Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-10-11
from the Mesilla "Timss," Extra OF july "'thl
Euu Account OF tho Battle of Mesllla.
dRZOSALS FREE ITLAS7!!
II hIL wv II u IT ~
,.orT FILLMORE IN TIE EL!rGS or TIE
TENN FORCES.

r-0rT FILLMORE IN II FL-fGS or TIE
TETIN FORCES.
$500, 600 WORTH or PROPERTY TAKEN!
Eltrn Companies ~ United States Regulars
taken Prisoners by .Jour Companies Of Ter
IN Tolnntesrs mithout the lass Of a nun on
the Confederate side!
Lieutenant Colonel Baylor. commanding the
Confederate forces ut Fort Bliss, Texas, left
there on the cath instant, with the forces I'm
der his command, for the Mesilla Valley, with
the design OF protecting the citizens Of Arizona,
and relieving them Of the oppression and pre-
sencc Of a large force Of United States troops,
and to prevent the further concentration o.
troops at this point.
The force under his command was some SUI
men, as follows: Captain Statiords company
Of mounted rifles, So men; Captain Hardeman :
conpany uf mounted rifles, 90 men,; Licutcu
ant Bennett, with Il detachment Of Captain
Teelc's Artillery, % men they did not bring
their cannon, but were mounted Captain
Coopwood's Spy company, 40 men; added to
these were 4 number Of the citizens OF Mesilla
and Ell pAso; in all, about 300.
On the night Of the 9th n position had
DcEQ tahcl ny Tue SuiIlcuCIale io'PSt "iNti''i
six hundred yards Of Fort Fillmore, and pick.
cts were placed out and every prrcaution taken
10 storm the fort by surprise the next morn
ing at day break. The plan would have been
Il complete success, hut for the desrrtioa Of a
picket who went into the fort and gave the
alarm. The fort was alive in Il few minutes,
and it was evident the surprise was Il failure.
The Confederate force then moved across
the river, and at daylight took the to%n of
Santo Thomas. Two companies OF U. 5. troops
had been stationed there, but the birds had
flown, evidently in great haste. Clothing,
provisions, ammunition and supplies were left
behind in considerable quantities. Eight pri,
sonrrs were taken, disarmed and then dis
charged, after being sworn not to fightagainst
the Confederates, Colonel Fay Tor telling therI
that hc'had rather fight them than feed item.
About ten o'clock the Confederate forces en-
tered Mcsilla, and were received with every
manifestation Of jny by the citizens. 'iraS
and IurraS rang them welcome from every
point. Preparations were Immediately made
to receive an attack from the L S. troops; and
the citizens offered all fOragc and supplies thai
they had at their command.
BATTLE or MEslLLA.
The U. S. troops were reported crossing The
river about nuua .i he 26th. About . O'Clock
the clouds Of dust indicated the rnclay were
advancing ior an attack towards the southern
part Of tho city. The whole force was moved
to that point and every preparation made ID
give them the warmcSt ol receptions. Seycra
Of the principal streets Of Mcsilla converge al
angles and are quite scattered. Old cnrrals and
the proximity OF the corn fields, make the pnSi
ton q very advantageous one for deience. The
companies were stationed on the tops Of The
adobc houses and behind the %corral~. Capt.
COopw1ndS company was mounted. The cItl-
.Zcns posted themselves On the tops uf the
houses on the principal streets prepared to
render their assistance.
The enemy advanced TO within 500 yards o:
our position and halted, and formed in line o!
battle, with two howitZers in the centre and
the infantry, and on the wings cavalry, the
whole force appearing TO be about 500 men. 4
flag OF truce was then sent to our position, with
the modest demand 10 Surrender the town nm.
c1nditionally the reply wa-, that if they
wished the town, ~ cuIrc and take II They
unmaSkcd their guns, and commenced firing
bombs and gap: iuin Il town crowded with
women a;,l r~hii!rrr;. without having. in &C.
CUlNdI|CC Will IL. 'lhOlltD.J iu.t W 81 IhL|Ni
warfare, given aotic" tr rc'Iuy. :l:c wotiCn ard
children to y pIacu of safety. Several shells
were thrown IN different parts vi the town,
fortunately without f"ilig any injury 10 n single
individual. Two companies were ordered 10
take their position TN tn: tops of the HOUSES,
on the main Pia%!. The first shell thrown
struck on the TOP of 4 haiidjng on which was
stationed y p%or!;rn u! Cap T,,cic'S Company,
ard exploded.
After firing a couple If roIaGs Of grape at
, the more ADVANCED position of our Gntcr. the
cavalry Of the enemy mall 4 charge and mad
advanced 10 wiIiIn three hundred yards If =
corral hrhi,Vi wii:n Capt. lIarrlcman'> r",n
pany We're Stationed. From fnrty to sixty
shots we're fired by this company, killing four
and wpunling four Of the enemy, throwing
them into confusion, and finally into retreat,
their officers vain!y trying TO rally tlicm.-
The order was given TO charge four lIin"s to
no purpose, and they retired in confusion,
carrying with them the lead and wounded.
Captain C~oopHootrs company had been c,n-
tinnally employed in deploying among the
houses and ~cnrrals, Iirs. appearing moun,ed
and then on foot, and appearing in many diff
fcrcnt directions. This and other movements,
and the appearance Of men both far and near,
At many different points, succeeded in greatly
dcceiTing Tic cncmy aS to our real force. They
were disllcartcnrh by their i'll success in tic
charge, and az night was falling they drew oil
their whole fO!cc in good order, in the dircc-
ton Of Fort F!llrrurr.
EVACUATION or roKT FILLMORE.
At one o'clock on the morning Of the eth
Mai. Lypdc cracuatcd Fort Fillmore with all
his command; previously destroying much
valuable property and munitions OF war. The
soldiers destroyed much Of their company
property, mrskcts, clothing. a blacksmith
| shop, bakery and one Of the QuarterInas:cr's
| store rooulS has bscn completely burned down.
The majority Of Tie buildings were uninjurcd,
! aud Can be- immediately occupied by the Con
(.dera;c fmccs. Tine Hospital stores, medicines,
and iuIniturc were most completely broken
mp and nearly all the arms and n large quaint.
| lity of ammunition were destroyed. A grea,
deal of valuable commissarv stores and other
property was unframed, to the amount Of scr-
eral thousand dollars.
THE RETREAT.
The United States troops retrealed in the
direction of Fort Staunton, and were seen by
our scouts Immediately after daylight, cigfs;
or ten miles east Of Los Cruces. in the noun,
tains. The whole command Of Confederate
tronpc were ordered in pursuit. a'h crowded
on in full chase alter the fugitivcS. The road
lay over the table.lanlS and mountains 10 Il
pass in the O::ganos chain, by way Of San An.
gustinc Springs, over II route where there was
no water, and The day was excessively warm.
Some six or seven miles on this side Of the
San Augustine Springs, stragglers # The United
States Infantry were overtaken, and the way to
the Springs had the appearance Of Il complete
rout. Guns and cartridge boxes were strung
along the road. The six miles to the Springs
was a succession of chsrges men were taken
prisoners and tislrmcd in squads the artillery
was captured and the greater portion Of the
Infantry were taken before tho main command
WAS reached.
THE SURRENDER.
Major Lvn.!e WAS camucd near the San Au