Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-05-18
Interesting from chihuahua.
From the New Orleans picnunne NAV 4
The Rattle at Santa Cruz.

Grande, and interesting news from Chihuahua.
Among the passengers on the Fashion were |
]. L. Collins, ESQ.,, bearer of dispatches from
Gen. Price and Gen. Wool to headquarters at
Washington. Our readers are already famil- |
lar with the name of Squire Collins, honorable |
mention having been repeatedly made of him.
He was taken prisoner some months since near
Chihuahua, and confined till about the first of
February, when he succeeded in making his
escape and joining the American loops at Ell
Paso. He participated in the battle of Santa
Cruz de Rosales, with Gen. Prices command,
and has kindly furnished us with succinct
statement of the affair and the events which
were connected with it. As we have had no
accounts of the engagement save from Mexican
sources, an Americans version of the affair
will be read with interest.
Mr.. Collins Informs us that about the first
week in February he succeeded in breaking
prison at chihuahua, then IN possession OF the
Mexican troops under command OF Gov. Trlas,
and after an arduous journey of six days, sue
ceeded IN reaching El Paso, 800 miles distant,
then under command of Lieut.. Col. Rails, of
the Missouri Mounted Volunteers. Previous
ly to his arrival, intelligence had been received
from various sources, that Urea, with strong
force of lancers, was upon the road to attack
them, having made detour to the westward,
and these reports were confirmed by the cap
ture of small party of Mexicans, under COM
mand of lieutenant, who were surprised and
taken at small town called Carazal, halfway
between chihuahua and Ell Paso. Letters an
nouncing the intended march of Urea wefe
found in the possession of the commanding Of
ficer. Intelligence was thereupon despatched
to Santa Fe TO Gen. Price. who Immediately
started with two companies of the lst Regi-
ment, U. S. Dragons, commanded by Major
Pa1l Of nj octir oc
artillery, commanded by Lieut. Love, and the
battalion of ST. Louis infantry, commanded by
Lieut.. Col. Easton. and the Santa Fe battalion
under Major Walker, and arrived about the
| Doth of February at Ell Paso, increasing the
command to about 1900 men.
1t was ascertained that the report Of Unea's
advance was entirely false, and Squire Collins
| furnishing Gen. Price with all information of
Gov. Trias's position and means of resistance,
Gen. P. at once determined to march down
and attack him. Accordingly. on the LIST of
March, he started with about 400 men and ar
rived at Chihuahua on the evening of the 18th,
performing the entire distance in the extraor-
binary short space of seven days, A deputation
of the civic authorities came out and held an
interview with Gen. Price, informing him of
the reported conclusion ola treaty of peace be-
tween Mexico and the United States, and en-
treating him not to enter the city. General
Price very properly disregarded this request,
doubted the information, and marched into the
| city. Ascertaining that Trias was but one
days march removed from him, and he deter
mined to follow him the next morning, and
accordingly raised all the horses he could TO
supply the place of those broken down on the
march from Ell Peso, and the next morning at
s o'clock, his command was on the march after
Trias. Notwithstanding the previous long
marches, this gallant command accomplished
the distance OF sixty miles that day, aud halted
. before the town of Santa Cruz-a place of about
1000 inhabitants, where Trias's command were
!, in possession. About or o'clock the next
morning, Gen. Price sent into town flag O.
truce and demanded the unconditional surren
: der of Trias. This Gov. L. refused, but subse
quently consented to hold personal interview
with Gen. Price, at which he informed hin
that he had received information of the con
n clusion ola treaty of peace, and was in dali,
l. expectation OF the receiptof intelligence an
t nouncing the establishment of an armistiee.-
/ Various propositions were made on both sides
ID both parties, under existing circumstances, be
D ing reluctant to resort to a contest at arms
a Gen. Price would not consent to Gov. Tria
+. marching away with all his arms and ammu
" nitions, but agreed to permit him to retur
: with them or send them to Chihuahua, and
they received official intelligence of the treat
| tUen 10 permit 10 T6nOVB IIleH1 WU6re ii
: chose. Gov. Trias rejected this. as well as tn
e. proposition to surrender. but begged Geners
IN Price to wait four days, by which time he cor
~ fidently expected the return Of an exraordinar
courier whom he had despatched to Durang
for information with regard to the treaty an
armistice.
er To this Gen. Price consented, and not onl
va waited the four days, but four days longer, {
ny the expiration of which time, portion of hi
ar- force having come up increasing his streng
ITS about 700, he determined to attack the tow
of The Mexicans had not been idlea all this tim'
is having strongly fortified the plaza and tn
~. streats leading to it, loop-holed their hous
le and made every preparation for a fir
to. resistance. On the morning of the 18th. abo
- o'clock, after another demand for an unco
ditional surrender had been made and rejectt
the attack was commenced by brisk canno
lilo ade. The American forces were subsequent
ION divided into three parties, to attack the wor
~, from three different positions-the first und
y"' COL Rails. the second under Lieut.. Col. Lar
'ne and the third under Major Walker, of the Sa
are ia Fe Battalion. The contest was maintai
at ed with great yigor until about ii o'cloC
A when report was brought in that force
his about 900 Mexican lancers had arrived near
ow and were about making an attack upon t
rear. The troops were then withdrawn, a
a cessation of hostilities ensued, Lieut.. Col
by mel Lane being sent to reconnOltre. The
red port of the arrival of lancers proved to be fal
so and about 3 o'clock the action was resume
no and continued till about dusk, when the Am
! leans had succeeded in working their W
through the houses into the plaza, and t
oi Mexicans surrendered at discretion. The Il
IN on the side of the Mexicans was about
killed, and as many wounded, while on c
side there were but five killed and TWEEN
be- wounded-two of whom subsequently died.
'ipe The Mexican force was from 1900 to 2000.
she The officers, some forty in number, were ia
one EN- prisoners, and the whole amount of ar
ade and ammunition captured. There were 70
we teen pieces of artillery, some of a heavy Ca
one bre, and about 1000 stand of small arms.
and the 18th, Gen. Price started back for Chin
hua, taking with him Gov. Trias, and p
ton of his prisoners, and leaving behind Lii
ave Col Rails, in command, to follow as soon
lion practicable. Mr.. Collins informs US that
vbo troops conducted themselves in the cool
manner, and distinguished themselves by tn
bravery, officers and men. The Mexican pl
.ne oners were all liberated upon parole soon
'he ter they arrived at Chihuahua. Squire Coll