USA > California > The conquest of California and New Mexico, by the forces of the United States, in the years 1846 & 1847 > Part 7
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BATTLE OF BRAZITO.
tion I can obtain. The enemy ranged themselves on the east, within half a mile of our line, the mountains in their rear. In our rear was the river, with a little brushwood on its banks.
Previous to the encounter, a lieutenant from their ranks came forward, waving a black flag in his hand, but halted when within a hundred steps of our line. Thomas Caldwell, our interpreter, rode out to meet him. The messenger, with the black flag of defiance, demanded that the commander should come into their camp and speak to their general. The reply was, "If your general wants to see our commander, let him come here." "We shall break your ranks, then, and take him there;" was the retort of the Mexican. "Come and take him," said our interpreter ; unwit- tingly using the phrase of the Spartan at Thermopyla. "A curse on you, prepare for a charge," cried the Mexican. " We give no quarter and ask none," and, waving his black flag gracefully over his head, galloped back towards the enemy's line. Their charge was made by the dragoons from the right, directed upon our left flank, bringing one detachment into the closest fire-their infantry, with one howitzer with them, at the same time attacking our right flank.
Their charge was a handsome one, but was too well and too coolly met to break our line. After their fire had been spent, their front column being at about a hundred steps from the front of our flank, our line poured a volley into them, which being a few times repeated, created such a havoc in their columns, that their forces wheeled to the left, retreating from our fire, and, in their flight, made an attack on the provision train. Here they met a very warm reception, and were soon compelled to fly in all direc- tions, and in the utmost confusion. Their infantry had been put to flight even before, and the Howard county company, under the command of Lieut. N. Wright, taking advantage of their posi- tion, on the route of the enemy, charged upon them and took their cannon from them : this was soon manned by the artillery detachment in Col. Mitchell's escort. The enemy had by this time fled, leaving their arms, provisions, and other stores on the field of battle.
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BATTLE OF BRAZITO.
- A small body of mounted men under the command of Capt. Reid had by this time gathered together in a line and charged upon the enemy, pursuing them into the mountains where they sought refuge.
The number of their dead is said to be thirty-that of their wounded was slight, as far as ascertained.
We lost not a single man, and had but seven slightly wounded ; we took eight prisoners, six of whom died last night. Thus ended the battle of the Brazito, the first battle of the army of the west, and as bravely fought by our men as ever men fought at any engagement.
We have every reason to believe that there is more in store for us. C. H. KRIBBEN.
One piece of cannon was taken, and, opportunely, such store of provisions, bread and wine, as enabled the victors to spend a merry Christmas night.
El Paso, near which the battle took place, is a town in Chihua- hua of some 3000 inhabitants, and is on the high road from New Mexico to the city of Chihuahua, distant nearly 300 miles. Twelve miles north of the town, the road narrows so as to form a pass, which a few determined men might successfully defend against any large force. But it appears the Mexicans were so dispirited after their defeat, that they made no effort to retain pos- session of the pass, but retreated over 100 miles north. The town of El Paso was thus occupied on the 27th of December, without a struggle.
Here Col. Doniphan was reinforced by Major M. L. Clark's artillery. The march by which this small force joined the main column, is so entirely characteristic of the endurance and indo- mitable energy of this portion of the "Army of the West," that a condensed account-less than the merit of the act-is here attempted to be given. An express reached Major Clark, at Santa Fé, requesting him to come, if possible ; but at all events, to send Capt. Richard H. Weightman, with the battery, and thirty or forty men, if no more could be spared.
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CAPT. WEIGHTMAN'S MARCH.
Major Clark promptly ordered Capt. Weightman to take sixty- five men of his company-being all that were able to endure the fatigues of a forced march of 350 miles, in the dead of winter- together with forty-five Lacled Rangers to man his battery of six pieces, and to proceed forthwith to join Col. Doniphan. Major Clark and his staff set out a few days after Capt. Weightman and his command, who had departed on the 10th of January. Major Clark overtcok the command near Tomé, and, passing them, arrived at El Paso about the 25th. Here he found that a night attack was expected from the Mexicans, and sent expresses, with twenty-eight fresh mules, and orders for Capt. Weightman to push on with all speed, as it was believed the Mexicans would attack on the night of the 31st of January.
