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Show OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY to the fort. The Texans had been without water for an entire day, and that night they lost 200 mules, which were captured by the guards at Fort Craig while the animals were wandering about in search of water. About eight o’clock, on the morning of the 21st, Canby ordered Colonel Roberts to proceed seven miles up the river, on the west bank, and keep the enemy from reaching the water at the only point where the sloping banks would permit. The action was begun with two hundred and twenty regular cavalry, together with McRae’s battery, planted at the ford, and supported by two companies of regulars and two companies of Carson’s regiment. A galling fire was opened upon theenemy. At half past eleven the remainder of the in- fantry came up, were thrown across the river and formed in line of battle. The Texans made a gallant charge, but were repulsed. Colonel Roberts now sent McRae’s battery over, together with two twenty-four pounders under Lieutenant Hall. The fire of the artillery continued until after three o’clock, when Colonel Canby, with Pino’s regiment of volunteers, came on the field. He was about to order a general advance, when a demonstration on the part of a portion of the Confederate right drew off a part of the infantry supporting McRae’s battery. Immediately it was charged by a thousand Texans °° under Steele, who had been drawn up in a thick wood are, even if the disaffected of both classes are not stimulated into active opposition to the government. The Mexican people have no affection for the institutions of the United States; they have a strong, but hitherto restrained hatred for the Americans as a race, and there are not wanting persons who, from the commencement of their troubles, have secretly but industriously en- deavoured to keep alive all the elements of American Conflict, vol. discontent and fan them into flames. The long-deferred payment of the volunteers has given so much plausibility and coloring to their representation as to have produced a marked and pernicious influence upon these ignorant and impulsive people.’’ — War of the Rebellion, ser. i, vol. iv, pp. 84-85. cs ion TOOT cope eo camer eB 500 Greeley, Horace, ii, p. 22, says: ‘‘When his (Sibley’s) advance, 250 strong, under Major Pyron, reached at 8 A. M., where the river bottom was accessible, fully sevenValverde, a point, miles from the fort, they found themselves confronted by a portion of our regular cavalry, Lt.-Col. Supported Roberts, by with a large two force opening upon him, Pyron efficient batteries, of regular and Capt. volunteer greatly outnumbered, McRae and Lieut. infantry. Our recoiled, with some Hall, batteries loss, a2 our troops exultingly crossed the river to the east where a thick wood covered a concentration of the enemy’s entire force. bank, The day wore on, until nearly 2 P. M., when Sibley, who had risen from a sick bed that morning, was compelled to dismount and quit the field, turning the command-in-chief over to Col. Thomas Green, of the 5th Texas, whose regiment had meantime been ordered to the front. The battle was continued, mainly with artillery, wherein ‘sso. FACTS x» [PPMYOViE LEADING I88T ‘soko,dutgy pure ‘Auvduroyr 376 mA Sree ieee | |
