The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-05
THAT INTfSTON or MEyICO.
MnckenzIe's March toward the Santa Rosa
Mountains and his Return.

CAMr ox rnr R1o GnAxnr. Texns. Lnne q

CAMP on THE RIO GRANDE, Texas, June %.
A force consisting Of twelve compares OF in.
fantry, organized into three battalions. and
with four Calling guns and four thrce-inch
fold pieces had renlezvouzed near the mouth
OF Pinto Greek, Texas maj sing n force OF about
seven hundred men. under the command OF
Li"ui.-Co ". r. Snafter. Twenty fourth In-
On tho morning Of the 18th we crossed tho
Rio Grandn into Mexico at what is known as
the blackberry Crossing aud took up our
limo of march into the interior, with wagon
train Of forty wagons and four amhulanccs.
Gen. Mackenzie had already crossed on mo
18th AT or near the mouth OF Devils river with
six companies ot cavalry and forty Seminole
scouts. ms objective point being me iopan ana
kirkapoo Indians in tho Santa Rosn Mountains.
Mexico The column under Coz. Shniter
marched twelve miles TO san Diego river. and
camped Tor the night. This river is very
rapid stream. and one OF the most beautiful l
have ever seen. It's source being near santa
Rosa Mountains. and runs nearly parallel with
tn RIO Grunde.
Juno iG.-To-doy we have marched about
ancient mission Of san Nicenta. which is one
of the number built 10y the Jesuits. who pene-
tratcd this country soon after the conquest OF
MrNco by Cortz The mission has OF later
years been remodcled into village entirely
SURROUNDED by wall some ten TO twelve feet
n!gh. with "A large arched gate ms entrance.
We are encamped tonight on q beautiful pla-
t.au. in full view u the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Nothing has transpired during the day To dis.
turb the regular routine Of the field service and
we have passed over the most magnificent stock
or grazing country have over seen.
June live moved from camp ut 7 o'clock
\. NJ. and marched eight miles. and then hiV-
ouaeked. We're soon Joined 10y Gen. Mac
Kenzle with his six companies OF cavalry add
ing about four hundred to our strength. The
country abOunds in thousand legged worms,
tarantulas.'entipedes snakes. scorpions. nous
qullne-, ants. anu other iests. In q camp
yesterday an on 'er counted twenty-eight OF
those thousand legged worms. from quarter
TO eight Inches long, in walking from his tent
a distance OF about forty feet. so YOU may i'm
agine what a c0hutry u would be t. person 81
nervous temperament and fear 81 reptiles. |
river FIRST. but presume We are marching on n
fresh trail, n Coils. Mackenzie and Shaiter are
too good soldiers not 10 follow out the orders OF
thor superiors. which are 10 only cross tho
river when on fresh trail Should this turn
out not t. be the case II looks very much like an
army OF INVASION. No. we certainly would not
desecrate the sacred soil of our sister republic.
which Is already trembling with commissions
within her own limits and with whom we are at
peace.
On the night Of the 18th we were visited by
one Of those terrific rainstorms, with vivid
flashes Of lightning and loud bursts of thunder.
II now turns M that the expedition has failed
! o. lis object The column under Gen. Mac
northern portion Of the Santa Rosa mountains
and strike The indians, thence passing around
| the town Of Santa Rosa 10 meet the column
| under Shaiter which WAS intended as supply
! and support to the cavalry column III case II
| Should hc pressed by the MeXcans. but tho
| guide, which WIS the main dependence TO lead
J tn" column 10 success. WAS taken suddenly sick.
| and the command, failing 70 find water, came
/ very nearly p"rlshing, having 10 march some
! sixty miles after failing to find water in the
] Burp mountains. rs they expected.
Alter the joining of the two columns eight
! columns OF cavalry, under Mackenzie. left camp
! at2 o'clock on the morning OF the lSth. and
! WIN near the town OF ltnymollno. We're met 10y
| Mexican force under Wlnkrr tPadro Valdez.
/ late follower of |. 'rdo. hut now pardoned. and
| rewarded with Cnioneis commission: he in
| formed Gen. Mackenzie thnt " h. was instructed
/ 10 resist our passage through their country"
Gen. Mackenzie asked him why he did not then
] re- II our progress he replied. " he had not
| sufficient force but would have reGniorrements
! that afternoons" We went into camp for about
four hours. and AZ > O'Clock in the afternoon
commenced our march skirmishers were
| thrown ont in advance. followed 10y the hntiAl-
ions of infantry. with the cavalry on our Hanks
| We advanced in this form some 1--we miles. pnss-
| Ing through the village. and could SEE tn" Mex
! lean forces fleeing in various directions oyer
thr hills il was a blood Hess victory. not IL shot
| being fired on either side.
The Mexican forces followed in our roar and
on the TANKS during the rest of that and the
| next du". and then preceded up to Oldtown. tho
| point Wher. We Intended cross the Ri
/ GranI", which caused us to repeat the same
| movement which We had done ut Reymolno
| and "a, before. not u shot was fired, although We
dld capture one Mexican soldier armed and
/ equipped Tor war. We however recrOssed the
| Rio GrAnde ana are now safe under the Stars
and Stripes without the loss OF u single man.