Capt. Weightman had started from San Diego, a point of the Rio Grande, on the southern extremity of the Jornada del Muerto- a desert of ninety-three miles in extent, when, after proceeding about eight miles, he was met by the express. Replacing his most ex- hausted mules by those sent him, he proceeded rapidly to Doña Ana, twenty-two miles from San Diego, and there informed his command of the prospect before them, and of his intention to leave, at that place, all baggage whatever-tents, cooking utensils, &c., every thing, except their arms, ammunition, and such provisions as each man could carry ready cooked, and to march as fast as the mules would endure, until they reached El Paso. By 12 o'clock at night, the food prepared and the mules fed, they pushed forward with all speed until, at one o'clock on the night of the 31st, they reached El Paso, making the distance from San Diego, eighty or ninety miles, in thirty-eight consecutive hours.
This command was met four miles from El Paso by their gal- lant and noble-hearted comrades, Capt. John W. Reid, and Lieut. John Hinton, escorting a wagon load of supper, and a barrel. of wine, to comfort these weary victims of a false alarm. So cold was the weather at this time, that, while marching by night through the Jornada del Muerto, and on the nights of the 30th and 31st, it was found necessary to make fires every four or five miles, at which a few men at a time, and by turns, warmed them-
81
BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
selves, hastening up afterwards to overtake the battery, which constantly moved on. On this march from Santa Fé to El Paso, the Rio Grande was forded three times by the artillery. 'On one occasion, the river being frozen over, except near the middle, down which masses of floating ice were being whirled, the guns, cais- sons, &c., were in imminent danger from the ice, but more from quicksands. It became instantly necessary to order a large detail into the deep and struggling. waters to extricate the artillery. The orderlies produced their books, and were about to name the men subject to this duty, when they all cried out, "No-no-we are volunteers," and instantly rushed to the hard duty.
Capt: Weightman's command had the high gratification of re- ceiving from Col. Doniphan, Major Clark, and their comrades, well merited compliments for the spirited march of the 30th and 31st. · Col. Doniphan, thus reinforced by Major Clark's artillery, com- menced his march upon the city of Chihuahua, on the 8th of February, 1847, and, on the 28th of that month, fought the Battle of Sacramento, of which, and of the occupation of Chihuahua, the following is Col. Doniphan's report :-
Battle of Sacramento-Capture of Chihuahua. HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY IN CHIHUAHUA, .City of Chihuahua, March 4, 1847.
I have the honour to report to you the movements of the army under my command, since my last official report.
On the evening of the 8th of February, 1847, we left the town of El Paso del Norte, escorting the merchant train or caravan of about 315 wagons for the city of Chihuahua. Our force consisted of 924 effective men ; 117 officers and privates of the Artillery ; 93 of Lieut. Col. Mitchell's escort, and the remainder the First regiment Missouri mounted Volunteers. We progressed in the direction of this place until the 25th, when we were informed by our spies that the enemy, to the number of 1500 men, were at Inseneas, the country-seat of Gov. Trias, about twenty-five miles in advance.
When we arrived, on the evening of the 26th, near that point, we found that the force had retreated in the direction of that city.
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82
BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
On the evening of the 27th, we arrived at Sans, and learned from our spies that the enemy, in great force, had fortified the pass of the Sacramento river, about fifteen miles in advance, and about the same distance from this city. We were also informed that there was no water between the point we were at, and that occupied by the enemy; we therefore determined to halt until morning. At sunrise on the 28th, the last day of February, we took up the line of march and formed the whole train, consisting of 315 heavy traders' wagons and our commissary and company wagons, into four co- lumns, thus shortening our line so as to make it more easily pro- tected. We placed the artillery and all the command, except 200 cavalry proper, in the intervals between the columns of wagons. We thus fully concealed our force and its position, by masking our force with the cavalry. When we arrived within three miles of the enemy, we made a reconnoissance of his position and the ar- rangement of his forces. This we could easily do-the road lead- ing through an open prairie valley, between the sterile mountains. The pass of the Sacramento is formed by a point of the mountains on our right, their left extending into the valley or plain, so as to narrow the valley to about one and a half miles. On our left was a deep dry sandy channel of a creek, and between these points the plain rises to sixty feet abruptly. This rise is in the form of a crescent, the convex part being to the north of our forces. On the right, from the point of mountains, a narrow part of the plain ex- tends north one and a half miles further than on the left. The main road passes down the centre of the valley and across the crescent, near the left or dry branch. The Sacramento rises in the moun- tains on the right, and the road falls on to it about one mile below the battle-field or intrenchment of the enemy. We ascertained that the enemy had one battery of four guns, two nine and six- pounders, on the point of the mountain, (their left,) at a good ele- vation to sweep the plain, and at the point where the mountain extended farthest into the plain. On our left (their right) they had another battery, on an elevation commanding the road, and three intrenchments of two six-pounders, and on the brow of the crescent near the centre, another of two six and two four and six
83
BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
culverins, or rampart pieces, mounted on carriages; and on the crest of the hill or ascent between the batteries, and the right and left, they had twenty-seven redoubts dug and thrown up, extend- ing at short intervals across the whole ground. In these their in- fantry were placed, and were entirely protected. Their cavalry was drawn up in front of the redoubts, four deep, and in rear of the redoubts two deep, so as to mask them as far as practicable.
