The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03
LATE and IMPORTANT FROM TEXAS.
Capture and Destruction Of Sibley,s
Expedition.
REBELS DRIVEN FROM NEW
= MEXICO.

Mr. Charles II. Miller has arrived in
New York from Texas, having escaped
thence to the barlue Arthur, one OF the
blockading fleet
Mr.. Miller has resided in Texas twenty
two years, and during the Mexican war
was second lieutenant in the company Of
of Texas Rangers, of which the captain
was Ben McCullOch, who became quite no.
tOriOus after the commencement OF the
present troubles, and was killed at the
battle of Pea Ridge, in Arkansas.
Mr. NJ brings much interesting informa-
ton, especially concerning the result OF
Sibleys expedition to New Mexico.
We know that Sibley's brigade, after a
temporary success at Valverde, near Fort
Craig, about $50 miles north Of Ell Paso,)
passed Fort Craig and captured Santa Fe.
Endeavoring to go on to Fort Union, they
were defeated, and compelled to retreat
They evacuated Santa Fe, leaving their
sick and wounded, and took the back track
to Ell PasO. Two or three skirmishes Oc-
cured, but after repassing Fort Craig we
had no certain intelligence concerning
them.
l.
was intercepted by troops from California
General Candy, with the New Mexican
troops, was in pursuit and close at hand
He was thus caught between two fires, and
retreat being impossible, battle occurred,
which resulted in Sibley's utter and COM
plete defeat
The California troops were supposed to
number about 5000. Sibley'S brigade
originally numbered about 2,700. Baylor's
regiment was already in Arizona, and was
joined to his brigade, so that his entire
force was about $500 men, as efficient and
well armed as Texas could furnish. They
were all mounted and well provided with
artillery, among which were nine mountain
howitzers. But the length of the journey
the want of supplies and medical stores
his losses by sickness, desertiOn, wounds
and death, and capture Of prisoners by the
government forces had greatly reduced his
numbers, and produced a disheartening eff
feet upon those who remained.
In the last fight, the Texans lost all
horses, arms cannons, all their stores, and
even the suffers trains. Grants celebra-
ted train, captured by the Texans last sum-
mer, was recaptured in this fight.
A great number were killed or wounded,
and about one-half the whole force were
taken prisoners. Gen. Sibley, with Coils.
Steel and Green, escaped with $50 men of
Green's regiment. One or two hundred
are supposed to have escaped in another
direction, and reached Mexico.
The escaping and exasperated Texans Of
Green's regiment assassinated Gen. Sibley
and Col. Steele during the retreat, just be-
fore reaching Ell Paso. They alleged that
the ruin of the brigade was attributable
only to the drunkenness and inetficiency
of the leaders. These facts were published
in the San Antonio He'WM.
Green and his $50 men arrived in San
Antonio on the 18th of June, having only
their side arms, and few pack mules to
carry provisions This remnant of his regi-
ment was about to he sent to the interior
of the State to be filled up again.
The federal forces Immediately after the
fight, took possession of Ell Paso and Fort
Bliss, which is near by. and sent 'detach-
ment to Camp Quitman, eighty miles east
of Ell Paso. Thereupon the Texans evacua-
ted Fort Davis, 200 miles east of Ell PasO,
| and all the other forts in the extreme north
west of the State, Fort Clark, 100 miles
from San Antonio, now being the nearest
fort to Ell Paso held by the Texans.
All able-bodied men between the ages of
eighteen and twenty-five are ordered into
camps of instruction.
Sibley's brigade was the great effort Of
Texas, and contained the best fighting ma
terial in the whole State. Great things
were expected of it, but it has failed as sig
nally as it deserved. The fate of the lea
ders may be regarded as precedent of
what will happen to the great leaders of the
rebellion, when their deluAed. people come
to their senses.