Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-28
FROM THE SONORA FREEBooTERs.
FROM THE SAN DIEGO HERALD OF DECEMBER %.

FROM THE SAN DIEGO HERALD DECEMBER %.
We give below the stirring account of the operations
of the Independent battalion in Lower California re-
ceved by accurate and special express from the seat
government at Ensenada We do hear that any
side assistance has yet been received by President
Walkers battalion and their achievements have been
conducted by the original force without help from any
quarter The house in which the party have fortified
themselves is one-story adobe with thick walls con-
tanning large storehouse and two smaller This
is good defence against the small Of the attacking
party, but unable withstand the fire of cannon shot
We hear verbally that the besegrs have been active and
untrng in their efforts dslodge the garrison but have
met with equal spirit and enterprise by the defenders
The Mexican report of the loss of of the American
party is denied.
Our trustworthy and able correspondent at San Diego
furnishes us the following letter
SAN Diego, DECEMBER D. 1853
by an express from the lower country and from other
sources we have few items of intelligence relative
to the expedition under Col Walker. ..
Since the skirmsh at the Ranch of La Grulla the in
vaders have been in close quarters at Ensenada nhab
ting an adobe house at that place. which, up to late ad
vices seems to have resisted all attacks upon it. and made
more lmpregnabe than 1t is in the immediate Vi
cnity OF cump of willows, which has been occupied
by the besieging Mexcans camp ground during the
time they have devoted to watching vgantly the little
garrison = ..# II.
The party of natives under the command of two noted
soldiers Of fortune, Nigreta and Mlendrez, who have
exhausted every appliance Of cunning and reachery
crcumvent the Americans. The flag of truce has been
tried, with view to spy out the defences, but that
table dodge failed to accomplish any thing Letters adj
dressed to the commander sent in various ways
provoke reply in the hope that something important
might be elected. But nothing Of all this but
few desuory skirmishes resulting in the manning Of
some rash hombre whose temery got the better OF his
Judgment Matters thus stood until the night of the 10TH
when storm of wind and rain occurring it thought
a favorable time to make sortie. ....
The fighting party composed of twenty men, under
command OF Lieut.. Crocker of the battalion They sal
lied out IN the darkness and surrounded the camp Of
the enemy in the bulrushes and wlsws, who in
torpid state from the cold and somewhat sleepy from the
effects of long watching and much exercise
AT given signal the attsck was made and at the first
alarm every valiant Mexican took his heels without
all nquiring into the of the disturbance All the
baggage and effects of the besegng army found in
camp, and appropriated by the victors Among these
was brass fedpece which had not been used with
particular effect by the enemy lot of saddles, brides,
and other horse gear of various patterns Of
them coeva with the conquest articles of camp furniture
and cooking utensils and number Of bows and of
Indians who had been induced join the ranks of the
peninsulars through fear favor hope of reward All
these were secured and made prizes Of which the
issue of the whole proceedings except the few scattering
shots that followed the retreang foe into the bushes
The rumors and intelligence hitherto received by
Spaniards in town from their friends in the country
made favorable to the Mexican side of the question Ac
counts from the expedition itself will be received with
regularity and at this place much anxiety is manifested
to know the effect the recent renforcemens have had
upon their movements 1t is believed that descent will
be made upon Santa Tomas whenever the party becomes
sufficiently strong We do not hear of the arrival yet of
the Anita Ensenada but it is supposed she has by this
time arrived and landed whatever of forces supplies
she may have had .. y. e..