Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-02-21
Lates. from Yucatan.
Battle 5efsyeea the 4 sslerica.. Vos-
uM!ePrS and the Indians

un.eerS :sEd is.e Indians.
The brig Machigonne, Capt Chamber
lain, arrived at this port yesterday from
sisal, having sailed thence on the 18th
inst. Twenty-Five Americans who had
volunteered in the Yucaian service, and
belonged to Captain Dorsey's company,
returned in the brig. The following OIL
GERS, amongst others, also came over
Capts. j.. j. Gaines, on furlough, Briggs,
Edmundson and Solise, and Leuts. c. c.
Hicks, "A. Blal:eley and Brown.
We have no papers by this arrival, but
learn verbally that there have been sew
eral actions between the American vol
unteers and the Indians, and that the lat
ter are in such overpow ering force as to
make success over them always costly
and often doubtful. On TIE 9th Of De-
cember detachment Of Americans, about
three hundred strong, under Lieut.. Col.
BesaDcon, had an engagement with q
large body Of the Indians at Tihosueo-
we also find it spelled Teasuca. The
Indians We're here estimated at from six
to eight thousand. In this action Capt.
Kelley and Lieut.. Campbell were woun-
ded, it is supposed ,nortally, and private
Bradley of Capt. Gaines company, was
killed. The next morning (Christnas
day the action was resumed, Col. White
now being in command. The Indians
were steadily falling back; but before
night, the Americans, who had pursued
them for several miles through a constant
rain. got quite out of ammunition and re-
turned TO Tihosuco. This day the Amer
leans lost thirty-eight in killed and woun-
ded. Lieu'. John II. Gallagher, of this
city, belonging to Capt. Malloy's compa-
ny, was killed; also, Scrgts. Long and
Conyery, Of Capt. Briggs company, and
Corporal Morse, of Capt. Freeland's com
pany of rangers. There were about 500
Americans engaged this day, and nearly
ten thousand Indians.
On the 9th the Americans again re-
sumed the offensive, and marched for
Iela, an Indian town SIX leagues distant
As on the 25th the Indians made des-
perate resistance, with every advantage of
position and numbers. The road was
barricaded in some sixty places with
rocks and stones piled up across it, with
loopholes for musketry. They were dri-
ven from one to another of these success
sively, till after weary days work and
much hard fighting, the Americans reach
ed Tela and burnt ii. They lest this
day eight men in killed and Wounded
The following day portion Of the Amer
leans returned to Tihosuco, and another
detachment moved on to hacienda Of
Col. Zetina, occupied by Tic Indians, and
drove them from it. The Americans
subsequently returned to Tihosuco.
On the 9th inst. Col. White took up
his lire Of March from Tihosuco for Ba-
Gala, seaport On the Bay of Honduras,
just north O.! the English settlements
Here the IN lians are represented as in
great force, and this is the port by which
they have all along received their sup
plies of munitions, SC. Pat their most
celebrated chief, is in command here, and
a severe engagement is antici pated, which
may be decisive Of the whole war.
In the various actions spoken of above,
the Indians fouget bravely, though they
avoided as much as possible, general EN-
gagcment- They treated all their Amer
lean captives barbarously, mutilating their
persons in the most horrible manner
There appear to be many in their ranks
who speak English fiuently. By these
every Involvement was held out to the A.
mercans to desert. ''Booty and beauty"
were promised them in any quantity. 1t
is impossible for us to obtain an opinion
as to the pIobable duration or issue of the
war. From what has been said to us, it
would seem that an impression is begin
ming to pervade the volunteers that the
Indians are in the right of the controver-
sy.