The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-02
THE BATTLE or ZACATECAS.
Details Of the BlOOdiest Encounter Of the
Mexican Civil War.
Tho Terrible Fire on Rccha's Advancs-Ths A..
sault on the Revolutionists-Tw Thousand
Dead and Woundsd-Rocha Shoot
Ing His Prisoners

Cry OF MEXICO. Marcn 10 Is71
IA your correspondent has indicated in several Of
his recent letters the evidences OF the weakness
and want or capablity OF the rebel leaders have
day by day been becoming more and more numer-
ous ana he has now to record the accumulated ana
probable fatal results OF their combined folies. AZ
the date OF my last letter General Rocna, at the
head Of the government forces was pursuing tho
retiring rebels, and had nearly reached the city OF
Zacatecas. On the Sd Of March his march was sud-
denly interrupted by terrible fire upon Rocha's
advance guard, which consisted Of cavalry, under
command OF General Corella This took place aoous
one ieague from Zacarecas, where stand had been
made by the rebels, who desired to take advantage
or the naturally fortified position, as presented bJ
the three hills known as Bolsa, Bufa and 0rlllOt
The former was held by Pedro Martinez Lain Lar
ralaga ana others; the second by Trevino, Donate
Guerr0, Marange and others, and the latter by
Garcia de la Cadena, Doctor Martinez and others.
1t was evident that
THE HOUR OF DECISIVE BATTLE
had come, ana the contending forces were 70
make the hercuean struggle to conquer. Tho
humber Of the government forces reached about Ten
thousand, while that OF the rebels was about seven
thousand five hundred. Rocha was compelled to
halt IN order to make reconnaissance OF the posi-
ton aud give the corresponding orders Tor the
attack. As the ground was exceedingly broken
cavalry were entirely useless except to prevent this
turning Of hanks, for which reason the contest was
to be one OF infantry and artillery almost entirely
with the odds apparently In favor Of the rebels, a.
they occupied the heights, and on the mountain
called Bufa possessed earthw0rks, upon which o
considerable heavy artillery was mounted. Not
outstanding oil these circumstances evidently
favoring the rebels, Rocha moved up his Infantry
In line OF battle to the very foot OF BufaL
under the partial protection OF his artillery.
and then prepared to make an assault
At this mOmeng the line was changed
to columns, one OF which. moving to the right, waa
under command of Fuero; another to the left under
that OF supalern otlicer and the third or contrs
was under General Rocha himself and which con-
tanned troops Of his special choice.
The resistance Of the rebel infantry and artillery
was directed against the centre columns, the two
nanking columns being looked after by the cavalry.
The first advance of Rochas infantry in the ASSAULT
was fully met by the rebels and driven back. Az
this moment IL appeared that Rocha must DO de-
rcated but the rear guard, consisting OF the Tenth
and Fifteenth infantry, having been ordered TO sno
front, q general rOut was prevented.
The command to assault having been renewed. and
Colonel Fuero having unexpectedly been able 20
double the enemys left position and reach the
heights, the rebels became demoralized and began
TO retreat. leaving the field to the government
forces THIS took place about dusk and after hard
fight OF about I'VE hours.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED
on both sides in the engagement were about two
thousand. The infantry and artuerymen which
fell into the hands Of Rocha are said to have be-
longed TO The forces OF General Neri, ana had pro-
vlously been captured by Martinez, and incorvo-
rated with his own forces at the time Of the ormeg
defeat OF Neri, six weeks ago. Nothing il known OF
the military executions by Rocha, which naturally
followed his victory. The public have called for hts
list, but have not obtained it, III Is known that some
OF the principal rebel leaders fell Into ms hands. and
yet 1t is argued from his general reputation thlS
point, that he must have
SHOT FEW HUNDRED CAPTURED PRISONERS.
The rebels on retiring changed their tactics, and,
dividing their forces portion have moved in the
direction OF Monteref, another TOWARDS Durango
and third, under Garcia de la Cadena, towards tho
canyon Of Juenipela. They are being pursued-ons
by column under Rocha, another by column
under Corella and the third by General Sanchez
Ochoa. !
The rebels have clearly los. all courage aud In
tend either TO abandon the contest or carry on q
general warfare during the rainy season, with o
TO destroying the agricultural products OF tho
country, thus striking blow at the resources OF the
government.
II is most probable however, that the revolution
has received Its final blow, and after the predatory
bands shall be disposed Of that we shall enjoy
another period Of peace. what blessing to Mexico
II such peace could be permanent
The following is the text OF the telegram sent By
General Rocha from Zacatecas, March 10, to CEN
eral Mejia, announcing his victory over the revo-
lutionsts In the battle OF Zacatecas Otherwise called
the battle OF La Bufa:-
CITIZEN MINISTER OF Wharf.-The detailed account
OF tile battle of Zacatecas send to-day by extraor.
binary. In order that you may form some idea or
1t before 1t arrives will state the enemy had over
nine thousand men, all their leaders being present.
attacked them with 200 men, They lost 700 men
In killed, more than one thousand prisoners ana
GO00 fuglives. The leaders escaped With small de-
tachments. All being summed up do not amount to
1900 soldiers.
We took from them thirteen pieces OF artillery.
two lags, many wagons loaded with ammunition
anu great many arms and uniforms.
We mad 400 Killed and wounded; OF the latter
more than three hundred are In the hospital.
The battle concluded just a. night. This circum-
stance ana The broken nature OF the ground made
pursuit by our cavalry useless. s. ROCHA.