Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-24
ELISHA CUI LEX, Jr,
Iowa City, May 20, 1913.
From the New Orleans Detail
Extraordinary March and Brilliant
The Battle of Santa Cruz De
ROsaleS.
VICTORY.

At last we have the full details of thi.
important and brilliant victory, achieved
by our arms in the State Of chihuahua
from reliable source. Mr.. Collins,
bearer of dispatches from Brig. Gen.
Price, arrived in town last evening, from
chihuahua, ria Saltillo and Camargo. He
is on his way to Washington, having with
him Gen. Prices official report of the bat
tie lately fought by portion of the army
Of the North, at Santa Cruz de Rosales,
% leagues from Chihuahua. We gather
from MIR. Collins the following particulars
| of that action:
Gen. Price being at FL Paso, and learn
ing that Don Angel Trias, Governor of
Durango, was at chihuahua, with con-
siderable force, endeavoring to incite the
Mexicans to attack the Americans, deter
mined to make a forced march upon Chi
huahua, and surprise the town. He ac-
cordingly left Ell Paso on the lst March,
with 700 men, and made the march in the
| extraordinary short space of seven days,
the distance Being three hundred miles.
AS soon as Gen. Price arrived before
Chihuahua, and was preparing to attack
the place, Gov. Trias got alarmed and re-
treated out of town, with his whole force.
Leaving small force to occupy chihuahua
Gen. Price started in pursuit OF Trias, and
followed him up to the well built and de-
fensive town of Santa Cruz de kosales.
On demanding the surrender of the place,
he was informed by Governor Trias that
he could not enter the town, as treaty of
peace, or armistic, had been agreed upon
between the United States and Mexico
Negotiations then ensued Gen. Price con-
senting to wait four days for the return Of
a special messenger who had been des-
patched to the City Of Mexico, for copy
of the alleged treaty or armistic. Hewas
induced to grant this delay in order to
bring up some of his troops which he left
behind, as the town presented very for
midable appearance, being well defended
cannon, and large body of troops. On
the 7th day Of the negotiations the express
messenger not having returned and Gen.
Price being reinforced with more troops
and artillery, he began his preparations to
attack the town.
Early on the Sth day after his arrival
at Santa Cruz the cannonading commenced,
and was kept up on both sides for some
time very briskly. At IL of that day,
Gen. Price arranged his forces to storm
the place, when rumor reached him that
a force of 900 lancers were about to attack
him in the rear, which caused him to draw
off his forces to protect his wagons. The
report turning out to be untrue, the Gen
eral again advanced against the town in
three divisions, commanded severally by
Coils. Bolles and Lane, and Major Walker,
who assaulted at three different points,
The town like all Mexican towns beng
raked by cannon and the turrets of the
houses covered with the enemy, was able
to make quite vigorous resistance. But
it was vain against the indomitable courage
and energy of our brave western boys,
who pushed on regardless of the constant
fire of the enemy's artillery. and having
entered the town reverted to the plan OF
operations so successfully employed at
Monterey of cutting into and through the
houses, driving the enemy from the tops.
In this way our troops finally succeeded In
cooping the enemy up in the public Plaza,
where they were completely surrounded,
and after a short resistance, surrendered
at discretion. Among the prisoners were
Gov. Trias and the other official dignl-
taries, and forty-two officers. Fourteen
brass pieces, four wall-guns, and large
quantity of small arms where captured,
and about one hundred Mexicans were
killed in the action. The loss of the
Americans was five killed and twenty
wounded-two of whom afterwards died.
The prisoners were all released except
the Governor and State officers. Gen.
Price, the next day after the battle re-
turned to chihuahua leaving Col. Bolles
with six companies in charge Of Santa
Cruz de Rosales. When Mr.. Collins left
chihuahua, everything was quiet there.