Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-06-19
SANTA FE, N. NJ, III URSDAY, JUNE 10, 1890.

line of battle, until about II o'clock g. IN
at which time Col. B. 8. Roberts said that
he wanted the battery crossed to the east
bank, and asked me for volunteers to as.
sist the crossing at the ford. / called fol
volunteers for that purpose to step three
PAGES to the front, and when the com
mand was given the whole regiment
marched to the front with a cheer.
then detailed about 100 men, being about
ten men from each company respectively
which Immediately took hold of ropes and
aided In crossing the Lattery to its station
on the east bank. About O'Clock p. m.
battery consisting of two 24-pounder
howitzers under the command of Lieut..
K. M. Hall, came on to the field from
Fort Craig, and the lst New Mexico vol
unteers was ordered to take ii across the
river to its station, and was further or
dered to its support. This was done.
Subsequently the trail of one of the 81
Founders was broken, and the disabled
gun was recrossed to the west bank of the
river by men of my regiment. We pro-
ceeded in line of battle at the north foot
OF the Mesita del Contadero, and sue
cessfully repulsed ten distinct cavalry
charges of the confederate left, which
were made to capture Capt. Halls battery.
We captured one mountain howitzer,
which was disabled
AND OCCUPIED TIE ENEMY's GROUND,
when late in the afternoon, to our in
finite surprise and chsgrin, believ-
ing that We were victorious,
Lieut.. w. W. Mills, aide de camp
to Col. B.. S Roberts, came to me
with orders to abandon the field without
delay, and that McRae's battery on the
right had been captured and our troops
in flight across the Rio Grande. could
not believe such report, and did not
heed it. l ordered Lieut.. Eben Everett,
regimental adjutant, to look for Col Car
son, and | informed Capt. A. II. Pfeiffer
of the order to withdraw. That brave
old warrior was dumbfounded and as in
credulous as myself. Soon thereafter
Lieut.. McDermott, of the 81 cavalry, re-
peated the Order and marched the regi-
ment, left in front, to the Rio Grande,
crossed it by wading and saved Capt. r.
NJ. Halls remaining 24-pound howitzer.
We marched Off the field
AS IF on DRESS PARADE,
and We crossed the river in regular forma-
ton except the detail to assist the cross
ing OF the battery, and when We reached
the west bank We formed in regular col,
umn and marched south to Fort Craig,
about three miles, without breaking ranks.
The confederates fired their round shot at
our regiment from their captured battery,
which fortunately did not strike US, other
wise many of our soldiers would have
been killed or wounded. The great ma
jority of our men knew nothing of the
loss Of the battle and OF our retreat until
after they were taking their supper. This
is the true history OF the part that the 1st
N. NJ. volunteers took IN the battle of
Valverde. was there and saw it all
with my own eyes.
Up to the time of the capture Of Nc
Rea's battery the union loss did not ex-
ceed fifteen in killed and wounded The
loss was after the capture of the battery
and the flight of the troops across the
river-the most of whom were shot in the
back.
The immediate support of the captured
battery WAS composed OF Capt. James L.
HubbelPs Independent mouated COM
aany, several rom mpanies of the 81 n. NJ.
volunteers, including Capt. Dalton's COM
pany, and companies OF the 7th and 10th
U. s. infantry and Capt. Lords of the 81
U. s. cavalry. am, respectfully yours,
j. FRANCO, CHiVES.