Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-03-21


ST. Louis, March I3.--Tne Republican has
adyices from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Beb
%, which state that ths Texas rebel troops
have made various significant movements in the
vicinity Of Fort Craig.
On the 18th they sdvanood column Of in
| fsh:rY, 1000 strong, in liDs of battle IN front
of the fort, and also moved column of cav
airy, 500 strong, 10 the vest of our defeuces
They advanced within mile and half Of the
work, and hAlting, with the rebel Gag floating
IN the breeze, remained some time and then
commenced a retrogradc movement. During
the time Of lAe advance Col. Candy prudsntly
| concealed the greater part Of his forces ia The
rear of the fort. When the enemy commenced
letreating, and the infantry was separated from
the cavalry, COL Candy ordered Major Dun
| can TO charge the cavalry of the enemy with a
! squadron Of dragons and mounted men. which
| they did in gallant style, the enemy retreat
ing before them until they arrived at 3 deep ras
vine.
The Texan Infantry, IN tue meantime, ad :
Vanced TO the relief of the cavalry, and skiE-
mish took place at the ravine. Major Duncan
late in the evening, Was recalled, and the Tex
ans continued TO fall back. He reported that
the Texans had eight pieces OF artillery in g
battery, masked IN the ravine, but short
distance below where the skirmish took
place.
On tue 18th aud 2oth TIE Texans creased to
The east bank OF the Rio Grande, in order, 1T
Is supposed, to take possession of the heights
opposite Fort Craig. Col. Candy crossed and
| pursued shem in force, when the Texans on the
| heights ifei some City cannon shots, without
| dam,.,e to eur forces. Col. Candy fred bus
two shots, deemiag it jmPrudsDt to waste his
ammunition.
On the morning of tus 21st, sRo hundred
Texan mules wcre captnred, win their Sagon>
master. The Texas on tho Highlands are
destitute OF water. COL Candy has the pass
| to the water guarded by battery and strong
force, and all the other outlets are guarded. -
The Texans must either 6ght desperately for
water or surrender.
| When the express closed, on the morpn g
| 6S the 21st ult., the booming of cannon could
! bs beard i'd che direction of Valysrde, announ-
cling inst the battle had begun.
LATER.
An express has just arrived flpal Fort Creig,
With news of serious conflict between our for
ses and the Texans, which lasted from o'clock
A. NJ. on the 2lst until sundown of the same
day.
!. The light commenced in the morning betweon
portion of our troops, under Col Roberts,
and the enemy across tho Rio Graude, with
varied success. until l or 2 o'clock, when Col.
Candy crossed the river IN force, with bat
terry of six pieces, under Capt. McRay, Of the
cavalry, but detailed 10 command of the bat.
terry, and, also, small battery of two howit-
GERS. The enemy are supposed to have had
seven or eight pieces phe battle commenced
by tha artillery, and skirmiahing soon became
genecal. Towards evening, most of the eDe-
my's guns were silenOed. They however, made
desperate charge on the howitzsI battery,
but were repulsed with groat loss.
Capt. McCray's battery wna defended by
Capt. PlimpsOn's company of United States
infantry aud portion Of Col. Pines Rsgi-