The New York herald., 1868-05-04


umn sof 5000 men than defend it under the
same circumstances with an army Of s. 900 strong"
The General was induced to make this remark from
the fact that the positions isolated beyond the
command OF each other, rendered the more so by the
Mexicans. Auza knew this, but he mace his dispos
tons for battle as though he commanded 10000 In
se sssa or 5ooO men On sas eastern side half Way up
the summit Of the hill, were some earthworks
erected by the French during the time they were IN
Guadalupe road, but was old, dilapldated and
preached In several places The earthworks on the
top OF the mountain commanded the other side OF
the mountain and all approaches to the castle on
that side. But these works also commanded the
castle they erected 10 protect and rot only the
therefore, that the earthworks were Of the
most absolute importance to the liberals. II
was necessary to hold them with the utmost
tenacty, which was most easy from the fact
Of the difficulty OF approaching them. This the
easiest. accessible point fronting Miramon's army.
at such distance from Mramon that much valuable
time must be consumed in attempting anything Ike
march around the city. Escobedo's column, but
plan. But two points OF access were then presented
him-but two roads by which II was possible for him
One method was to storm the heights above the
castle, which, by good troops was possible; the
other was TO advance down the Guadalupe road.
A few guns properly served and posted commanded
this road perfectly. The entrance to tie cafion
tnr0ugn winch the IOdu 10 Lne clty might easily
by thousand men be defended against six times
that number This approach, consequently, was not
to be thought Of. Nothing remained to Mramon but
to storm the heights above the castle and enter the
The imperial general, imagining the liberals were
as wen aware Of his plans as he himself was made
no attempt to deceive them. During the whole Of
the 2sth his vdettes hoyered between the city and
the villa, but came no nearer the liberal lines; the
houses Of the villa to prevent the liberals obtaining
an idea Of the number Of the forces confronting
them. HN t.s
The liberal General Auza prepared for battle; the
disposition he made 0r his forces showed his utter
ignorance Of military matters and his incapacity to
fiji the position he held. He placed his cannon In the
most out OF the way places possible the result OF
which was that but very few OF the pieces in his
possession oould be used at the time they were most
needed. They were placed In positions from which
1t was impossible TO remove them in case Of retreat
The main body Of his infantry was thrown across
Guadalupe road. the wings extending up both sides
The American Legion Of Honor with two companies
OF Mexican soldiers were distributed as sharp
Guadalupe road; In their rear was stationed p0r-
ton Of Colonel Correiia,s First Durango Infantry
castle. was occupied strange TO saw by cavalry, en-
tirey and solely BY cavarysuch were the dispositions
made for the coming fight by this Mexican Napoleon,
out any alarms, but just as the gimmeIing Of com.
Ing day were seen In tho east, the sound Of sharp
aboTe ne CASTLE n ys @ Er
came sharper and more regular; at quick intervals
the boom OF heavy guns told that the two pieces
soon the sharp shooters of the imperial
army were seen Struggling over the brow
Of the bill tso TO the tsr right AN, and left q the
and Austrlans Of Colonel Miramon's cavalry dis
mounted as sharpsho0ters At this moment General
Araada earnestly recommended that the heights
should be Instantly REINFORCED 500 infantry could
well be spared without sensibly weakening the
tre as the troops OF Correa on the west side of the
caIon could in O few moments march to the centre
and l the gap left by the troops sent to reinforce
the heghts but Auza obstinatey refused TO listen to
their own. Meanwhile the battle ragged flercely and
sSrnIshefs % About hail hapas ssven a. i NJ Inilnfs Mira
mon ordered al assault on the works,
and Q column Of about 800 infantry at
company front charged. They were met by
giod on dashed over the breasfworks and drove the
liberals out at the point of the bayOnet. The liberal
cavalry, numbering, perhaps 1--WE hundred, retreated
down the hill passed the castle, through the city, to
the heights on the western side of the cafOn.
The fate Of the day was decided Zacatecas was
completely at Miramons mercy. The two guns on
the heights were turned on the retrcating column Of
cavalry, annoying them considerably. The imperial
infantry poured down the hill and formed between
the castle and the city along the hillside. The other
imperial division issued from its c0ncealment from
behind the houses OF the villa and double qu!oked up
the road towards the CITY,
The situation OF the centre Of the liberal army In
the caron across the Guadalupe road was now critical
The capture Of the heights exposed their flank to the
attack OF the imperial column forming near the
castle while large force was advancing on their
front. Retreat was absolutely necessary, and the
order was consequently given for them to fall back
across the cahon and move to the high table land
the other Side the canon. Orders were also sent for
the Americans, who up to this time had not fred
their horses were stationed, to mount, and in
junction with two "available" squadrons Of liberal
cavalry, form In the Of the Infantry to protect
It's retreat The Americans, under the supervision OF
Captain McNulty, now Major McNuly Senior captain
and second IN conmand), formed in skirmishers and
A squadron OF French cavalry, Of Colonel Mira.
mons command, outnumbering four to one, were
deployed as skirmshers In their immediate front,
ana for the first time In many years Americans and
Frenchmen met In actual combat on the battle field.
Neither side possessed much advantage over the
other the French were the more numerous, but the
Americans possessed the most efficient arms. The
result was not TO be doubted. The Henry sixteen
eight shooting carbnes invented by spencer, used
by the Americans on this OCCASION made sad havoc
among the French. Horses AID men went down be-
fore tue deadly aim OF the American sharpshOOter5;
their fire was accurate and rapid. Captain Kicker
and Lieutenant George Lowe on the right Captains
Lcvee and AcNuliy in the centre, Lieutenants Sler-
man, Donovan, EoXie and Defrees the left
employed their time between rapid firing and
encouraging their less experienced comrades. The
French gave way, and rapidly, but In good order
retired behind TIER infantry 70 reform. They We're
greatly mortified by their defeat and vowed ven
gcancc upon any American that might have the mis-
fortune 10 fau into tleir hands. The loss OF the
French IN tls Gfair we have been unable to ascer.
tai1. Not an American was killed or wounded
though many had very narrow escapes. Captain
igriOW'H ni the Did California second cavalry) horse
was wounded IN the belly threw his rider and darted
iD,O thc enemy 3 llnes Lieutenant DOnovan's horse
Was shot dead under him, he fought on foot during
TIE rest oi the hght. McNulty, Leyee, Hoxie, Love-
sherman kilmore and tie other old soldiers escaped
unscaihot Death respected them from the fact per-
laps, thar they lad brate1 him ia more than forty
h.ilcs and coiuha@. The legion battle dag was
literally ri1flrd with bulies.
The Americans gave three hearty cheers and a tiger
over thcr victory, anl then fetlrcd a sharp trot
% 1aln tler position Ia the rear Of the Infantry
IiF tals tihc the Imperial troops had entered the
tiN the4r Ouicers had the greatest difficulty In pre-
venting tAcir pllndorinE; thus much valuable time
Mls n, ana ~ perhaps was the falvatlOn OF the
httc hbcfa army. AZ this crisis the American Cap
Tan kWhcf and Lieutenant Lowe performed one Of
the ulost b lliant dashlng exploits We have ever
lerd ~ hirkcr, fpr the first time noticing that his
niacd Dunofsa was disInOuntcd, said TO him, "Pat
Nhs Won't do. ynu must have q horse; come, Lowe,
aisi mnke . toqglsloa oa Miramou's cavalry for q
h"fie iUf lonoyau.h What do You sayf "pm with
yuu was the rus er;''go aheai.r
Ahes turned ,helf horses heads aud galloped to-
Nsflt iac cay. luey entered q street and were pro
4 nj ~