New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-13
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
NFw-MEXICc.

mvsisn to print the following interesting &C.
vaie. letter from soldier who mas - - ,,ho
,-y,xrs in the United States service "uu
r~s serving under Major Lynde "nen NO 'u
wondered TO Col Baylor ~
Texan forces in New Mexico; 70, o,, "a ,oo
,..,eSr FKTND: Without any eNouse Tor
,,a io,c Lance of time eince writing, commence
.,;s 18th hope that you may receive IL III he"''''
Ihod letter partly written TO You at FoIt Fillmore
Nopy-Mexico but circumstances hindeyed its com
,letion. / lad written 20 - lew DAYS Oe-
lore and trus, he received it. You doubtless nave
heard Of the - surrender OF seven companies oil
,he 7th Infantry, together with three companies OF
Mounted Rifles uOO) by (ourl Majcr Ike Lynde, to
$50 Texans, of all ages, at San Augustine Spring
When YOU heard it you no doubt felt sensation 80
did l. and was one of them--not the Texans.
have vet 10 learn how the affair is thought OF IN the
States; all know is, that there is not the same
number of men in Cbristendom who feel cheaper
than we do AZ for myself, hope that orders may
meet us before we reach Leayenworth to turn back
and take 10 the plains or mountains again. The
Major travelled with us since we left Fort Union.
Up to that tine he travelled under the convoy OF the
Rifles, who travelled ahead of u.s. fearing violence
from those of his own regiment. After the suIren-
der. and the administering of the oath by Col. Bay
Tor. C. s. Army, he waived command would TO God
he had done so week previous and the officer next
in rank Capt. J. H. Potter assumed it, 1t is strange
that Major Lynde should become so suddenly weak
rs to evacuate Fort Fillmore after receiving but one
yolley from the Texans at Mesia, when we went
there with all the pomp and show we did to drive
them out. don't know which to impute his strange
conduct to, cowardiee or treason. AT Mesiila we
were placed in position as much exposed az pos
siLlv could be found, without the chance oil doing
The enemy any harm unless by charge on our part;
but no srch chance was offered We merely
formed line of battle, fanked on either side by a
wide ysequa filed with water, and eornfelds, AID
there kept till the Texans could would open on us
Thee rounds had been discharged from one of the
mountain howitzers at the town; with what effect
never learned. long pause followed, which was
broken by the discharge Of single rifle of the enemy
followed in few moments by volley. The
Mounted Rifles, who were posted on our front as a
target for the Texans returned the fire. and retired
by order. Lieut.. McNay the senior officer of the Ri
fes shot through the chest but gave orders before
he fell from his horse. One sergeant of his company
was wounded, and private killed and couple
more wounded. / don't know If they were OF Lieut..
McNallys or Crossey's company. Companies and
Of the 9TH Infantry lost each killed sherwood
aud Jenkins, and believe that two ether infantry
men were wounded slightly. Before the Rifles had
got well through the line the Infantry opened fire
without receiving any order. They were then or
2ered, after pause of some moments, TO fix bayo-
nets. Now, thought i, the bali commences at
last but another pause followed, when the left
COMPANY. ror. NJ X. stsVsnsou ID, were ordered
70 deploy on the left (which they did along the
ysequa Oh that side), and another long pause en-.
sued, when the captain asked what was going on
and was told by one of HIS men that the battalion
was re,reating. He assembled the j, and formed
in rear He was ordered to deploy on the ngh
flank as the skrmshers again, and kept that position
ill our return to the post which was about II oclocl
4 pm. After supper our company was sent out OF
picket till daybreak. We came in, took breakfast
and while one platoon went ont again picket the
other shared the labor going fortifvinS che pos
ill 10 aL-As-- pIcKet were relieved by
The platoon that had been working so as to allow
them TO get their dinner, and take hand at sand.
bag handling. This work was continued till sun.
down, when we received orders from the command.
ing officer to destroy all clothing, arms, ammunition
and provisions, but what was to be carried-com.
pany, private and Government property. (But care
was taken not to destroy the commissary stores,
which fell into the hands Of the Texans). We were
kept at this work Of destruction till 10 midnight.
when we sailed out in silence, and took our road
toward Cruzos, eight miles distant. When within
that town, we turned off toward the Organo noun
tains 1--WE thinking it to be circuit TO avoid the
town. and that we would strike the road again, and
follow the river To Fort Craig, therefore never
thought Of filling our canteens) by the Fork Stanton
road we Travelled till he sun was two hours high
our TANKS protected by companies deployed as
skrmlsher, when they were called in. About
7o'elock The men began to wish they had toted
come water along and calculated they would never
again carry dry canteen no matter how close they
Travelled to water. We were told that if we followed
the road to San Augustine Spring, it was about q
miles from the liver, but water was to be had In
abundance sever or eight miles from the spring, in
the mountain to tie right, and about /. miles from
the road. Before he rear guard Companies A, b,
and E,) had arrived abreast of the spring in the
mountain, the majo with the column had turned
INTO the Canon and we're fast approaching the spring
on the opposite side Of be mountain, San Augustine.
Inc teams were freighed, and about to give out.
overloaded as they WERE Seven six-mule teams TO
nine companies, and carving, besides, the rations.
seout seventy or eighty Women and children, indie.
pendent OF the officers wiye, who rode in their own
ambulances They finally id give out in the pass
~ tne CRUCIAL moment by he time the last team
and wagon passed the first sping half a mile. not
! twenty of the rear guard were IN the ranks Gone
up to the spring. or started on ahead tired of the
Glow pace of the mules and seenr little prospect Of
Retoog to camp by following them. or lyino b.b;,5