Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-02
LETTER FROM MAJOR GAINES.

We take great pleasure in publishing the fol-
lowing letter from San Luis Potosi on the 10Th
ult, since which date the major, with the other
prisoners, has left for the city of Mexico. His
friends will read with satisfaction the circum-
stances which account for the surprise und sur
render Of the party, as we'll as of tho uealmen,
they receive from the Mexicaus.-N o. Pic.
| March IL.
SAN LUIS PoTosl, Mexico, Feb. 10, 1e47.
wrote you from SNltillo, informing you Of my
movements up TO about the 10Th inst. With the
three companies under my command, was sta.
toned alternately ut Aqua Nueva and The Pass ol
Palomas, both OutposS. For moro than one
month after my arrival At Saillo there were con-
slant rumors ofthe approach Of the enemy, and
tho great advantage they had over us (being in
their midst) made my dulies extremely ardurous.
They had every means of knowing our precise
condition from day TO day, whilst VIC found il ve-
ry difficult TO find out anything concerning them
| explored tho country in their direction by day
and by night, and for about thirty days never
slept with my clothes off, and most generally
booted and spurred. On The 18th Of January
left my camp at the Palomas Pass with Capt c.
NJ. Clay, Lieut.. Davidson and thirty chosen men
taken equally from Milam's, Pennington's and
Clay accompanies, andravelled about eighty miles
towards this place on The Palomus road, and find
ing no enemy and hearing nothing of him, bore
westward and passed the mountain into the plain
through which the Aqua Nucva road passes,
which struck between the II ucienda lncarna-
con and San Salvador. At this place | met
with many Mexicans, who gave mo the most pos
tive assurances that TO their knowledge there
was no Mexican army in tho ncighborhood and
II being late in the evening of tho third day Of
my reconnaissance, and my men being very tired
and hungry, | determined logo to the Hacienda,
about ten miles distant, and 10 spend the night.
AT this place met with Major Borand. of the
Arkansas cavalry, with about forty men, who had
been there three days. awaiting the arrival of an
additional force, TO enable them 10 attack de-
tachmem of the enemy, Two hundred strong,
then said 10 be at the town of Saado, about forty
miles distant. Our united forces we considered
equal 10 the undertaking; and on the following
evening, u little before night, we started on this
After travelling about twelve miles
we met with some Mexcans, who assured us there
we're no Mexican soldiers at Salado, and that the
distance was at least sixty miles. We had no
guide, the night was very dark. and tremend.
GUS storm was coming up. These facts, togelh.
er with the information given us Of The non-exis.
tencc of The enemyin the neghborhood determ.
ined US to the Hacienda. Had we continued our
route one OF two hours longer We should have
met Gen. Minion with 5000 cavalry.
On the following morning we found ourselves
completely encompassed by this force, and lit
tie after sunrise their buges sounded on all sides,
which we answered with our solitary buole nnd
three cheers twice told. Their troops approach
cd on one side, and white flag on another.-
We required their troops 10 retire, previous to
any conference, which being complied with, the
dag approached, and the result was, that in one
hour we would answer their admonition TO sur.
render. We ehad sixly.six men and six officers,
wllh about twenty rounds Of ammunition each
no water, no bread, no meat. They said they
had 5000 men present, and the demonstrations
around US left but liule room TO doubt its truth
SUBSTANTIALLY. The result of our deliberalion was
that we would hear proposition from them, in
answer to which they proposed TO send in an Off.
Ger OF equal rank with myself, whilst repaired
TO their camp. This being done, rode out, re.
eelyed the propositions Of The general, returned,
and stated them 10 our officers, who agreed 10
Them; again returned 10 the general, and about
II o'clock we surrendered as prisoners ofwar-
the terms being that we were entitled to the most
liberal and'ex'ended privileges 10 which prison.
ers under any circumstances are entitled.
NOtwiihstandinglhe great disparity Of fnumbers
about foFy-lour to one--our men exhibited a
thirst Tor the fight truly astonishing. IL there
vAa single individual who felt the Slightea. dis