The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-21
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ DE RosALEs.

HEApquARrrRs ARMY THE WEsr,(
Chihuahua, March 81, 1848 y
GENERAL: have the honor to submit a report of
my operations from the period of adopting the inten
tions expressed in my communication to the War De-
partment dated 9th February 1s4S to the present in
slant. lr
After making such arrangements, both military and
civil deemed essential for the security and tran
guilty of New Mexico took up the line of march on the
Sth February with company Missouri horse for I'll
Paso where had previously ordered concentration
of the following troops to operate against the State of
Chihuahua viz three companies United States dra-
goons, nded by Major d. l.. Beall-one of which
acting Us light artillery, under the command of
Lieutenant Love six companies Missouri horse under
the command OF Colonel Rails five companies Mis-
souri, infantry, under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Easton; and Major Walkers battalion Of
santa Fe horse three companies OF horse and one OF
light artillery. .Ui. 80 rr
Fee $40 miles where ut adopted for
the intended operations the peculiar
privations which must necessarily be endured on the
road thus travelled have been, believe already sub
mittcd to tho department in former reports
The additional information at FL Paso confirming
the many reports respecting tho hostile intentions OF
the enemy, supported by positive evidence to
tended preparations in the fabrication of and
munitions of war; together with contributions Of small
from the adjoining States induced me to change
my original plan OF operations, and adopt forced
marches with my best mounted troops for the purpose
OF striking blow before the onemy could conceive my
design. With this determination, despatched Major
Walker with three companies of his battalion the
night of the 24th to occupy the small town Of Carrza
distant from Ell Paso ninety miles, and situated
TO command all The passes leaulng TO Chihuahua.
This command had orders to reconnoitrc the country ;
cut oil all communication by establishing strong
pickets and make every effort to obtain information
respecting the designs and movements of the enemy
On the LIST of March, after having been delayed by
the non-arrva of my supply trains conducted they
compelled to be by inexperienced officers, re-
sumed my march with four companies of Rails and two
of Beall's command supplied with eight days subsis
tence leaving orders for Loves artillery tho remain
der of Rails command, under Lieut. Col. Lane and
Eastons infantry with the exception Of company,
which designed additional protection to tho train,
yet in the rear, to march the ID Major Walker, at
Carrza received additional information, but sue.
the enemy.
Thus far my march successful, and continued
so until the night of the 9th When within sixty
miles of Chihuahua, small party of my advance
expeetedly came upon of the enemy's pickcts
which, unfortunately, succeeded in escaping.
Aware, now, that my approach would be known on
the following morning pushed forward my command
until arrived within six miles of the Sacramento at n
point termed Laguna, where was met by flag of
truce from the general commanding the Mexican forces
protesting against the advance of troops Chi
huahua upon the ground that instructions had been
received from tho Mexican government suspending
and signed by commissioners behalf of both govern
meats The evidence adduced on behalf Of this
ton did not then deem sufficiently satisfactory and
could not, therefore, comply with the proposition.
Convinced of the useessness of further conference
solicited to send in advance of my command two
of my officers. to arrange the preliminares of
pitulation TO this request yielded and mmed
despatched Capt Mckissick, of the quarter-mastcr
department and Lieut. Prince, my assistant adult
general who were fully made acquainted with y
views. Fearful that discrimination the object of
interview, determined to move my command upon Chic
huahua that night and accordingly proceeded wit
pidy when in about hour after the departure omy
officers was met by some American citizens of Chi
huaiua who informed me of the retreat. the morning
previous of the Mexican army with their munitions of
Anticipating events of this nature, had, on the
previous day, detached Beas dragons, that, by
forced march the mountains during the night he
would be able to ntersect the Durango road aud pos
sbly encounter the enemy i'll his rapid and confused
flight For his operations respectfully refer to the
hprav hni cd QO'C Mt nioht my
troops had possession Of the city On the following
morning. Uhe Sth) with poronso Of Rails, Bealls and
Walkers commands (thc majority mounted) and num-
berng about $50 pursued the enemy to the town
of Santa Cruz de Rosae where he had already strong
ly fortified hmselfa distance of 60 miles from Chhua
hua-where arrived Mt sunrise the morning of the 9th
After careful reconnaissance of the place deter
mined to carry the town by storm, notwithstanding
tide immense superiority of the enemy in numbers i'm
plements, and munitions of Dismounting Rail s
with the exception of McNain's company and Wal
kers commands to operate as infantry, and posting
Beall's Dragons. augmented by company
of Rails regiment to act either a to inter
cept the flight of the enemy in the event of success
determined the attack the west side of the with
Rails command and the southeast angle of the
with Walkers command. These arrangements perfected
dispatched Lieutenant Prince with flag Of truce, -.
