, there were portions Of level land from one
20 four hundred yards 10 extent, which be-
came alternately points of attack and defence,
after our left was turned, by both sides. These
extended along and near the base of the
mountain for about two miles, ana the strug-
gle for them may be very appropriately COM
pared to game Of chess. Night put stop
to the contest, aud, strange to say, both
armies occupied the same positions they did
ia the morning before the battle commenced.
Our artillery did more Than wonders.
We lay on our arm all night, as we had done
The two previous ones, without fires, there
being no wood to be had, and the mercury
below the freezing point, ready and expect
ng to renew the contest the next morning
Dut we found at daylight the enemy bad re-
rcated during The night, leaving his killed
aud mary of his wounded for us to bury and
lake care ol-carying of every thing else,
aud taking up position al this place. We
I'D not think il advisable 10 pursue, not know !
ng whether he would renew the attack, con-
iinue his retreat. wished to draw us from
ON strong position; but conlented our selves
with watching his movements closely. Find-
ing. on the 26Ih, he had rene wed his retreat,
ea,ly in the morning Of the 9th the army
was put in motion for this place, where we
arrived about ) P. M.-their rear guard con-
sistiug Of cavalry, leaving as our advance got
III sight.
al once determined on harrassing his rear;
hut on examining the state OF the men and
horses. found that five days aud nights
incessaut watching, and sixteen
hours hard fighting. had so exhausted the
first and broken down The latter, il was next
Ia impossible 10 accomplish anything without
rest. We remained quiet here until the Cd
inst, when pushed command on the San
Luis road TO large plantation called Incar
uaciOn, here We found between two and
three hundred wounded. in the most wretch
ed condition, besides those they carried with
them aud left here and on the fieIti. Here we
Iuok about ten prisoners, the main part of
then army having proceeded on in the d. |
recIion Of San LUIS in very disorganized |
coudiliun.
On the 22d the enemy threw in our rear. |
through the passes Of the mountains. 1000 |
,avalry. and ea,ly IN the morning Of the next
lay. the 23d made demonstrations against |
oaltillo and Ihrous hout the day. They sue
reedcd al one time IN cutting off the commu- !
nirati0n between the city and battle ground |
and making several prisoners, but were driv- |
Pm away by the officer commanding in The |
city, with two pieces of artillery, covered by
about sixty men. They however, while, in
of the road. prevented good |
many from running off to the city, TO which |
place about 200 of our men had succeeded (
III getting previously 10 The cavalry occupy |
irS the road-they the runaways, reporting !
that our army was beaten and in full retreat /
The loss on both sides was very great, as /
you may suppose-enough so on ours TO
cover the whole country in mourning for !
some of the noblest and priest Of the land
have fallen. We had 2t0 killed and 500 |
The enemy has suffered in still
greater numbers. but as the dead and woun- |
ded are scattered all over the country, it is |
difficult to ascertain their lumber The pris- |
oners who have fallen INTO our hands, he
tween 200 and 300-ensush to exchange for |
all who have been taken from us,) as well as !
some medical officers left behind to take care !
of the wounded say their killed ard wound !
ed are not less than 1900, aud they say per-
haps more.
| hope the greater ror,iOn of the good peo-
tie Of the country will be satisfied with what