Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1847-12-30
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF wan
(COncIl,deH Grnnn Lnet ....l


The sketches have presented of a., 80.
VI 'uie TWO man columns of orr army ,I ' '
pi".e an account of all the achievements IN H.
NY country which have reflected lus,re nn - a',.
arlns. as early as August 1916. General I{eo,',
nt 10 sI, s dpf hsg IN letter from sante Fe
beyond what would be required to hold it. and 10
accompany him 10 California; and he proposed to
send Il detachment to chihuahua 10 Join Gen. WOOL
who was advancing upon that place. On the 23d of
September, he ordered Colonel Doniphan, with the
first regiment Missouri volunteers on that service
After being detained some time for the reduction of
the Navaioe lndians-a restless and predatory tribe
ithabiting the region of New Mexico, west of the
range of mountains bordering the valley of the Rio
Gunde-Col Doniphan proceeded on this eXpcd-
ton attended by large company of American
merchants. On the 25th of December, the advance
of ,ie command was met by the enemy in consido-
rable force near BraZito, when an engagement took
place which resulted in the total defeat of the Mex
leans, with loss their part of nearly two hun
dred NJ killed and wounded, and on ours of only
seven wounded. The force engaged in this affair
on our SIDE was less than five hundred and on that
of the enemy thousand two hundred and TWEEN
ty, of which over five hundred were cavalry Pur-
suing its march, the command entered FL Paso with
ont further opposition. Here it aScertaned that
the column under General Wool had been diverted
from its original destination. 1t therefore became
necessary for the detachment to remain at Ell Paso
until reinforced by artillery, which had been prey
ously ordered from Santa Fe. This accession of
force did not join the command until early in Feb
runry, and then it moved forward towards Clihua-
hua. At its arrival at the Pass of the Sacramento,
about fifteen miles from the capital of the State on
the 26th Of February, the enemy was there discov-
cred in great force, strongly posted on the command
ing heights, fortified by entertainments, and well
s 5' , With ARTILLERY Arrangements were PROMPT
our batteries The action soon became general and
lasted from o'clock in the afternoon till near dark
All the enemy's redoubts were carried, and he was
driven with great slaughter from the field and COM
pctely dispersed. His artillery, consisting of ten
pieces and some culverlns, captured; and his
loss in killed and wounded was about six hundred,
while ours did not exceed nine men. The nuner-
cal strength of the enemy in this engagement was
over four tlousand-twelve hundred cavalry, twelve
hundred infantry, three hundred artillery, and over
fourteen hundred rancheros-under the command
of several officers of high rank and distinction. Our
entire force i'll the action was less than nine hundred
On the succeeding day our victorious troops entered
the capital of Chhualua and, after remaining there
some weeks, proceeded to join the army under Mai
General Taylor at Monterey.
This adventurous march by Col. Doniphan and
his small aud gallant command, of more than one
thousand miles through hostile country, in the
of which two battles were fought against vast
ly superior numbers, and decisive victories won,
with great loss the part of the enemy and almost
bloodless on ours is an achievement to which it
would be difficult TO find parallel in the history of
military operations.
After taking possession of Santa Fe in the sum-
mer of l646, and making the necessary arrange
ments for holding it and the territory of New NleXi-
co. General Kearny, pursuant to instructions from
uenar1ment. proceeded TO California nc oO,''
an unusual ana almost unknown route. GOING il6W
tile RIo Grande more than two hundred miles Inc
passed over to the river Ga, and followed its course
to its junction with the Colorado of the West dis
lance OF five hundred miles. His march was con-
tinued forty miles down the Colorado. thence sixtv
miles across the great desert. On the Cd of Decent
per he arrived at settlement on the frontier of Cal
Norma While pursuing his march from that nlacr
he was met two days thereafter, about forty miles
from San Diego, by small detachment of volun-
teers under Captain Gillespie, sent out by Commo-
dore stockton to give intelligence of the enemy.
VINO, 10 the number of six or seven hundred were
reported to be in arms in the territory.
Being informed that an armed party of Coforni-
ans was at San Pasqual, eight ten miles distant
rom INN, he moved forward on the 9th with n view
to attack them. An action ensued, and resulted in
thelr defeat, with considerable loss in killed and
wounded. The force under Gen. Kearnv engaged
OH this occasion did NOT exceed eighty; the enrmv
were more than double that number and, benp ali
well mounted, were able to make good their retreat.
The next day the detachment proceeded on its
march, and again encountered hostile party occu-
yIng hill near san Bernardo, and drove them from
their position. General Kearny remained with his
command at this place until the lIth. when he was
joined by party of sailors and marines sent out by
Commodore Stockton, and then proceeded TO San
Diego. Here terminated most arduous march of
one thousand and forty-tree miles, through a coun-
try never before traversed by am armed force and
beset with formidable difficulties only TO be sur
mounted by extraordinary energy and perseverance,
and towards its close INSTRUCTED by an enemy who
opposed desperate resistance, which was over
come by severe and sanguinary conflicts Our sue
cesses, creditable TO the heroic band who acbiev-
ed them, were not obtained without the loss of three
brave and accomplished officers and about eighteen
gallant men.
On the Doth of December a force of five hundred
men, consisting of dismounted Dragons, volunteers
marines, and sailors, moved from San Diego upon
Cludad de los Angeles, the strong hold of the enc
my, with view TO succor party of Americans mo-
wing on the same point from Monterey. On the 9Th
OF January this force reached the San Gabriel river,
where it found the enemy full six hundred strong,
with artillery stationed on the heights which com
manded the passage OF the river, and determined to
dispute il. severe conflict eIIsued which lasted
an hour and Il half, when the heights were carried
and the enemy defeated and driven from the field
The next day he was again met and routed on the
plains OF Alisa Without further resistance the de-
tachment moved forward and arrived on the 10th nj
Ciudad de los Angeles, and tookp eaceable possess.
ion of the place.
nc G Se on ess s sSne 81 lie leaders Of the
Calilornians, few days thereafter, met Lieut. Col.
Fremont, who was in command OF four hundred vol
unteers, near San Fernando, and entered into cap
itulation with him, whereby the people under arms
and in the field agreed TO dispense and remain quiet
and peaceable. Thus the serious disturbances which
had arisen in California subsequent TO the first occu-
patton of the country by our forces were put down
and from that time to the latest period to which our
information extends all was there tranquil, aud no
serious apprehensons of further disturbance were
entertained.
Colonel Mason was sent from the United States in
November 1885, to California, where lac arrived in
February General Kearny had permission TO re-
turn home when the condition of affairs should no
longer require his presence in that country Pursu-
ant to instructions from this department, the com
mand of our land forces in California, and the charge
Of nnr telnnnraN civil government there estabshed