When we had arrived within 1} miles of the intrenchments along the main road, we advanced the cavalry still further, and suddenly diverged with the columns to the right, so as to gain the narrow part of the ascent on our right, which the enemy discover- ing endeavoured to prevent by moving forward with 1000 cavalry and four pieces of cannon in their rear, masked by them. Our movements were so rapid that we gained the elevation with our forces and the advance of our wagons in time to form before they arrived within reach of our guns. The enemy halted, and we advanced the head of our column within 1200 yards of them, so as to let our wagons attain the high lands and form as before.
We now commenced the action by a brisk fire from our bat- . tery, and the enemy unmasked and commenced also; our fires proved effective at this distance, killing fifteen men, wounding and disabling one of the enemy's guns. We had two men slightly wounded, and several horses and mules killed. The enemy then slowly retreated behind their works in some confusion, and we resumed our march in our former order, still diverging more to the right to avoid their battery on our left, (their right,) and their strongest redoubts, which were on the left near where the road passes. After marching as far as we safely could, without coming within range of their heavy battery on our right, Capt. Weight- man, of the artillery, was ordered to charge with the two 12-pound howitzers, to be supported by the cavalry, under Capts. Reid, Parsons, and Hudson. The howitzers charged at speed, and were gallantly sustained by Capt. Reid ; but by some misunderstanding, my order was not given to the other two companies. Capt. Hud- son, anticipating my order, charged in time to give ample support to the howitzers. Capt. Parsons, at the same moment, came to
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BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
me and asked permission for his company to charge the redoubts immediately to the left of Capt. Weightman, which he did very gallantly.
The remainder of the two battalions of the First Regiment were dismounted during the cavalry charge, and following rapidly on foot, and Maj. Clark advancing as fast as practicable with the remainder of the battery, we charged their redoubts from right to left, with a brisk and deadly fire of riflemen, while Maj. Clark opened a rapid and well-directed fire on a column of cavalry attempting to pass to our left so as to attack the wagons and our rear. The fire was so well directed as to force them to fall back ; and our riflemen, with their cavalry and howitzers, cleared it after an obstinate resistance. Our forces advanced to the very brink of their redoubts, and attacked them with their sabres. When the redoubts were cleared, and the batteries in the centre and our left were silenced, the main battery on our right still continued to pour in a constant and heavy fire, as it had done during the heat of the engagement ; but as the whole fate of the battle depended upon carrying the redoubts and centre battery, this one on the right re- mained unattacked, and the enemy had rallied there five hundred strong.
Maj. Clark was directed to commence a heavy fire upon it, while Lieuts. Col. Mitchell and Jackson, commanding the First Battalion, were ordered to remount and charge the battery on the left, while Maj. Gilpin was directed to pass the Second Battalion on foot up the rough ascent of the mountain on the opposite side. The fire of our battery was so effective as to completely silence theirs, and the rapid advance of our column put them to flight over the mountains in great confusion.