manding unconditional surrender Of the tow and
public property. An interview upon this summons
requested by General Trias which readily granted for
the reason adduced-viz that official notice from the
Mexican government Of treaty of peace having been
signed by commissioners, on behalf of both govern
ments had been received. and the solemn assurance
by General Trias that he himself had doubt to
the existence of the treaty that he felt
sured that confirmation of the same from his govern
ment would reach him by courier (exprcss) expected
in three days This declaration supported by the
honor Of the Mexican general, and under the circum
stances regarded important. therefore made the
proposition contained in the subsequent correspon.
dence, which have the honor to submit herewith
That success must inevitably follow any might
decree, had not the slightest doubt expecting
achievements of my artillery and horse. aud will
ling If human life could be saved to withdraw for
few days my forces; though at the same time.
sidered it my duty to bcsiege the town, maintain
ed the right to dictate such terms deemed consist
ent with American honor.
1t will thus be that small American force not
exceeding 300 men in the aggregate, besieged with
success a strongly fortified town containing over 600
troops of the enemy. without tents. a scarcity of
provisions, and suffering from the effects Of forced
marches beyond parallel my troops checrfully per-
and are entitled to the highest considerations of their
government.
From the 9th instant to the morning of the 10th
nothing of Importance transpred for the subject of my
report the correspondence before alluded the
ARRIVAL of small detachments of the several nds
together with two 12pOunder hOwitZers, Of Major
Walkers battalion, under the command of Captain
Hassendenbel whom left at Chihuahua the morn
Expecting daily sally from the enemy, my troops
were constantly in the saddle vgilant and
tos each appeared to possess the individual interests
which belongs more properly to the commander. That
the enemy exhibited supinenessthat his every effort
became paralyzed by the vigilance of my troops, is
sufficiently manifested by his total nacon, although
numbering four times my own. With n battery of
eight pieces Of artillery Several heavier than any
my guns, ana nine wall pieces no attempt was made
designs cxeanted, or pickcts forced to remedy the
evils which We're the subject of complaint in his official
correspondence.
About daylight on the morning of the 10th, my ex-
peced endorsements arrived they consisted part
of three companies Of Missouri horse, under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Colonel Lane and Love 's.battcry.
The reports of these officers which have the honor
to submit cvincc zeal seldom dispa ycd rapdity Of
movement yet TO be surpassed and iron energy Of
will which recognizes limit, and convey to the de-
partmcnt n record of their merits.
Convinced now Of the necessity of terminating a
sicgc peculiarly burdcnsome to my troops determined
at once upon act. From my several
felt the enemy,bcevcd my main force would be
directed against that portion of the fronting my
camp, az new batteries had been established, and an
unusual degree of activity became apparent through
out the siege in that quarter. At seven o'clock AM
Lbrokc up my camp and with my entire force, except
5ng Beas dragoons augmented by Captain McNair's
fcompany Missouri horse, who left to cut off
retreat the Durango road, proceeded round the
southern point Of the town, where placed in position
hnttalion nrntectcd the artil-