The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-06-27
AMERICAN CAPTAIN SENDS LET.
TER TO PERsHiNa DESCRIBE
ING CARRiZAL AMBUSH.
FIRST SURVIVORS TELL
OF BATTLE AT CARRIZAL
Captain Lewis Sidney Morey Of the
Tenth Cavalry Wires His Wife That
He Is Safe on the American Line Of
Soldiers.

San Antonio, Texas.-Left to die Of
loss Of blood and thirst, two miles
from the scene of the encounter be-
tween Mexican and American troops
at Carrizal Capt. Lewis Sydney
Morey OF the Tenth Cavalry has made
back to the American lines.
General Funston received by tele-
phone from Mrs. Morey, now at
Austin, Tex, the following message
which reached her by wireless from
the field:
Somewhere in Mexico Am back
on the line with two men, safe.
SYDNEY"
That, according to Mrs Morey. was
the manner in which Captain Morey
signed all communications to her. A
letter from Captain Morey written
while hiding in hole near the scene
Of the fight at Carrizal, after his men
had been broken and scattered by
the Mexican force, was received by
General Funston through General
Pershing.
Letter Tells Of Ambush.
In that letter Captain Morey had
described how, fearing an ambush.
the American troopers had advanced
in battle formation on the Mexicans
WHO had come out from Carrizal dur
ing l parely over permission for the
Americans to pass through the town;
how the Mexicans had opened fire,
and how the remaining Americans
| had been forced to retreat and scat
ter, each for himself. Army officers
here hope that the return of Captain
Morey will serve to provide the mis-
sing links in the story of the encount-
er at Carrizal and determine the fate
OF each member OF the little recon
noitering expedition.
How Captain Morey managed to
make his way to the American main
column, a distance Of more than 80
miles. is unknown here, but 1t is in.
ferred he was picked up by de-
tachment of the rescuing force sent
out by General Pershing. He was
without food or water in desert
country and 1t is believed his suffer
! ings must have been intense. Moth
ing to confirm rumors Of a clash be-
tween Pershing's men and the Carran-
zistas was received by General Fun
ston tonight and all was reported
quiet along the border.
Left to Die In Desert.
Captain Morey wrote his letter at
9:15 a. m. June 81, while hiding in
hole about 1000 yards from the
scene OF the battle. Captain Morey
was wounded and had another wound.
/ ed man with him. The three un-
wounded men were picked up by
| detachment under Lieut. Henry A.
Meyer, Jr., of the Tenth Cavalry and
the letter brought to General Perish
ing today.
Captain Morey was left to die upon
the desert from thirst and his wounds
| The men abandoned him at his own
orders. The three unwounded men
had carried him, according to their
stories, to Lieut. Meyer from the hole
where he had hidden and made their
way nearly two miles from the bat
tlefield.
They were forced to stop and Cap
tain Morey, believing himself hope
! lessiy wounded. ordered them to leave
| him. They also thought him about to
die from loss OF blood and thirst and
obeyed.
Vague About Details.
The stories OF the rescued men told
to Lieut.. Meyer were vague about the
details OF the fight, according to Cen
Pershing's report to Gen. Funston.
Captain Morey's letter told of the
| Joining OF Troop C under Captain
Charles T. Boyd and Troop X under
his own command at Ojo Santo Do
| mingo, June 20, and the advance to-
gether toward Carrizal June 81. He
arrived in an open field a mile from
| Carrizal at 7:35 in the morning.
There they halted and Captain Boyd
sent a courier into Carrizal asking
permission OF General Felix Gomez
to enter the town. saying he was go
ing to Villa Ahumada. Gomez re-
piled that he would not be allowed
to enter the town. but might make a
| detour around it.
Fearing that they were about to be
trapped by the Mexicans which had
sailed out from the town during the
parely, the American troops deployed
In battle formation, mounted and
moved forward. The Mexicans then
opened fire. Captain Boyd ordered
his men to dismount and return the
! FIRE, the engagement lasting about an
hour.
Captain Morey's Letter.
Following is the text Of Moray's
| letter:
\ "Carrizal. Mexico. June 21, 1916,
Bo.16 m tn commanding officer