New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-18
THE INDIAN BiTTLE IN NEW MEXICO.

Ga:etfe of the llth nit, with the following part Il
l.rs of the late battle with party Of Indians, Of
which We have hsd already brief account
ei Albuquerque on the evening Of The 10Th, with
Captain George Mclean OF the kit,S ana twelSe men
of his company. On the nth we were joined by
Captain Bias Luccro and his spy company, composed
of fifty Mexicans. We proceeded rapIily on our
march until the morning o' the 'gh when we reached
Bear Spring about forty miles distant from this post
ON the 2Sth had noticed INDIAN. and their trails
going east which, with other Information and eNi.
derces in possession Of Captain Mclean. determined
him 10 prepare for contest whenever he nigt meet
any considerable number of them. AZ passing
the Spring the morning of the 18th, we discovered
large body of Indians and ponies to the lei and half
a mile distant from Captain Mclean detailed four
of his men and Captain tncero twenty Of his men,
who with their respective captains and myself pro-
ceeded to where the Indians were encamped.
A. we approached in rapid galop, the indians
gave the warw hoop. received rs with threatening ges
tures and voley Of arrows, and then quickly depoy
ed of to the right and left aad IN tren-those To the
right and lell rrnaing concealed behind trees while
those in front who much farther off, seemed to
invite a contest. As one ot the Indians Ia chief,
presumed WAS riding to ana fro where bis men were,
apparerty giving command Captain Mclean fired
pistol shot at hin. This seemed to arouse them, and
they then manifested with great canestness their hos
tile feelings and intentions. The captain gave orders for
his men to dismount who, with himself, did So, and
commenced a desperate execution among the Indians,
at distance Of four hundred yards, with their rifles
This seemed Ia surprise them, and they RAPIDLY tei To
tance il to draw our reS, and also 10 decoy
tis into a closer or an ambush fight
The valley which leads To- the spring cannot he more
than two or three hundred yards wide on either slde
and in front of which rise hills covered with pine tim
Der. Capt. McIcan's party operated abont the mid
die of this valley and not more than one hum
dred and fifty wards from either side. AZ Capt. Mel.
was aiming a shot at an Indian in runt, some three
hundred wards distant Indian H. the cit took de-
iberate aim with a rifle at him. He fired, brought
down the Indian in front, and quickly wheeled to get
another Cart dge. Just as he turned, the Indian
fired the ball entering the front oi the right breast,
and passing around some two and hall inches,
came out leaving severe and painful but not fatal
wound. The shock was sturning-so much SO, that IT
WINS sey eral minutes before he could collect himself
sufficiently to mount his horse, and, with the asrst
ance Of two uf his men, ride To the wagon. The en-
gagernent lasted about fifteen minutes. As we'll ~
could ndge and I sat OH my horse Immediately IN the
midst of the attacking party, watching closely every
thing that passed, there were about three hun
dred Indians the ground, against whom were
twenty six Of our Including the twenty spies un-
der CAPT. Lucero, Capt. Mclean and myself. Ii thuk
there were eight or ten killed, and three or four
wounded. -Four were taken prisoners, number of
ponies captured blankets taken and camp destroyed.
The attach ing party lost nothing bat protusc dis
charge oi bl, I'D fem Capt. Mcl.eans wound.
Thus has opened the campaign against the Nava-
joes. Capt. Mclean did himself great credit IN the
mode in which hc made the attack. The sudden,
determined and active manner in which he operated
completely dumbfOuBded the sayages, and inspired
confidence and courage with the sple. who were with
u,sn in both uf which characters | haze had ample
opportunity Ia observe lin, and as brave and true
man as ever smelt unpowder-inseusibe to iear.
Such men slo9id be fostsred and encouraged by the
Government for they invaluable il shis frontier
country
The spies under Capt. Lucero behaved finely in the
engagement, the Captain even surprising himself for
daring and bravery during tie fight. II may not be
amiss to raention that Capt LuceTos son. little fe!
low II years old, on the ground and with pistol
in hand, galoped to and fro With his father ON the
field .
Of Bear Spring" fought 81 oclgck Sunday, the
10Th Of August 1883 On the side of the Americans,
there being 20 men, including the Indian Agent, who,
Oh the OCCASION had 10 be non-conbatant, and jo0
Oh the part Of the Indians.
Col Niles reached here yesterday, having marched
four hundred miles with infantry, in sixteen days.
He assumes the command Of the forces, aud IL now
actively engaged in completing his preparations for
IN energetic and vigorous campaign. immedlateiy
ON his arrival here SandOyO the srieodly chief, VINO
has been here several days came to see him in con-
nection with myself. The Indian intimated that any
price which might be asked would be given to settle
the difficulty. OF eou!se such proposition was not
listened TO- Col. Miles told him that he would be
here five days. Ii the chiefs wished to come In and
have talk they could do so with ii'punity wtnn ra
that time and depart without noestatop. After th"t
time he should 90 after them.
Active operations viii commence on the Sth or th.
The officers are Col. Miles, Commander Lieut. Wal
ker, AtijutaDi: DIR. Mckee, Surgeon Capt. Eioa,
A kl4eut. Ian '''i'
company Capt. Hatch, Company, Mounted F'ae:' ,
Lieut. Avs5se ComRsGy MSsn,sd Ehsa sa, H.
c Company Third Infantry; and Capt, !!iicero and
thirty spies aud guides Major Bgr5.s who has been
for sometime, and is now. .oo unwel for active
vice. with & Company, Third Iafsutry, increased to
oue hundred aud fifty men and twenty Mexican spies
aud gn!des, remains Al the ,,.. hv.s are Also three
more companes on the way 20 this place from Aiou;
querque. Capt. Mclean Of l Company, Mounted
Rife. will no. be able TO take the field at present, on
account of his wounds. The command VIII, there
fore, ai upon Capt nateh VINO .heJ WIN ho ~ iI in
proving his pluck as soldier and efficiency as m
officer