Capt. Thompson, of the First Dragoons, acted as my aid and adviser on the field during the whole engagement, and was of the most essential service to me. Also, Lieut. Wooster, of the United States army, who acted very coolly and gallantly. Maj. Camp- bell, of Springfield, Missouri, also acted as a volunteer aid during part of the time, but left me and joined Capt. Reid in his gallant charge. Thus ended the battle of Sacramento. The force of the
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85
BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
enemy was 1200 cavalry from Durango and Chihuahua, 300 artillerists, and 1420 rancheros, badly armed with lassos, lances, and machetoes, or corn-knives, ten pieces of artillery, two nine, two eight, four six, and two four-pounders, and six culverins, or rampart pieces. Their forces were commanded by Major-general Heredia, general of Durango, Chihuahua, Sonora, and New Mexico. Brigadier-general Justimani, Brigadier-general Garcia Conde, formerly minister of war for the republic of Mexico, who is a scientific man, planned this whole field of defence ; Gen. Uguarte, and Gov. Trias, who acted as brigadier-generals on the field, and colonels and other officers without number.
Our force was 924 effective men ; at least one hundred of whom were engaged in holding horses and driving teams.
The loss of the enemy was his entire artillery, ten wagons, masses of beans and pinola, and other Mexican provisions, about three hundred killed, and about the same number wounded, many of whom have since died, and forty prisoners.
The field was literally covered with the dead and wounded from our artillery and the unerring fire of our riflemen. Night put a stop to the carnage, the battle having commenced about three o'clock. Our loss was one killed, one mortally wounded, and seven so wounded as to recover without any loss of limbs. I can- not speak too highly of the coolness, gallantry, and bravery of the officers and men under my command.
I was ably sustained by the field-officers, Lieutenant-colonels Mitchell and Jackson, of the First Battalion, and Maj. Gilpin, of the Second Battalion ; and Maj. Clark and his artillery acted nobly, and did the most effective service in every part of the field. It is abundantly shown, in the charge made by Capt. Weightman" with the section of howitzers, that they can be used in any charge of calvary with great effect. Much has been said, and justly said, of the gallantry of our artillery, unlimbering within 250 yards of the enemy at Palo Alto; but how much more daring was the charge of Capt. Weightman, when he unlimbered within fifty yards of the redoubts of the enemy.
On the 1st day of March, we took formal possession of the capi- H
86
BRAVERY OF A LADY.
tal of Chihuahua, in the name of our government. We were ordered by Gen. Kearny to report to Gen. Wool at this place : since our arrival we hear he is at Saltillo, surrounded by the enemy. Our present purpose is either to force our way to him, or return by Bexar, as our term of service expires on the last of May next.
I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,
A. W. DONIPHAN, Col. First Regiment Missouri Volunteers. Brigadier-general R. JONES, Adjutant-general, U. S. A.
The American flag was thus planted on the walls of Chihua- hua. Here Col. Doniphan remained about three weeks, resting his tired forces-made an excursion to disperse an assemblage at Parral, organized as a kind of temporary government, &c., and stipulated with the authorities for safety to the persons and pro- perty of the United States traders, and threatening to return with vengeance if infracted.
Many of these traders were gentlemen of wealth, intelligence, and enterprise, and had large capitals, as well as their lives, at issue in the observance of this treaty, when Col. Doniphan should have withdrawn.
Among this class was Mr. Magoffin of 'Missouri, who had very recently borne a young, rich, and lovely bride, of the noblest blood of Kentucky, to this mart of his commerce. Perhaps he feared to trust her safety to the slightest chance of danger, or that he dreaded insult or inconvenience to her, and, therefore per- suaded her to avoid the possibility of either. She, the grand- daughter of Shelby, as also the grand-daughter, on the maternal side, of Hart, had it not in her nature to know fear, and would not that her husband should thus act against his interests from any anxiety on her account. Mr. Magoffin, however, determined to take advantage of the march of the troops, and to withdraw his dauntless lady and property from this danger, which in reality was imminent and great. Through all the alarms of the camp- the toils of the march, and the privations of the army, this
87
CAPT. REID'S FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS.
lady was found cheerful, and the charms of the social circle of the encampment in hours of ease, and of danger, brave as the bravest. Nor was her courage untried, for it happened that her carriage, getting off the line of march of the army, and under a small escort which had lagged behind, was suddenly ridden up to by a squad of guerillas, whose further proceedings were instantly and timely stopped by the sight of a pair of pistols presented at them by a lovely woman, and by the shouts of her escort rapidly galloping up to her rescue. Such was the intrepidity of a lady in the Chihuahua column of the "Army of the West."
