Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-14
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
From st. Louis.

From 81. Louis.
special to the Democrat from t,.;,o I9.I.
'ast gentleman Who left Memphis on S.,u,d.v
arrived here this morning He reports mo s,oon.
a. memphis. Many persons wsro lesving the citv.
chsnlizc were being shipped down the river. Th.
pocy OF burning the city is still being discussed
speeches wer" made every night, and all moan.
used to check unnecessary demoralix alton and cx.
cite Q war spirit.
Bragg had come up from Pensacola, with 10000
Madrid and Island No. IL.
fragg and keanregard are at jackson, Tenn.
constructing for,ifcations. All tho e.roes in tho
covntry are called to work on them.
Martial Law was proclaimed at Memphis last
Monday, for the purpose Of checking insu ubordins-
tion, and compels citizens to turn out and fight
No defensive prepara'ions are being made at
KandoPh. nor between there and New Orleane.
Fort Pillow l. strong position, but less for,nid-
able than Columbus. Tho rebels confes. that
the reduction Of this place, will give US all the
points on the Mississippi
Their gun beats, all ut Island No: 10 carry rf al
24-pounders and "a Founders. The feet is under
coa.maEd Of liol!iEs.
A messenger from New Madrid, reperts all o.ist
there.
The RspuN ein has advices from Albuaueroue
Now Mexico, Of February I'D, which states that
ments in tho vicinity of Fort Craig. On tho 18th
they advanced column Of infantry, 1000 strong,
in line OF battle, in front of the fort, and also
moved a column Of 5000 cavalry to tho west Of
tho other defences, and then advanced within !
T1ile and . half Of tho works and halted with tho
secession hag floating in the breeze, remaned
somo time and then commenced a retroyradc
movement.
During the time OF the advance Col. Comby
prudentiy concealed the greater lart of his force
in the rear OF the fort, when tho enemy com menc
ed re,reating, and the infantry was separated from
the airy.
Col. Comfy ordered Major Duncan to charge on
the cavalry OF the ouemy with squadron of
dragouns AID mounted n,en, which they did in
gallant style, the enemy rctrcatins before them
until they arrived ut a deep ravine.
The Texan infantry in the meantime advanced
I, tho rslief Of the cavalry, and a sAirmish took
place al the iayinc.
Major Duncan late in the evening, was recalled
and the Texans continued to fall bask. 1t is re-
ported that the TexaEs had eight pieces Of ar,il
iery placed in "a battery masked in rayipe bu.
short distance below whore tho skirmi.h took
plrce on tho 9TH and Goth The Texans crossed
TO the east hank of the R:o Grande in order III =
supposed to take posse s.ion Of the heights oppo-
site Fort Craig. Col. Candy crossed and pursued
them in force, when the Texans ON the heights
fred some so cannon shots without damage 70 our
forces. Colonel Comby iit ed bu, two shots, deem.
ing il inprudcnt 10 waste ammunition.
On the morning CT tho .lst zoo Texan mu.cs
captured With their wagons and masters.
The Texans are tho f,gh: and destitute
of water. Col. Candy has the pass t. the water,
guarded by battery OF 1900 mcn and all other
outlets guarded in force. The Texans must OF ther
fight de- perstcIy Tor water or surrender. When
tho sxpress closed on the morning Of the 2!st, ths
booming of Cannon was heard in tho direction d.
Valverne, announcing that the battle had BEGUN.
The military express just we'd from Fort Craig
vuitu h. new ~ Vtrfs hatm
forces and the Texans which !astei from o'clock
.. m. of tho 2lst ult. till sundown OF the same
day.
lhc fight com moLced in the me RI ir bo cen
portion Of our troops, under Col. Roberts, and
tho enemy across the Rio Grando with varied
success until one or 2 o'clock that day. Colonel
Comfy then crossed ths river in fcrce with Tat
terry of six pieces under Capt McCrai. of tke
Cavalry ai.o n small battery OF two howitzsrs
The enemy was supposed TO have seven or eight
pieces.
The battle commenced by artillery and skr-
mishing. and soon became general. Towards eve-
ming most Of tho enemys guns were sicncoi.
They, however, made desperate charge On the
howitzer battery, but were repulsed with great
loss.
Capt. McRae's battery was defended by Capt
Phimptoh's company OF U. >. infantry and por-
fion OF Col Prinos' regimen OF New Mexican vol.
anteers.
Ihe Texans fought desperately and fuyiou.ly
wan plcked men, about o0U strong. they were
armed with carbincs. revolvers and long heven-
pound bswic knives. After disch argng tbe.
caraines they drow rcvovc.s aud Insned on tho
battery in storm Of grape and canister.
The Mcxicans of Prinos' regiment were panic
stricken, and ingloriously fled.
Capt. Phmpton and tho infantry stood their
.yronnd. and fought nob!y till more than one halt
" sr. nun6erel with the dead, With his artillery
men cut down, his support either killed or
wounded, or flying from the field.
Capt. Mckae sat Gown calmly and quietly on
one OF his guns, and with revolver in his hand,
refusing to ay or desert his post, fought to the
last, and gIoliousiy died the death Of , hero, the
lasi man by his gun.
The Texaos suffered terribly in their charge.
Many officer. distinguished themselves on this
day. Maj Donaldson. who was chief aid Of Col
Comfy, acted Dravoiy, and was conspicuous on
every part Of tho field. His horse was wounded
in several places, but he was not injured. Kit
Carson, in command Of regiment of volunteers,
who were deployed skirInisb ers, did good ser
vice during the action, and behaved well. We
have, however, to mourn tho loss Of iieuts.
Michlcr and Stono, who, like Capt. HcEoe, nobly
. nd bravey maintained tho honor " our flag to
tn last, and gorously died the death Of patriots.
Many others were wounded.
Our loss was about 200 killed and wounded
that Of the enemy is believed to be much greater.
The greatest confidence is reposed in Col. Comfy,
and ii volunteers will do their duty, The Texans
will be igaominiously driven from the country.