Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-25
Che Ohio 9tatesnram
T x Z n q
The Battle Of Fort Craig.

that the Texans had probably commenced a re.
treat South on the 18Th, and that Il Was ann.
posed they would not make battle In tho vicini.
ty OF Fort Craig. This, however, has proved
to be mistake. Instead of making a general
retreat, they only retired down the river aix
miles to q ford by which they could convenient
~ cross their forces TO the east bank. The
crossing was effected on the 18th, and al an
early hour OF the 2Oth they we're observed 70 be
marching up the east bank toward the fort.
out sufficiently distant from 1t to be outside m
range Oh tne largest guns on the in.renchments.
ING Instance which was thus observed by them,
aPParenuy, inrew them among the sand hills,
through which the scouts had informed Col
Canby 1t was impossible for them 10 mass win
their batteries, trains. etc. A closer inapection
OF the ground brought about the Conviction tbat
tne scouts were much mistaken, and that the
route which had been chosen by the Texans was
pracucaple, and that unless they we're intercept.
eo tney would gain the water above the fort
ana OBTAIN the advantage of position, and at
the same time cut of Communication from
above. On the afternoon of the l9tb. Col
Candy had ordered the Fifth, Seventh and
Tenth Infantry, under Capts. Selden and Win.
gate and Coils. Carson's and Pino's regiments
OF volunteers, to cross the river and occupy a
position on an elevation opposite the fort.
which IL was thought the enemy would Gttempt
70 OBTAIN, from which to shell the fort These
ioTces remained on the east side of the river all
night, 10 the afternoon of the 20,h the cayal.
~ under Major Duncan and Capt McRae's BAT.
tery were ordered across, and after some una.
voloaDie delays were brought into position on
the Pedregal between the river and The aoamv
anu '1e volunteers we're then ordered up to as.
sumo line Of battle. At that time the TaYsns
opened heavy cannonade upon the battery and
cavalry, under which the volunteers were At.
tempted to be placed in order of battle. but
which occasioned confusion Ia Col. Pino's reui.
ment and rendered itimpossible to restore them
TO order, although Maj Donaldson, Col. Pine
ana other officers did all IL was In the power of
man 10 90 to quie: them. Col. Kit Carsou's
regiment observed good order during the can.
monaco. The whole force was 30 we'll protected
oy the elevations which interviewed between il
and the enemy, that the firing was harmless.
no loss OF lie having been occasioned bv h.
and but one wounded slightly, by a sp!ipter
from ball which struck rock and broke.
In consequence OF the unmanaReable condi.
tion OF Col. Pino's regiment, Col. Canby order
ed eountermareh to the fort, and ali safely
returned before night.
Inc Texans had now been from water A
wnole oaY' and their animals we're suffering ex.
tremely ior thirst. So exhausted had they be-
come, tnat it was found necessary for some time
70 COUPLE teams in order to draw the wagons up
Ine nllle; nnaily they broke down completely,
anu lo"at1 night the wagons could not be re.
luoVeu' Duri1g the night and next morning
our scouts captured over two hundred of the an.
imals which had broken away from the jneg1.
cient guard which had been placed over thsm
and were wandering In search of water. One
wagonmaster was taken prisoner during the
morning OF the 2lst, who gave the above in
iotmsuoI In reference to the bad condition Of
Inc ioss OF so many horses and mules made
u necessary LOT the enemy to abandon q large
numoer OF tnelr wagons in the mornug, large
proportion OF which was burned BY our scouts.
some OF the wagons contained PROVISIONS. but
the wagons themselves, as we understand. we're
more loss to the Texans than the provisions
and teams. Had the sequel been different from
wnat It proved to be in the engagement of
the Slst, q retreat on the part OF the enemy
Woulo nave been impossible, because of the ab.
aence OF transportation. Without entering into
minuua, the above is general statement Of the
Incidents of the 18th and 20th, and which has
lts chief interest when taken In connection with
what was to follow. a - -. .
About eight O'Clock in the morning of tho
Sis'' Coi' Candy ordered Col. Roberts with
nls cavalry Col. Valdez's cavalry, Col. Car
sons volunteers, the 5th, 7th and l6tb infantry.
and Capt. McRae's and Lieut.. Hall'e batteries
to proceed up the west bank of the Rio Grapde
ana prevent the Texans from reaching t,e a.
ter af the only point the river was accessible by
tne sioping banks This position was about
seven miies north Of the fort, and when Col.
honertss command reached It he found that the
enemy had anticipated his march and had gain
ed the water first. Col Roberts Immediately
opened the batteries upon them, at which thew
retreated with loss OF twenty-five or thirty
killed, and one cannon. The gun was die,
mounted by Capt, McRae, and was spiked and
rendered useless before 1t was Abandoned
When the enemy retired, Col. Roberts's force
crossed the river and took position on the east
bank, where the fighting was kept up with va
ried success until Capt, MoRae's battery was
charged and taken.
After o'clock, Col. Candy came on to the
neld with bis Guard and STAFF, followed BY Col.
Fino's regiment Of volunteers, and assumed
command In person. Up to this hour the fight.
ing had been done principally with the bate
riesi Capt McKae with bis battery occupying
position on the extreme left, and Lieut.. Hall
with two 24-pounders, toward the right of the
line. On the left flank there was thick wood
which skirted to within about one hundred and
fifty yards of the position held By Cant. Nc. |
Rae's battery. In this woods numerous bodies
OF the enemy had been seen collecting for the
space OF an hour or an hour and half, rather
outside the range Of the guns. The opiect of
this not being known, and it being impossible to
discover 1t from scouts, Col. Candy resolved In
dislodge them from the shelter, and ordered the
battery to be brought up to the edge of the
wood for that purpose. Capt. McRae's battery,
thus stationed, was to be supported by two com.
panies Of regulars and two companies of volun-
teers, which were arranged In a horizontal posl.
tion, to the left and behind the battery. Lieut..
tlall's guns were to be supported By the oayal-
ry and Col. Carson's regiment
These arrangements having been completed
1t was designed by Colonel Candy to make an
advance movement toward the enemy. Sud
denly an exceedingly brisk rattle of musketry
and other email arms was heard toward the
right of the field; SO loud and 90 unexpected
was 1t that 1t attracted the general attention to
that quarter, no one being able to comprehend
why an occurrence of that character should
take place there and at that time. The object,
however, was soon discovered to be ruse on
the part OF the Texans to divert attention from
the movements they were putting on foot for
the batteries. About that time they began the
charges, and such charges as they made are
without parallel In the history of ancient or
modern warfare. The one against Lieutenant
Halls battery was made by cavalry and was
successfully repulsed In the midst of great car.
mage. But the one upon Captain McRae's can
not be described with language. The enemy
advanced steadily on foot, armed principally with
| Colts eix.shooters The iron hail through which
! they passed cut through their ranks, making in