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Show 220 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN THE HISTORY the soldiers armed and mounted, and the white wagon sheets of the traders’ wagons gleaming brightly in the sunlight. About three o’clock in the afternoon of Christmas day, Colonel Doniphan had halted, with the advance of five hundred men, on an arm of the Rio Grande, known as the Brazito, for the purpose of making camp; the horses were unsaddled and sent some distance from the camp to graze, and the men were busily engaged in bringing wood and water. While thus employed a heavy cloud of dust was suddenly discovered rolling up from the south, and in a moment after, the advance guard descried the enemy approaching in force. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson was several miles in the rear at Dofia Ana, with the remainder of the troops. The rally was instantly sounded, the men being formed in open order on foot as skirmishers, throwing the extreme points of the two wings towards the river to protect the flanks and the baggage. The enemy halted within half a mile and formed in line of battle, the Vera Cruz lancers on the right, the Chihuahua battalion on the left, and the infantry and El Paso militia, with a two-pounder howitzer, in the center. The Mexican cavalry were gayly decorated with bright scarlet coats and white belts, with shining brass helmets and dark waving plumes, and their polished sabres and escopetas, and their long lances, ornamented with pennons of red and green, glistened in the rays of the evening sun. Just as the Americans were forming, a Mexican officer, bearing a black flag, rode up to their line, and demanded that the commander should accompany him to confer with the officer in com- mand of the enemy. Notwithstanding his declaration, that the pen- alty of a non-compliance with the demand would be a charge, without quarter, he received a peremptory refusal, and returned t0 those who sent him.1*8 ; Upon his return the enemy advanced to the charge, opening 4 simultaneous fire from his entire line. When within rifle-shot the Mexicans attempted to file to the right and left, and pass the flanks 158 Connelley, —— - = oro Ps ayers stg eet ical preserved. W. 1g “ajor two skulls, inscription: E., Doniphan’s the Mexicans Expedition was afterward piles Clark Kennerly, who 375, note 93: up on the ‘The black battle-field of t ae into the possession of Major Merriwether Lewis Clark, of was by him brought back to St. Louis. It now belongs to William has lent it to the Missouri Society, St. Louis, in the library of which instituti on it is carefully It is a small black flag, on one side of which, in white, are painted with cross-bo Libertad 6 rage each. On ide the other side isi the followini g WAR WITH MEXICO 221 of the opposing force. Doniphan’s men had so far reserved their fire, but they now opened upon the enemy from right to left, with such spirit and effect that they were immediately thrown into confusion. Captain Reid had succeeded in mounting about twenty men, and as the lancers were rallied to the charge on the American left, he fell furiously upon them with his small force, and after a desperate contest, lasting about twenty minutes, succeeded in putting them to flight. As the enemy’s infantry gave way, Lieutenant Wright charged upon them with his company, and captured the howitzer. This completed the overthrow of the enemy who fied in all directions toward the south.?®° By this defeat the Mexican army was completely disorganized and dispersed. The American loss was none killed and eight wounded. It was the only battle fought by DonDONIPHAN LEAVES FOR EL PASO iphan’s command on what is today -— THE BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO American soil. On the 28th of December Doniphan occupied El Paso, which surrendered without a struggle. Here he remained about six weeks awaiting the arrival of the artillery from Santa Fé under Major Clark and Captain Weightman. These arrived on the 1st of February, 1847, and consisted of 117 men and six pieces of cannon. On the 8th the army began its advance upon the city of Chihuahua. The capture of this city had been deemed of the greatest importance, so much so that General Wool with _ 159 Connelley, W. E., Doniphan’s Expedition, pp. 374-375: ‘‘The Chihuahua infantry and cavalry were posted on their left, and consequently operated against our right wing. They advanced within gun-shot, and took shelter in the chapparal, discharging three full rounds upon our line before we returned the fire. At this crisis, Colonel Doniphan ordered the men to ‘lie down on their faces, and reserve their fire until the Mexicans came within siaty paces.’ _ This was done. The Mexicans supposing they had wrought fearful execution in our ranks, as Some were falling down, while others stood up, began now to advance, and exe ultingly ery out ‘bueno, bueno,’ whereupon our whole right wing, suddenly rising up, let fly such a galling volley of yager balls in their ranks, that they Wheeled about and fled in the utmost confusion. By this time the Howard Company, and others occupying the center, had repulsed the enemy with conSiderable loss, and taken possession of one piece of his artillery, and corresponding ammunition. This was a brass six-pound howitzer. Sergeant Calloway, and a few others of that company, first gained possession of this piece of cannon, cut the dead mules loose from it, and were preparing to turn it upon the enemy, when Lt. Kribben, with a file of artillery-men, was ordered to man it. ‘“The consternation and they commenced Many of them Americans now became a precipitate general retreat took refuge in the craggy about one mile; Captain among along fastnesses. Reid, and the ranks the base They Captain of the Mexicans, of the mountains. were pursued Walton, who by the by this |