The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-11-10
BATTLE IN NORTHERN MEXICO.

conflict between Vidaurri aud the govern
msnt forces under General Miramon:
BROWNSVILLE, Oct. 70, 1858
Editors CSviAan. Some weeks ago, I
wrote you that it was impossible for the
! Northern. faction in Mexico long to sus-
. tain themselves In opposition to govern
ment having its headquarters about the
city Of Mexico and sustained by the Cath
- olic clergy. Recent events have verified
that statement.
- General Santiago Vidaurri is emphat-
:. ieAlly whipped out and used up! Vidaur-
fi-after having entered the city of San
s. Luis Potosi, without opposition, and about
which so much was said-inding that the
presence of bis army was obnoxious to the
- citizens, retreated from the city to the
Hacienda LA Purada," about eight
leagues from San Luis. -,
On the 26lh of September Gen. Mira
mon sent o detachment of thirteen hum
= dred men to reconnoiter his camp, with
6s7 orders to full back in the, event Of an at
tack. qlI
On the 2Sth, he sent out large de-
with similar instructions, and
letter having made himself thoroughly &C.
qnainted with Vidaurri's strength and po-
sition, on the morning of the 29th pre-
lssparedfor geperallattack. It
His army consisted Of 1000 men,
,oficcred by the best men in Mexico.
Having determined to make the attack
.ss with the hayonct and lance alone, he de-
>. tailed 9. 600 mel, to retain as o guard for
the artillery and military stores.
lie then ordered 5000 lanceros to take
- positions on the right and left wings of
- lVidaurri's army. at safe distances, aud
--l hold themselvesi In readiness to cut of the
fngitives in the event of a rout.
~ Then placing himself ut the head of
= .000 infan,ry' and cavalry, he moved to-
= ward tile camp Of vidaurri. Il
As the army arrived upon the hills
which commanded tue plain where Vidanr-
~ ri with 5000 men was tncamped, Cen
cral Miramon ordered q halt; aud roiut-
Ing with his sword across the rlain, said,
.''Soldiers of Mexico! there arc the ene
.Iimies Of the Republic, aud tie enemies of
the Church; this day We shall strike blow
that will give rest TO the Republic, and
When tlrcse words were concluded,
shouts from five thousand voices of "Viva
3 IL Hepublical Viva la Inglesiai" resound-
Cd In tones of the deepest enthusiasm
"a throughout The lines. 'Nf
Xs7sa So soon as fiIence was restored, the
= bugIes sounded and the army advanced
4. with fxcd hayonets and lance, orders hav-
;, ing been given for not q muskct TO be
> fired mill the batteries should be taken.
As the attacking army advanced, Vi
daurri's gunncrs were Distinctly. secuhold-l
ing in their hands their lighted port-ires,
awaiting the orders Of their commanders.
but the army of Mexico steadily advanc-
cd. ~ ~ esa ~ s ss.;irsss :. aIl,f
When within two hundred yards of
9fyidaurri's IS lines the orderto fire was given
and sixty picccs of cannon and eight
thousand small arms belehed forth their
.af nnrderous hail upon the assailants.
In an instant and before the troops had
= time to waver. the order to charge rang
., .dewn the line from the sharp voice OF Gen.
Miramon; the order was obcyed, aud be-
fore the ar,illeryncn could reload their
pieces, a large portion of them were lane
- a,.,l.;r rrns and ,ha h,t,er;es were
..L.n
- s.-..- -. 49,
:. s5,os'na'uacoss, a1 1,s l,ano, 'a" n"s
ss....s 1ai'e'l upon 'uaufrl so'upt'e'o WIN
t.ea payoge's WIN eu1n 'u.5 - -. :.
,,;orcod ,,,e
ss;.s,sd sas;,;,os say 's '''s'' S.0 - - :,
nj ~,
has oot'nch IN were 1ranp'co UNJUST 'a5 'ee
,as1l tne cavalry inal nsu oeen Pos.eu upo,,
,larAne r'ynt and .eil OF ~ iaaarr'' anu man,
.ia;,ss, g. 'nsm ~ lancet. t''I ,.
~ The plain to the north and cast OF lh'
Hacicnka was covered with afusihves lly
.ssuisg toward the mountains, almost breath
bio less. from the impetaous lauccros. as''