Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-02
LATER FRoM NEW MEXICO.
Special to the New Orleans Picayune.I
ARMY OF NEW MEXICO, }

Special to the New Orleans Picayme.I
ARMY OF NEW MEXICo,(
FORT Bills, January 6, 1862
Col Baylor, commanding the advance forces
of our army, left Mesilla on the 18th December.
to Try and cut of Lieut.. Lord. q : mounted
flies, with two hundred men, who were then at
AlamOsa. Col Bsylor's force was composed Of
400 men of his own, and 2UO Of Riley S regiment,
with Capt Techs artillery. Lieut.. Lord thought
discretion the better part Of valor, aad took TO
his heels in the direction of Fort Craig. burning
his tents, baggage and stores in his retreat
All OF Gen. SibleY's army has arrived, with the
RECEPTION Of Steeie's regiment, 9th Texas
nsmied rihss) They are reported 100 miles
below this place, en- route. The whole army are
in fine health, the sick returns not averaging
over forty 10 the regiment. l noticed, while IN
: Virginia, the regiments often reached Is high Is
fyO, and even three hundred sick.
A few days ago Col Ben Ro0e is, command
ing the Federals at Fort Craig, sent a flag Of
truce to Col Baylor, reques ing an exchange of
prisoners. l heard from an officer who saw the
said letter, that Col. Roberts said, lie desired to
mitigate, as much as possible, the horrors of this
unnatural and uncalled for war Gen. Siblev
agreed to the exchange, by which Lieut.. Sim
mons, of Capt Frazer's company, c.. S A, was
returned, in place Of a lieutenant of the Fede-
rails, captured at the battle Of Aiamosa, a few
weeks ago.
Lieut.. Simmons reports that foT the first four
weeks Of his confinement he was treated in the
most miserable manner, and with every indigni-
ty, being confined to the guardhouse, and not
allowed TO converse with any one whatever, afte
which be was released and put upon parole
After being paroled, be represents his treatment
as very respectful and kind. He reports the
Federals intrenched three thousand strong in
Fort Craig, eleven hundred of whom are old
regular soldiers, and between seventeen AMI
nineteen hundred New Mexican volunteers.
They expect soon to be strongly reinforced by
Gen. Candy, from Fort Union.
I presume it will be Gen. Sibley's object to
cut off all communication between them and
Candy Immediately. This he can easily do.
Baylor's and Riley's and part OF Greer's regi- |
meIts are already at or near Fort Thorn, aud
the.otheTs are huTTying on. Gen. Sibley will
leave here in three or four days 10 take command
in person Of the advance. President Davis /
made a most excellent choice when he gave Gen.
Sibley command Of this army. From MS long
brilliant service in the old army. and partic-
ularly in the departments Of Texas and New
Mexico, he Is eminently fit for the important
position. His army, composed entirely of Texas
cavalry, the best mounted troops IN the world.
have the utmost confidence in him, and will
follow him TO the death. l doubt whether such
a march has been made in the annals Of war as
that just accomplished by his army-a distance
Of over seven hundred miles, through the desert
wastes Of Western Texas, over SIX hundred miles
an uninhabited wilderness, without wood, often
whole days without water, almost five hun
dred miles of the march without one quart Of
corn or forage for the thousands of animals with
us and yet the whole army of cavalry is ready
for the field. Providence seems to have sown
his benefits broadcast upon US in this march
Tho wapFhpr has b1an snlaudi1 not o 1r.n Of !
rain has fallen for two months. The grass, upon
we relied entirely, is the best ever known
50 we arrived without accident of any kind.
Oar army, although as large in its equipments
aud appuTtenances as the Utah expedition, has
about o~ne-tenth the expense, and all of that
has been obtained without one cent Of money.
patriotism of the Texans, and the indomita-
win and untiring energy of Gen. Sibley and
officers, have done the rest.