The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-04-15
THE GREAT FIGHT IN NEW MEXICO
Fice hundred Yankees kiled-2,0 900 missing
Seren pieces Of artillery taken.


! Seren pieces Of artillery taken.
We are in receipt of highly important news
from Mesilla, through an extra of the Mesa
Times. The San Antonio Herald has also issued
extras containing the same intelligence:
The long expected engagement in New Mexico
came off at Valverde, on the east bank of the Rio
Grande, four miles above Fort Craig, on Friday,
| February 2lst. The battle commenced at nine
O'Clock in the morning, aud lasted until sunset
The action was commenced by portion of Col
Baylor's Regiment, 200 strong, under command
of Major Pyron, who was ordered to flank the
enemy. Upon reaching the river valley, they
discovered the enemy Oh the left. Major Pyron's
| command changed to good position, where they
were covered by timber and wide slough. They
held this position for nearly an hour, under a
| heavy fire of small arms, she'll, grape and round
shot, before they were reinforced.
The whole Confederate command now arrived
in position, when a general engagement took
place all along the line. At first the enemy
| attempted to turn left flank, when Major
Lockridge came to our assistance, and nobly did
he do it. Then they made another attempt all
along our lines, but without effect. Then again
they made concentrated attack upon our left.
with such vigor to compel our forces to fall
back from their first position to another.
While in this position, and late in the evening,
the enemy crossed the river with their battery
which proved fatal to them. The Confederate
reserve (Col. Steele's command, } some 45O men,
now joined in the action. A charge was made
at the battery of the enemy, and along their
whole line and the battery was taken at the point
of revolver and shot gun, after desperate strug-
gle, when the enemy fed with great slaughter
The enemy suffered the most while retreating
across the river, where the slaughter was truly
terrible
The battle was iercely contested, and undoubt-
edly the severest Of the present war, as desperate
as any on record for the amount of men engaged.
The roar Of small arms, shell canister grape, and
| round shot, is described having been terrific;
and individual instances of great bravery aud
gallantry, are numberless; while the whole army
fought like veterans and patriots The victory,
though achieved gloriously over double our num-
bers, was dearly have to mourn the loss
of thirty heroes, and have lO6 wounded.
Major Lockridge was killed in the charge when
the battery taken, falling at the head of his
column, and at the foot Of gun, but lived loHg
enough to see victory crown our arms In skill
and bravery he surpassed by
! The night after the fight the Federals, under
flag of truce, requested permission to bury their
dead and collect their wounded. At the time our
informant left, the number of the enemy's killed
and wounded not accurately known, but was
supposed to be over 500. 1t was not known how
many of the Federals pershed in the river.
Captain McRae Of the regular army and Captain
Hobbcll, of the New Mexican volun GERS, were
killed Capt Lasalle, of the regular army, and
! Capt. Barrienton, of the volunteers, were taken
prisoners.
Of the Federal army of over 5000 men
stationed at Fort Craig, the night after the
battle only 5000 could be mustered; more than
half being killed, taken prisoners or having
deserted. A Captain of the regulars reported
with tears in his eyes, that he had only six men
fit for duty in his company.
The regulars fought bravely, and before the
| action both officers and were sanguine of
success
| The Fcderas at one time supposed they were
victorious and ceased fixing. or the seven pieces
of artillery taken, there are three six Founders,
two twelve Founders, one twenty four FOUNDER
and howitzer-all unspiked and in good order
In the commencement of the action shell was
| thrown into Kit Carsons regiment of volunteers
! killing and vounding twenty; they became
panic stricken and fed to the mountains.
The Federal force engaged was 5000 men
| 1000 of whom regulars, 100 Pixies Peak
! volunteers, and the remainder New Mexican vol
unteers and mlitia-uuder command Of Brig.
General Candy. A reserve was left ia Fort Craig
of some POO or 800 men, under command of
Brig. Gen. Hovey.
| The Confederate force engaged, including re-
! serves ana OetallS, was not qulte Z.-uO men OOl
| Green was in immediate command of our force,
but General Sibley, though suffering from Illness
was on the field the whole day.
! The Federals did not retreat in order, but ex
hibited perfect Manassas rout. Two hundred and
fifty stand of small were taken Numbers
of the New Mexican volunteers coming into
camp and giving up their arms Courtesies were
| exchanged between the lines under the flags Of
truce.
| 1t is reported that propositions of surrender
have been made, the Fedcrals proposing to sur
render the fort the officers to be parolled for the
war; to retain their private property, aud to be
furnished with sufficient transportation 70 carry
them to the States. This was refused, aud it is
thought the Federals will come to our terrns-an
unconditional surrender.
Private letters have been received here from
officers Of the army confirming this statcm'nt
This glorious news creates glow of joy in this
Valley. We are happy to send SO pleasing a
record to Texas, of the achievements Of her hero
sons The armies Of the South will ever fight
bravey but they will never achieve greater
victory than this.
A thousand leagues from the centres OF clviliza-
ton, amid sea of difficulties, to conquer two to
one, rout an army well disci Plined, we'll ofhcered
and well furnished with all modern improvements
in arms is more than q consulBmatlon OF our
fundest hopes
LATTER.
/ Passengers from San Antonio say it re-
shoa ritv Of of flor