The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-03-20
THE GREAT BATTLE IN NEW
MEXICO:
FOUR Days HARD FIGHTING NEAR
FORT CRAIG.
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER ON BOTH
.6 SIDES.
DESPERATE GALLikTRY or TIE NATIONAL
. c"i OFFICERS.
TEE TEXANS MAKE a BOWIE
KNLFE CHARGE.
An Artillery Corp. Ca, to Pieces.

An Artillery Corps Cat 10 PIeces:
ST. Louis, March I3.-The Republi
can has advices from Albuquerque, New
Mexico, 10 February 23d, which stat,
that the Texans HAZE made vsrious signif
icsnt movements 10 tie vicinity Of For
Craig. .-e4 .te..
On the 18Th they advanced d column O
infantfy one tbo5sahd strong in line 0
battle, in front Of the fort and also movet
a column Of cavalry to the west Of th
other defsDshs. a. ss l,f.r ..F..
They sdtahced within a mile and
half Of the works and hailed with the Sc
cession flag floating in the brees.. and re
mained some time and then commeDcsd ;
retrograde movement.
During the lime Of the advance Colon
81 Candy piudeDtly concealed the greatei
part Of his forces in the rear of the fort
vlen the enemy commenced ealing
and the infantry was separated from lbe
cavalry. e.i : ..' ~ -
Col. Candy ordered MAJOR Duncan t.
charge the cavalry Of the enemy with q
squadron of dragons and mounted men
which they did in gallant style, the enc.
my Tetreatipg before them until they ar.
lived at deep raviDe.
The Texan infantry. 10 the meantime
advanced to the relief of the cavalry. and
a skirmish took place at the ravlne
Major Duncan, late in the evening, Nal
recalled. and the Texans continued 10 fal
back. = j5srrrgfs .t.t r. -.
1t is reported that the Texans had eigh
pieces of artillery pIa ed in battery
masked. in q raYine but short distsnc,
below where the skirmish took place.
On the 18th and Goth the Texans eros
sed to the east bank Of The Rio Grande, il
order, it is supposed 10 take possess ion o
the lights opposite Fort Craig.
Col. Candy or ssed and pursued then
in force. when the Texans Oh tire hight
fred some City cannon shots. withou
damage 10 our forces. Col. Candy FIRE
bat two shots. deening i. imprudent /
| vase ammunition
On the morning of the a1st two hur
dred Texan mites wefe esptured. wit
tbcir wsgonmaster.
The Texans are on the highlands dest
ftute OF water. e4 2 -''.r
| Col. Candy has The pass to the watt
guarded BY a battery and 1000 nien, an
all other outlets guarded in force. Th
Texans! must either fight or surrender.
When the express CLOSED on tie morn
ing Of The aist. the booming of canno
was heard in the dire ion Of valverde. AN
uounciug that The battle had begun.
10 ease LATER.
The Military Express just arrived frou
Fort Craig. with the news OF series O
conflicts between our forces and the Tex
ans. which lasted from 8 O'Clock A. N. @
The 2lst nnii shutdown OF the same day.
q, The fight commenced in the n;Crning
between a portion of our troops unde
Col. Roberts, and the enemy across tn
Rio Grandc, with varied success until on
or Two CLOCK that day. .... .
Col, Canhy then crossed the river j
force, with a battery of six pieces, uude
Capt. McRea, Of the cavalry, but dstaile
in command of the battery; also sma
battery oil Two howitsers. s.- ....-
The euemy was supposed to have seve
or eight pieces.
The battle commenced By the artiIler
aud stWmiahsrs, and Soon became getel
al Toward evening most Of the enemy
guns we're silenced. ...., ts.
They, ,howeser, made q desperate charg
on the bowiIzer battery but were rtpulse
with great loss. t t... ..--.
Capt, McRsa's battsry was defpude
BY Capt. PlympIon's company Of Unite
States iufantry, and a portion of Col. P
nos regiments Of New Mexican volur
teers.5 .t...s.. .......
The Texans ciltged desperately an
furiously, with picked men. about si
hundred strong. They we're armed wi,
carbines. revolyers. and long one pOuu
bowie knives. r- ,,s -f.. t..
, After di.charging sheir carbines at
close distance. they drew revolvers an
rusbed on the battery in . storm oi graz
aud canister. ..... ,...
The Mexicans of Piuo's regiment wei
paoic stricken, and they insloriously fie,
j Captain Plimpton and the infan!r
stood their ground aud fought nobly Ii
more thap half were numbered with IL
dead. ,.., ..s,
With his artillerymen cut down. h
support either killed, wounded OF hyir
from The field, Capt. McRes sat dow
calmly and quietly on one of his guns, AZ
with q revolver in his hand refusing to
or deserthis post, be fought to 'he ias
and gloriously died The death Of a hero
: the last man by his guns. og
= The Texans suffered terribly in th
charge. Many officers distinguish
themselves on tbis day. - A.
n Major Donsldson, who was chief aid
Colonel Candy, scled bravply, aud W
/. conspicuous on every part Of ibe field,
bis horse was wounded in several p
COS, but he was not injured. s..s
a Kit Carson, III command Of q regime
of volunteers, who we're dsployed as SIX
mishers. did good service dhring The a
b lion. and behaved well, aF
We have. however. 10 name the loss
Lieuts. Michler and Stone, who like Ca
u McRea. nobly and bfasely taain' aimed
honor Of the ola flag to the last and glo
g IousIy died the death Of patriots. Ma
-6tber officers were wounded. Our J,
was about 600 killed and wounded, q