Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-03-22
WHOLE NUMBER $50.


umn Of infantry. 1000 strong, IN llue Of AZ.
tie, IN front of the fort. and also moved
column Of 500 cavalry 70 the west Of our
dpfenses They advanced 10 within mile
and half Of tho works They remained 10
this position some time, aud then commen.
ced retrogade movement.
During the time Of their advance Col.
Canby prudently concealed the greater part
Of his forces IN the rear Of the fort. When
the enemy commenced retreating, and the
infantry was separated from the cavalry.
Col. Candy ordered Mejor Duncan TO
charge the cavalry Of the enemy with q
squadron Of Dungeons and mounted nen.
which they did in gallant style, the enemy
retreatng before them until they arrived at
q deep ravine. The Texan infantry 10 tho
mean time advanced to the relief Of The cav
airy, and skirmish took place at the n.
vine. Major Duncan, late IN the evening.
was recalled
The Texans continued to gall back.
IL was reported that the Texans bad
eight pieces Of artillery placed in battery
masked in the raviue. but q short distance
from where The skirmish took place.
On the l9ih and 20lh the Texans crossed
to the east bank Of the Rio GruBde del
Norie. In order, il is supposed, to tsAe pos
session Of the heights opposite Fort Craig.
Col Candy crossed aud pursued them IN
force, when the Texans on the heights 6rod
,ome ffiy cannon shots. without damage.
On the morning Of the 2lsi, 200 Texan
mules were captured, with their wagon
masters
The Texans on the highlands are desti:
fu'e of water. Col Candy has the pass to
the water guarded by a. battery and 1000
men, aud all the other outlets are also
guarded in force.
Another fight commenced In the morning
between portion OF our troops under Col.
Roberts and the enemy across the Rio
Grande with varied success until about l or
two o'clock Of that that day 1.-THE 2lst.l
Col Candy then crossed the river 10 force
with a battery Of six pieces, under Capt
McRae Of the cavalry, but detailed to the
command Of the battery. Col. Candy also
took With him a small battery Of Two how.
/ zers. The enemy were supposed to haze
mad eight field pieces, The battle was
commenced by our artillery aud skirmisbers
and sooo it became general.
Towards evening the guns Of the enemy
were sienced. They, however, made Q
desperate charge on our howitzer battery,
but we're repuIsed with great loss.
Capt. McRas's battery was defended by
Capt. Plimpton's company Of United States
infantry, and portion Of Col. Plno's regi-
ment OF New Mexican volunteers.
The Texans now charged desperately aud
furously with picked men, about 600
strong, on McRae's battery. They were
armed with carbines, revolyers, and long
seven pound bowic-kuiyes. After discharg-
ing their carbines at close quarters, they
| drew their revolvers and reached the bate
ry amid a storm of grape and canister.
The New Mexicans of Col. Piuo's regiment
became panic stricken, and ingloriously Red
Capt. Plimpton. aud the United States 10.
fantry, stood their ground and fought nobly.
until more than one-half were Numbered
with the dead.
With his artillerymeu cnt down, and
with bis support reported killed, wounded,
or flying from the Geld, Capt. MeRae sat
down calmly and quisbly on one of bis guns
and with revolver IN hand, refusing TO hy
or desert his post be fought to tue last, and
gloriousIy died like hero, the last man ut
bis guns.
Tue Texans suffered terribly 10 this des:
perate charge. Many of our officers great
ly distinguished themselves on this day.
Kit Carson was in command Of regis
ment of volunteers, who were deployed rs
skirmiShers. His command did good SER
vice during the action, and behaved we'll.
We have to lament the loss of Lieuts.
Michler aud Stone, who like Capt McRae
nobly and bravely maintained the honor VI
our flag to the last, and died the death of
patriots
Many other Of our officers are wounded.
Our loss is about two hundred killed and
wounded The loss Of the enemy is believed
to be much greater.
The greatest confidence is reposed in
Col. Candy, and if the volunteers win do
their duty the Texans will be ignominiously
driven from the country.