The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-16
Important from Chihuahua...A Des.
perate Fight.

The following letter, which we find in the
San Antonio Ledger, of the 10th ult., re-
ceived by this mornings steamer, gives the
particulars OF the late desperate engagement
in Chihuahua,-previously mentioned by
telegraph also depicts the condition
of affairs in that unhappy country. After
the battle, the authorities of the capital, in
conjunction with the Americans, had sent
to Fort Davis for the United States troops
Receiving no relief, the Americans left the
city, leaving million dollars worth of pro-
perty to the mercy of the robbers. Cajen
at the head of one thousand men, was
marching on the capital. The liberals were
friendly to the Americans, but were unable
to afford protection The following is the
letter:
"PkEsIDo DEL NoRTR, Feb. 2.
"DEAR SIR :-Chihuahua IS now being
overrun by band of outlaws, numbering
500 men, headed by a Spaniard named
Domingo Cajen, and officered by two of the
most notorious thieves of the lower country
'Pajaro Azul" and Enterinio Serrato
These men are worse, in their bloody deeds
and desperate character than the dreaded
Cortinas and his bond. Cajen claims to be
an arm of the conservative army, and COM
mlts deeds of horror under the holy name Of
religion. In several of Pueblas through
which they passed, they robbed everything
they could find, and then violated the wo-
men.
upon near approach Of the robber band
to Parral, a mining town south of Chihua-
hua some 180 miles, the Mayor collected a
force of 800 men, who marched out and
met Cajen at the hacienda of Falamantes.
A desperate engagement took place, which
resulted in the defeat of the Parral troops,
and loss of over one hundred men, one
third the number. All of these men, how
ever, fell not during the action, but were
most barbarously butchered, after having
yielded themselves prisoners.
"The dead and wounded soldiers of Par.
raj that fell fighting on the field were imme-
diately stripped of every article of their
clothing, and left to be buried and cared
for by the surrounding neighbors. Cajen's s
men have only, in addition, to scalp their
fallen foes, to be more savage and brutal
than the Indians, who claim not to be civil
lied.
"After the fatal battle of Falamentes, Ca,
jen marched in and took possession of Par
raj, without firing shot, although at the
time of the battle reserve had been left in
Parrel of some 800 men, who, however, fled
upon the receipt of the news of the loss oi
the battle.
"These men, Cajent and party, are now
in Parral, their numbers daily argumenting
by the discontents and thieves that are ever
ready to join any expedition that promise
pillage. The authorities of Chihuahua are
making every preparation in their power to
resist the entry of this desperate outlaw into
the capital, but 1 dread the result. The
city is entirely deserted; all the foreign
ers and Mexicans that could have left city
some to this point and some to Ell Paso
so as to be able to cross the river into Texas
at moments warning. The merchants
brought all their merchandise out here fol
which they could find conveyances. They
were forced, however, to leave some behind
"Previous to Cajen's arrived at Falamen
tes, as the report of his evel deeds had gone
before him, DR.. Charles McManus, of Par.
raj, wrote to chihuahua stating the depre.
dations that had been committed, and ask
ing some assistance of the Goveror to defend
the city or if that could not be rendered, to
inform the commanders of the military posts
on the line of their situation, for having
written which letter, Cajen upon bis entry
into Parral, made Mr.. McManus pay a fine
of $500.
"What will be the result of this we car
not imagine. Chehuahua once taken by
Cajen, then those who have left (which in.
cludes all the merchants, foreign and native)
will not be allowed to return--in fact can
not return-unless accompanied by United
States troops. ."-N. o. Delta.