The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-05-31
From the N. o. Picsyuns, 4,h inst.
Interesting from Chihuahua
The Battle Of Santa Cruz de Ro.
sa1k

utIS
TO The Y. s. steamship Fashion, Captain
Morgan, arrived from Brazos Santiago Y es.
terday, whence she sailed on the 30ih ult.
bringing US several days later intelligence
10 from the Rio Grande, and interesting news
from Chihuahua. Among the passenger.
on the Fashion was J. l.. Collins. Esq,
sr bearer of dispatches from Gen. Price and
Gen. Wool TO headquarters a, Washing
ton. Our readers are already familiar
with the name Of Squire Collins, honora.
bic mention having been repeatedly made
OF him. tie was taken prisoner some
months since near chihuahua, and confn.
l. ed till about the first Of February, when
he succeeded in making his escape and
joining the American troops ut Ell Paso.
lie participated in The battle of Santa Cruz
de Rosales, with Gen. Prices command,
and has kindly furnished US xi,h succinct
statement ofthe affair and tho events which
were connected with il. As We have lad
no accounts Of the engagement save from
: Mexican sources, IN Americans version
Of the affair will be read with interest.
Mr.. Collins informs US that about tho
first week in February he succeeded in
breaking prison at Chihuahus, then in pos.
session of the Mexican troops under com.
mand Of Gov. Trias, snd after az arduous
Journey of six days, succeeded IN reaching
Ell Paso, 800 miles distant then undor
command Of Lieut.. Col Rails. Of The Mis-
sour Mounted Volunteers. Previously to
his arrival, intelligence had been received
from various sburces that Urea, with
strong force o! lancors, vas upon the road
to attack them, having made detour 10
the westward, and these reports we're con-
/ firmed by the capture Of small party Of
/ Mexcans, under command Of lieutenant.
who were surprised and taken to small
town called Carazal, halfway between Chi.
huahua and Ell Paso. Letters announcing
the intended march Of Urres were found
IN the possession Of the commanding off,
GER. Intelligence was ihereupon despatch
ed TO Santa Fe, TO Gen. Price, who i'm.
mediately started with two companies Of
the frs, Regiment U. s. Dragons, com.
manded by Maj. Bell, oRs company Of
same regiment, acting as artillery, CON-
handed by Lieut.. Love, and the battalion
of ST. Louis Infantry, commanded BY Lit.
Col. Eas,on, and tho Santa Fe Battalion
under Major Walker, and arrived about
tho 2Oth Of February al Ell Psso, increas.
ing The command to about 1000 men.
1t was ascertsined that the report of
Ofrea's advance was entirely false, and
Squire Collins furnishing Gen. Price will,
all Information Of Gov. Trias's position
aud means 9! resistance, Gen. 3. at once
determined to march down and attack him.
Accordingly, on the lst Of March, he star
ted with about 400 men and arrived at Chi.
huahua on the evening Of the It'll, perfor.
ming the entire distance ia the extraordin.
airy short space Of seven days. A depu.
tallon of the civic authorities came out
and held an interview with Gen. Price, in.
forming him Of the reported conclusion of
a treaty of peace between Mexico and the
United States, and entreating him not to
enter the city. Gen. Price very proper.
ly disresarded this request, doubled the in.
formation and marched into the city. As.
ceralnlng that Trias was but one days
march removed from him, he determined
10 follow hun the next morning, and accor.
dinghy raised all the horses he could to
supply the place Of those broken down on
tho march from Ell Paso, and the rex, NOR
ming, at s o'clock, his command were all
on tbs march after Trias. Notwilhstan-
ding the previous long marches, this gal.
liant command accomplished the distance
of sixty miles that day and halted before
the town of Santa Cruz-a place Of about
200 inhabitants, where Trias's command
were in possession. About or 8 O'Clock
the next morning, Gen. Price sent into
town a flag Of truce and demanded the IN.
conditional surrender of Tras. This Gov.
I. refused, but subsequently, consented to
hold personal interview with Gen. Price,
at which he informed him that he had re.
ceved information of the conclusion of a
treaty Of peace, and was in daily expec.
tation of The receipt Of intelligence an
nounclng the establishment Of an arms.
tice.
Various propositions were made on both
sides, both parties, under existing circum-
stances, being reluctant TO resort TO a con.
test a. arms. Gen. Price would not con.
sent to Gov. Trias marching away with
all his arms and munitions, but agreed to
per;n, him TO return with them or send
them to chihuahua, and if they received
official intelligence Of the treaty, then 10
permit him TO remove them where he
chose. Gov. Trias rejected this, as we'll
as the proposition TO surrender, but beg.
ged Gen. Price 10 wait four days, by which
time he confidently expected the return Of
an extraordinary courier whom he had
despatched to The Durango for information
will, regard to the treaty and armistice.
To this Gen. Price consented, aud not
only waited the four days, bu, four days
longer, at the expiration of which time, a
portion Of his force having come up, in.
creasing his strength to about 700, he de-
lermined to attack The town. The Mexi.
cans had moi been idle all this time, hav-
ing strongly fortified the plaza and the
streets leading to it, loopholed their hous.
es aud made every preparation for firm