The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20

tua'hiHS thSiS 'eW Gays. anu hHuiub tHe GU
! envy was now advancing close on u.s. we were
compelled TO evacnpte Santa Fe. comrade
| by the name of James Fitzgerald and myself
were sent to Denver. Colo, with dispatch to
meet the first Colorado regiment. We were to
cross the mountain direct to Denver. On the
second day of our journey we encountered
| snow so deep that we were compelled to change
! our course. After travelling three days we
| learned that the troops were on another route
! from the one we were ordered to take.
On the fourth day we overlook them near
Fort Union and delivered our message TO Col.
Slough. Then we returned to our company at
Las Vegas, on the road from Fort Union to
Santa Fe. This force consisted of one company
of cavalry snd about eight or 10 companies OF
infantry. numbering abeut LOCO
By this time the enemy were in Santa Fe,
and abOut to move on to Fort Union. Candy
and his force were far back in his rear. Col.
Slough, LIST Colo. Cav, and Co Z of the Sd U.
). Cav, were sent forward to fsel the advance
of the enemy. We found then in Apache
Canyon about ID miles from Santa Fe. This
was in the afternoon The Colorado cavalry
were Ii the advance, and they saw something
like brass cannon ahead and made charge
for it, They were fred into from the mount
aln-slde as they passed down the road some
were wounded.
At this time my company deployed to fight
on foot, and came down upon this band and
took the whole batch prIsoncrs-about SO OF
them. At this time the charging party were re-
turning without accomplishing any thing The
Lieutenant, when he returned aud found those
rebels captured, was so delighted THAT he took
up one OF the rebel guns, raised it with both
hands by the barrel and brought it with force
TO the ground, when it went off and killed him.
He was the only man killed at this time.
By this time the sun was going down. The
prisoners were then sent hack to the rear. We
SAW two men emerge from tho bushes good
distance of with white flag. We met them.
and they said g You have got the better of rs
this tiaie, but We will show you something to-
morrow.' ! WIS sent back to Hcade uarters
with dispatch to make arrangements about a
truce. If I remember right the battle was
fought at Giorietta the next day (tbe 9th af
March, 1862. About 10 o'clock of the above
date we met the whole rebel force. Ny COM
rany was in the advance We were y little
late in reaching the ridge ust above Pigeons
Ranch, aHd the rebels got the better OF as there
We were compelled to fight and fall back the
whole day. We woro greatly outnumbered,
Col. Slough having sent 400 If ear men around
largo mountain to get in the rear of tho
enemy. We lonsed to see them come hack to
our assistance. 1t turned cut all right after
all We got good position about o'clock in
the afternoon when the enemy charged US
time aHd again. and were rePulseit every time.
Finally they hsd TO withdraw, leaving the
ground covered with their dead. am positive
they lost 10 10 our one in this battle This
ended the fighting for tias day. There WAS
truce for II hours to bury the dead. They
took advantage of this truce and started for
Texas; thev did not even wait to give their
dead decent burial. but piled them away in
any shape. think the wolves got the most of
them.
Candy and his force had not arrived, and it
was day or two before we learned of the re-
treat. VIXEN received orders TO hasten on
and join Cbuby, which took some time. How
ever. on the night of the I4tlI Of April We found
ourselves in camp with Canby's force at place
Grande. and at day break we louad the enemy
was eitcamped just ACROSS the river FROM where
we ware Boots and saddles were sounded and
ia few minutes everything was in readiness to
charge the enemy, who in the meant mc threw
few round shot at US. At this time the wind
raised and blew a regular hurricane, drifting
sand in such way that We were compelled to
lie down and wait for it TO fall. This was on
the 18th of April.
Tic next morning we found the enemy had
gotten the start of us again. aud we were
obliged to make forced march in or..er to
overtake him. which we did same time in the
afternoon. Our forces we're ON one side and
The enemy On tho other side OF the Rio Grande
They were followed in this way for several
days, when they disappeared. and we never
got sight of them again. This put an cnd to
the invasion of New Mexico hy the rebels
In conclusion. will say for my company and
myself that We were surprised aad delighted to
see such fine lot of officers and men as were
the lst Colo. | am also sure tho rebels were
surprised Sut not delighted. Had it not been
for their timely arrival we could not have
held tho place.-JoHN +. BRISEY, Co. f. Sd
U. S. Cav, Webster, Sd.