Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-05-11
[Fsom The St. .1ouis RepSubliean.i

! port Of tie 0re0f Bottle tCitk the Apockes
The mall from the West arrived last
night, bringing us Santa Pe papers oi
the 18th, and letters from Cantonment
Burgwin, near Taos, to the e1st oi
March. to friends in this city. From
these letters we learn the following au,
thentic particulars of the desperate bat
tie between the command of Lieut.
Davidson aud the Apache Indians, a
few miles from Taos.
On the night of the 26th of March
Lieut.. Davidson left Cantonment Bur
gwin, in command of fifty-seven men,
in pursuit of the Apsches, who were
supposed to be about one hundred
strong. Next morning, about o'clock,
he came upon the Indians, posted upon
mountain, and far exceeded in mum
bers what had been represented. They
numbered at least two hundred. There
was but one alternative, as they raised
the war-whoop upon the approach Of
the command, and the attack upon them
commenced at once.
After fight of three hours, during
which Lieut.. Davidson lost 22 men
killed and 81 wounded, two-thirds of
the command being killed and wounded,
he was forced to retire fighting his way
over two miles, and with the disadvan-
tage of having the wounded to carry
with him. Lieut.. Davidson received an
arrow wound, not very severe, in hand
to hand conflict. Surgeon Magruder
was also wounded, slightly,
The victory was dearly bought one
to the Indians, as about fifty of them
were killed, and nothing but their vast
superiority in numbers gave them the
triumph. Everything was safe at Can
tonment Burgwin, there being ffty-odd
men. there. 1t was expected that the
whole of the Generals disposable force
would be sent out against the enemy.
Another letter, dated the 31st, says:
"They commenced firing upon us. every
shot taking effect either upon the horses
or men. 1t was sad sight to see so
many men falling dead by my side
We were in so bad place that the In
dians had great advantage of US, and
when we retired they were On all sides
of US; had we stopped three minutes
longer not man would have been saved.
The wounded are now in the hospital.
A Mexican, whom met in Taos to-day,
told me that he was at the place Of ac
ton yesterday afternoon, and counted
sixty dead Indian bodies. Major Blake
and Thompson, with few troops and a
number of Mexicans, started last night
to bring In the dead bodies, and to at
tack the Indians if they could be
found" 4
Among the volunteers in this des-
perate engagement, was Mr.. Geo. X.
Nc McGunnegle, Jr of this city, who was
an active participant, and behaved with
all the GOODNESS of veteran. He es-
capped unhurt. aLt-,
The St. Louis Intelligencer contains
the following account of the battle:
On the .29th ult., companies A and l
and squadron of company F, first dra-
goons, stationed about Taos, while on a
scout, twelve miles from that place,
came upon large party of Apache and
Utah Indians at the foot of a mountain /
Of the same name as the town men |
toned.
The main body of Indians lay con-
,ealed among the rocks, and small
party approached apparently to com
muuicate with Lieut.. DIS command
The latter, so confident were they that
.he Indians designed no hostile demon /
'tration, were all dismounled; and in
his condition held parley with the few
hat approached. Suddenly, by pre-
signal made by chief, three
hundred Indians poured in volley of
,alls and arrows from their ambuscade
lpon the troops, doing frightfully fatal !
.-..........s. .l..
The Dragons, thus caught off their
,uard, mounted at the first moment,
charged the sayages, and drove them
pack. !#@
The force Of dragons engaged num-
'ered about seventy. In the action
orty were killed and seventeen wounded. /,
Most of those who were killed fell at
he first fire of the Indians; the latter,
rom their place of concealment, taking
aim at the soldiers.
EOn the 18th instant, dead Cou- .
II