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Show 226 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY THE redoubt at the southwest corner of the bench, twelve hundred yards distant, and in a short time silenced the enemy’s guns. Meanwhile Lieutenant-Colonels Mitchell and Jackson, with the first battalion remounted, and Captain Weightman’s howitzers, had bravely charged up the hill, followed by Major Gilpin with the second battalion on foot. Before they reached the battery the enemy had abandoned it, and his entire force was scattered in flight. The cavalry and the howitzers immediately pushed forward in hot pursuit. The road was strewn with the arms and accoutrements which the Mexicans soldiers had thrown down as they hurried towards Chihuahua. Governor Trias was among the first to reach the city, and the seat of government was instantly ordered to be removed to Parral. Night put an end to the carnage. The enemy lost all his artillery, ten wagons, and large quantities of provisions; three hundred were killed, about the same number wounded, and forty were taken prisoners.** Several national and regimental standards were also cap162 Hughes, J. T., Doniphan’s Expedition (Connelley), note, p. 413: of the lieutenants of the Mexican artillery stood to his guns, until ‘‘One he was wounded and captured. Colonel Doniphan asked him if he did not know, before the action came on, that the Mexicans would be defeated. The lieutenant reppied: ‘I did not; and if they had stood to their posts, as I encouraged them to do, you never would have driven us from our strong position. I am now your prisoner; but I do not regret fighting for the liberty and honor of my country. I will encourage my people still to resist foreign invasion.’ Col- onel Doniphan was so well pleased with the patriotic devotion of the young officer, that he immediately gave him his liberty. ’ ; Edwards, Frank S., 4 Campaign in New Mexico with Colonel Doniphan, London, 1848, says, in describing the battle of Sacramento: ‘‘As we form, the enemy’s artillery opens upon us, and at that instant Weightman’s clear voice is heard: ‘Form battery, action front, load and fire at will,’ and our pieces ring out the death knell of the enemy. Now comes the friendly struggle between our gunners, who shall pour in the deadliest and quickest fire, a2 beautifully are those pieces served, mowing lane after lane through the solid columns of the Mexicans. In the center of the battery, their horses bounding at every discharge, stand Clark and his officers; as the balls fly through the opposite ranks and the shells tear their columns, shout after shout is heard from our men. ‘“*Purther to our right sits Colonel Doniphan on his beautiful chestnut charger, with his leg crossed over the saddle, steadily whittling a piece of wo0e; but with his eye glancing proudly over the ranks of his little band. As the cannonading becomes hotter, he quietly says: ‘Well! they’re giving us —— now, boys! ’ and passes coolly to the left of our position, untouched by copper hail that pours around him. i _ “*And here we are (at a distance too great for anything but cannon), Sit- ting on our horses dodging Mexican balls as they come humming through ranks, first striking the ground about midway, and so becoming visible. ou! was surprising the skill which we soon obtained in this employment. few shots, we could tell to a foot where the copper messengers ae would alight. WAR WITH MEXICO 227 tured, and among the colors was the black flag exhibited at the battle of Brazito. Colonel Doniphan had but one man killed and eight wounded, some of them mortally. Major Owens, of Independence, Missouri, lost his life in this battle. He accompanied Captain Reid in his charge and was killed in storming the enemy’s redoubts. The way was now opened to Chihuahua, and on the 1st of March Colonel Doniphan took formal possession of the city and department in the name of the American government. Here, in the enAlthough, a few minutes before, joke after joke was passing among us, the silence was now almost unbroken, for nothing acts so well, by way of safety valve to a man’s courage, as having to sit on horseback half an hour and dodge cannon balls. As yet we knew of no injuries amongst us; but suddenly a German close by blurts out, ‘I’se kilt!’ and, tumbling off his horse, rolls up his trousers, showing a severe contusion on his leg, caused by a stone thrown up by the ricochet of a cannon ball; around the limb goes a handkerchief, and up mounts the man left, and a man again. At that is borne dying Lieutenant Dorn’s horse. moment a groan bursts from the line to my from the ranks, while off goes the head of Hot work on all sides! ‘‘So confident are the Mexicans, that some of the richest citizens of Chihuahua have come out as spectators; but now, judging wisely, off they fly at full speed to the city, giving notice of the probable result but are so little believed that, like true prophets before them, they are actually stoned in the Streets. ‘‘A shell explodes directly in the ranks of the enemy — they draw back behind their entrenchments, and we immediately advance until within four hundred yards; again the deadly shower opens from our ranks, fiercely returned. The order to charge rings through our lines — Colonel Mitchell, on his favorite white charger, Roderic, waves his saber as he leads us on; rumbling and crashing behind us comes Weightman with his howitzers, leaving the rest of the battery in position to cover our advance. Dashing past us goes Major Owens, waving his hand in an exulting manner, and shouting out, ‘Give it to them boys! They can’t withstand us!’ and away he goes, falling in two minutes a Corpse, struck in the forehead by a grape-shot while storming the redoubts, and being so close to the our charge made; gun but that just the fire actually fairly countermanding order, as if from underway, Doniphan, burned his clothes. it is about Rapidly is to be ruined! A is given by a drunken officer whose Tank (alone) requires respect. In surprise we suddenly halt within a few yards of the redoubts, and are fully exposed to the whole enemy’s fire. For God’s Sake, advance!’ roars out sutler Pomeroy, who was fighting in the ranks. Our hesitation vanishes and away we instantly dash forward, gallantly led by Mitchell and Gilpin, while Weightman fires his howitzers, loaded with canister, with great effect, and again advancing, wheels them to the right and left, throwing in another charge of grape and canister, and raking the whole line of the enemy’s Durango, who have position. To our left is a battalion of brave cavalry from arrived on the field only half an hour before — ’tis their last fight — they are terribly cut to pieces, and are forced to retreat. A piece of their artillery being dismounted, they attempt to ‘snake’ by fastening their lassoes to it, and drag it along the ground, but they are overtaken and made prisoners and the gun is ours. Our men, pouring over the embankments, actually pushed the Mexicans out. Now comes the rout; the Mexicans give way; and sawve qui peut is their only object. main position. The rest of our battery comes We are in possession of their galloping up to occupy it. A |