Col. Doniphan, on the 23d of April, received orders from Gen. Wool to march his command forthwith to Saltillo. On the 25th, he directed his course thither, taking, in his way, the towns of San Pablo, Santa Cruz, Soucillo, Santa Rosalia, and Guagu- quilla in the state of Chihuahua.
"While Col. Doniphan's column was on its march from Chi- huahua to Saltillo, a small advance party, under Capt. Reid, of about thirty rank and file, arrived at El Paso, (twenty-five miles above Parras,) very early on the morning of the 13th of May. About 9 o'clock, A. M., a party of Indians were seen emerging from a gap of the mountains, distant about five miles, and making direct for the rancho. Our troops went out at full gallop nearly half a mile to meet them. When within thirty or forty steps of each other, the Indians discharged a few arrows, when the Americans fired their entire volley at them. Immediately, the Indians raised the yell and rushed in on them, discharging their arrows with asto- nishing rapidity. Our men were forced to retreat about 100 yards to load, when they, in their turn, charged the enemy and forced him to retreat. Thus alternately did they charge, keeping up the contest for two hours with much spirit, our troops gaining inch by inch of the ground by dint of hard fighting, while the Indians held it with much tenacity, and yielding it only with their lives. The Indians numbered between fifty and sixty, and their superior horsemanship gave them much advantage; notwith- standing which, they were forced to fall back before the noble daring of Capt. Reid and his little band.
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RETURN TO ST. LOUIS.
"Capt. Reid, who was ably assisted by Lieutenants Gordon, Sproule, and Winston, was the only American wounded. He had the satisfaction of driving the Indians entirely off the ground, car- rying with them all their wounded and some dead, yet leaving fifteen on the field. Nine Mexican prisoners were taken from them and restored to liberty, and about 1000 head of horses and mules, which, as far as practicable, were returned to the Mexicans from whom they had been taken.
"Captain Reid had the gratification of receiving an official docu- ment from the citizens of Parras, through the prefect of the city, expressive of their admiration and gratitude for his noble conduct, and sympathy for his wounds."
Such is an excellent account of one of the many very gallant achievements of Capt. Reid.
Upon Col. Doniphan's approach to the confines of Durango, Governor Ochoa prepared to surrender the capital without a struggle, for the army had already fled or dispersed ; but Col. Doniphan's route lay further to the north, through the cities of Mapimi, San Sabastian, San Lorenzo, and in the state of Coahuila, through Parras, Castannella, the Hacienda de Patos, and thence, by Encantada, to Saltillo, where he reported to Gen. Wool, on the 22d of May, and to Gen. Taylor at Monterey, on the 27th of May, and thence to Matamoras, a distance of 900 miles from Chihua- hua, they marched in forty-five days, carrying with them seventeen pieces of artillery, as trophies, which Gen. Taylor permitted them to bring home, in consideration, as assigned in the "Order," of their gallantry and noble bearing. About the 16th of June, they arrived at New Orleans, thence they sped their way to St. Louis, and home. There a most cordial and hearty welcome greeted them, on the 2d of July, 1847, after their twelve months' arduous expedition.
Their reception was enthusiastic beyond description. The whole city turned out to bid welcome to the band who had achieved so much honour for their state. Flags were flung to the breeze, and the bells rung a merry peal of joy. Judge Bowlin, on the part of the citizens, bade them welcome. A banquet was spread before
89
COL. BENTON'S ADDRESS.
them, and Col. Benton, United States senator from Missouri, ad- dressed the volunteers and the immense, crowd of citizens, as fol- lows :-
"COL. DONIPHAN, AND OFFICERS AND MEN :- I have been ap- pointed to an honourable and a pleasant duty-that of making you the congratulations of your fellow-citizens of St. Louis, on your happy return from your long and almost fabulous expedition. You have indeed marched far, and done much, and suffered much, and well entitled yourselves to the applauses of your fel- low-citizens, as well as the rewards and thanks of your govern- ment. A year ago you left home. Going out from the western border of your state, you re-enter it on the east, having made a circuit equal to a fourth of a circumference of the globe, provid- ing for yourselves as you went, and returning with trophies taken from fields, the names of which were unknown to yourselves and your country, until revealed by your enterprise, illustrated by your valour, and immortalized by your deeds. History has but few such expeditions to record ; and when they occur, it is as honourable and useful as it is just and wise to celebrate and com- memorate the events which entitle them to renown.
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