The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-14

From New mckee.
| st. Louis, March ID.
The Republican has adyices from Al
buquerque, New Mexico, Feb 23d,
which states that the Texans have made
various significant movements in the
vicinity of Fort Craig, On tho 18th they
advanced column of infantry one thous-
and strong in line Of battle in front of the
fort, and also moved column of 500
cavalry to the West of the other defences.
They advanced within mile and half
of the works and halted with the secession
flag in the breeze and remained sometime,
and then commenced rctrograds move
nsnt During the time Of the advance
Col. Candy 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 odered Maj. Duncan
to charge tho cavalry Of the enemy with
a squadron of dragons and mounted men,
which they did in gallant style, the enc
my retreating before them until they ar
rived at deep ravine The Texan in
fantry in the meantime advanced to the
relief of the cavalry and skirmish took
place at the ravine. Maj. Duncan late in
the evening was recalled aud the Texans
continued to fall back. 1t is reported
that the Texans had : pieces of artillery
placed in battery masked in ravine,
but short distance below where the
skirmsh took place.
On the 10th and Goth the Texans cross
ed to the east bank of the Rio Grande In
order. it is supposed, to take possession Of
the heights opposite Fl Craig. Col. Can
by crossed and pursued them in force,
when the Texans on the heights fred some
fifty cannon shots without damage to our
forces Col. Candy fred but two she's,
deeming it inexpedient to waste ammuni-
ton. On the morning of the 2ist 200
Texans mules were captured with their
wagon master. The Texans are on the
height and destitute of water. Col. Cam
by has the pass to the water guarded by a
battery of 1000 men, and all other out
lets guarded in force. The Texans must
either fight desperately for water, or sur
render.
When the Express closed on the morn
ing Of the 2lst. the booming OF cannon
was heard in the direction Of Valverde,
announcing that the battle had begun
The Military Express has just arrived
from Fort Craig with the news of series
of conflicts between our forces and the
Texans, which lasted from nine O'Clock
on the morning of the 2lsi until shutdown
of the same day. The fight commenced
in the morning between portion Of our
troops under Col Roberts and the enemy
across the Rio Grande, with varied sue
cess. until one or two o'clock that day
Col. Candy then crossed the river in force,
with battery Of six pieces under Capt.
MoRae, of the cavalry, but detailed in
command of the battery also small bat
terry Of two howitzers The enemy was
supposed to have seven or eight pieces
The battle commenced by artillery and
diminishing, and soon became general.
Towards evening most of the enemy q
guns were silenced. They, however,
made desperate charge on the howitzer
battery, but were repulsed with great loss.
Capt McRae's battery was defended by
Capt. Plimpton's company Of u. s. infan-
try and portion Col. Pinos' regiment Of
New Mexican volunteers. The Texans
charged desperately and furiously with
picked men about 600 strong They were
armed with carbinss, revolvers, and long
seven pound bowie-knives. After dis
charging their carbines at close distance,
they drew revolvers on the battery, in a
storm Of grape and cannister.
4 The Mexicans of Pinos' regiment we're
panic stricken and ingloriously fed. Capt
Plimpton and infantry stood their ground
and fought nobly till more than one half
were numbered with the dead, with bis
artillerymen cut down, his support eithe,
killed, wounded or flying from the field
Capt. McRae sat down calmly and quietly
on one Of his guns, and with revolver
in his hand, refusing to fly or desert his
post. He fought to the ilaft and gfori
ously died the death of hero, the las
man by his gun. The Texans suffered
terribly in this charge. Many officer,
; distinguished themselves on this day
Major Boncison, who was chief aid of Cot
Candy, acted bravely and was conspicu
Q GUS in every part Of the field. His horse
| was wounded in several places, but he wal
; not injured. Kit Carson, in command
! Of q regiment of volunteers, who were do
I ployed as skirmishers, did good service
e during the action and behaved we'll. w,
Q have, however. to name the loss of Lieuts
! Michler and Stone, who, like Captain
I McRae. nobly and brayelv Maintained
a the honor Of our flag to the last, anc
gloriously died the death Of patriots
: Many others were wounded. Our los
was about 200 killed and wounded. Tha
! Of the enemy is believed to be much great
: er. The greatest confidence is reposcd j