Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-03
Later from of the Battle of
AIO - Oaas


The Mesla Times Of the 81 of October has the
following account of the brilliant affair of Alamosa
on the 18th and 18th of September:
Our extra of the 9th, which was hastily Issued
for the mail going South, giving account of this
battle, was IN a measure incorrect in some of its
details but contained the report rife in Mesa the
time The following however, can be relied upon,
the intelligence has been gathered from those
who we're present:
men and officers, being forty Ave of the Spy Com
psny, forty five of Capt. Pyron's Company under
command of Lieut.. Poor, and twenty-four of E
Company of the I'd Texas Mounted Rifles under
Sergt Brown, surprised, at three O'Clock on the
morning of the 18th a company of New Mexican
volunteers under command of Captain Mink, being
the Federal advance, at the village of Alamosa on
the Rio Grande, sixty miles North of this place.
The volunteers ran at the first fire, with the ex-
ceptlon of Captain Mink and ten men, who kept up
a continual fire from the houses and corrss until
daylight, when they surrendered Internationally
having three men killed and four wouaiel No
one of Captain COopwood men was hurt Twenty
five animals nineteen guns, several reVolyers and
several boxes of ammunition were taken. Tie pri
Yates aken were sworn not to f4ht against the
Confederacy and discharged; the Captain Lieute-
nant. Orderly Sergeant and three tqarnsters were
made prisoners of war. Both the officers and men
declared hst they had been trifed with-that they
had enstly expressly and only to fight Indians and
hcd no desire to fght Americans
Capt. COopwOod then withdrew his men in the
direction of hesa, and camped thirty miles this
side of kIamOsR. At sunrise on the morning of the
10Th, while the command was breakfasting. the
piCkets cane running ia, announcing the approach
of the regulars. in afteen Minis tee about 200 men
came in sight beng three companies CT mounted
regulars. portion of Capt. HpbbelPs snd the re
matnder of Capt. Aink's mounted volunteers sup
posed to be under the eomAaad Of Col. Roberts
They rode up within 800 yards Of GU. position dis
tod oDdf mad info linas
sitiOn with cross fires Our men were under cover
of trees, high grass. and rsyne, but the horses
we've exposed. The regulars likewise, fought IN
der coVsF, EGt choosing to charge, though double
our numbers, 4 sopEnGsl fire was kept up for five
hours between the forces, 81 Distance of from 400
to coo yards Many Of the Federais EeFe seen to
fall. The commander seen 20 fall fFOa mis- 1
horse, and borne from the field by four men, as
if dead On the fall of their leader the Federsliss
re;reated frog thaiF warm position, carrying off
their dead and YOqudeS
DR. W Wright, Of Capital 6ospRood's compa
ny was killed instantly, and Dbers W. t9Ga Of the
same company, was mortally wounded, sad has s,ae-
dies
The fOiloying COnfederates we're also wounded
Qf Captain PyrGn'G CoRpany-Serg't 0'Grady, an
arm bone fractured; Corporal P)kirson slightly
wounded 10 tie hand; I. GarFilly 9ash wound in
the arm, 7 W, Murphy and 7, Connely flesh wound
in the hIpj 10. Mid. Bis Lambert flesh
wound in the cheek Cs0D woods Spy COMPANY
Serg't Quinn flesh wound in the right cheek; Fred
Kessler, wounded in the left arm; Il OF our korses
were also killed by the enemy.
ca the withdrawal of the Fcleralists Ca?taia
C7opwa9s commenced preparing for another at
tack The eSAp We eItrenched we'll dug in the
rs Iae and the horses altered from hats aud mess
pans. the command remained this position Y /
hours after the retreat of the Federals and then
slowly withdrew in the direction of the AesiIlal
Valley, fl
All our informsnts speak most enthusiastically of
the grit of our men. Never were men cooler or
drawer Rev. mr. Joyce, of a Company, Texas
Mounted 6es, who the actioa ia most IN
Enthusiastically comphmented by ali Of hs comradrs
for his brave conduct
Captain coop wood in this as in every otber strs
teg!c move of the Ri Grande c. mpaign seems to
be selected for all desperate and trying positions,