Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-16

Grande from Texas with 1000 men to
seize or capture the government posts
on the river. He arrived opposite Fort
Craig on the 21st. General Candy COM
manded at the fort A part OF the
garrison. which numbered 1000 men.
sailed out, crossed the river and drove
the enemy from his chosen positions.
At 8 o'clock the victory seemed to hang
over the Union banners. In despera-
ton Sibley sent two storming parties
against Canby's tanks. The stormers
were on foot. armed with shotguns.
squirrel rifles. revolvers and lances.
On the Federal right Halls battery.
supported by Colonel Kit Carson's dis
mounted cavalry and a battalion OF
regulars. drove back the stormers with
fearful slaughter. but on the left there
was another story to tell Captain
Alexander McRae's battery formed the
chief element of strength on that flank.
II was manned by regulars and de-
Tended until every horse and half the
cannoneers had been shot down.
A Duel at the Cannon's Mouth.
Major S. A Lockridge, an old regu-
lar army officer and former comrade of
McRae, stood by the last gun, sur
rounded by his fallen braves. Lock
ridge placed his palm upon the muzzle
Of the piece and demanded surrender.
The two were not three feet apart.
Looking each other In the face, both
raised their revolvers and fired. To-
gether they dropped dead in their
tracks. The disaster to McRae's bat
terry turned the tide in favor of Sibley.
and Candy withdrew his lines to the
| fort.
Carson commanded the First New
Mexico cavalry, and the same charac-
teristics distinguished him in the army
that he displayed in the exploring and
hunting camps. He attacked Sibley's
men boldly and was gaining the day
when sudden orders came TO retreat
across the river In his report Carson
offered no protest. but simply said that
his command was sweeping everything
before it when it was called of.
Candy remained isolated in Fort
Craig until Sibley was disposed of
through natural causes. The Confed-
crates marched up the river to Al
buquerque where Candy planned 10
attack them. But all the subsistence
OF the region was in Federal hands or
hidden in private storage. Sibley had
no funds to buy from the people and
finally retreated toward the Texas Dor
der. Learning that Cartoons Califor.
MIA column was approaching. he cor
tinued on to San Antonio with his force
depleted nearly one-half during his
campaign up the Rio Grande. Carrie
ton ultimately Joined forces with Can.
by. and the old regular forts on the
Rio Grande were held TO the end of the
war.
Other Events of the Week.
On Feb. 10 the United States con
gress revived the grade Of lieutenant
. general in the army. 1t had been hello
| by Washington and ended with his
death. Brigadier General q. S. Gran
was promoted major general in recog
nirion of bis victory at Fort Donelson
The Confederate forces were abandon
ing their base of supplies at Nashville
and retreating westward to the Mis-
, sissippi river and southwark towar,
Corinth.
Feb. % Jefferson Davis and Alexan
: der II. Stevens were inaugurated a
: Richmond. Va. as permanent pres
dent and vice president of the Confed
q crate States of America In his mat
: gural address President Davis said tina