OCR Text |
Show 238 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN THE HISTORY the detachment of the 2d Missouri under his command, and to Captain Burgwin, commanding a squadron of the 1st dragoons, stationed at the same place, to join him with one troop, and to leave the other at Santa Fé. Having made these preparations for securing the post and leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Willock, of the separate battalion of Missouri mounted volunteers, in charge, Price marched to the north to suppress the revolt, on the morning of the 23d of January, at the head of five companies of the 2d Missouri, Captain Angney’s battalion of infantry and a company of Santa Fé volunteers, accompanied agony, and was removed to the still-house, where he was laid upon a large pile of grain, as being the softest bed to be found. ‘fin the middle of the day the assailants renewed the attack more fiercely than before, their baffled attempts adding to their furious rage. The little garrison bravely stood to the defense of the mill, never throwing away a shot but firing coolly and only when a fair mark was presented for their unerring aim. Their ammunition, however, was fast failing and, to add to the danger of the situation, the enemy set fire to the mill, which blazed fiercely, and threatened destruction to the whole building. Twice they succeeded in over- coming the flames, and, taking advantage of their being thus occupied, the Mexicans and Indians charged into the corral, which was full of hogs and sheep, and vented their cowardly rage upon the animals, spearing and shooting all that came in their way. No sooner, however, were the flames extinguished in one place, than they broke out more fiercely in another; and as a successful defense was perfectly hopeless, and the number of the assailants increased every moment, a council of war was held by the survivors of the little garrison, when it was determined, as soon as night approached, that every one should attempt to escape as best he might, and in the meantime the defense of the mill was to be continued. “e ust at dusk, Albert and another man ran to the wicket gate which opened into a kind of enclosed space, and in which was a number of armed Mexicans. They both rushed out at the same moment, discharging their rifles full in the faces of the crowd. Albert, in the confusion, threw himself under the fence, whence he saw his companion shot down immediately, and heard his cries for mercy, mingled with shrieks of pain and anguish, as the cowards pierced him with knives and lances. Lying without motion under the fence, aS soon as it was quite dark he crept over the logs and ran up the mountain, traveled day and night, and, scarcely stopping or resting, reached the Greenhorn, almost dead with hunger and fatigue. Turley himself succeeded in escaping from the mill and in reaching the mountains unseen, Here he met a Mexican, mounted on a horse, who had been a most intimate friend of the unfortunate man for many years. To this man =~ — Turley offered his watch (which was treble its worth) for the use of his horse, but was refused. The inhuman wretch, however, affected pity and commiseration for the fugitive, and advised him to g° to a certain place, where he would bring him or send him assistance; but on nian I pear cor gee an 1s i. ce was now a mass of fire, he immediately informed the oe rhi whither a large party i instantly pro r . "Two others escaped and reached Santa Fé in safety. The mill and ‘urley 8 house were sacked and gutted, and all his hard-earned savings, which Ww ere considerable and concealed in gold about the house, were discovered, and, of course, seized upon by the victorious Mexicans. ’ WAR WITH MEXICO 239 by Captain St. Vrain, a partner of Governor Bent in the merchandising business. Among others in St. Vrain’s company were Manuel Chaves and Nicolas Pino, two prominent Mexicans who had been arrested as conspirators a month before. The entire force consisted of 3853 men, together with four twelve-pounder mountain howitzers, under Lieutenant Dyer of the ordnance. The company of Santa Fé volunteers, composed of men with large experience on the frontier, who alone were mounted, moved in the advance. Nearly every man in the comTHE BATTLE OF LA CANADA pany had been a warm personal friend of Governor Bent. Early in the afternoon of the 24th the enemy was discovered, about 1,500 strong, occu- pying an advantageous position upon the heights east of the plaza of La Cafiada de Santa Cruz, which commanded the road to that village. They were also in possession of three houses at the base of the hills, from which a warm fire was kept up. diately formed his line of battle. Colonel Price imme- The artillery was thrown forward on the left flank and beyond the creek, the dismounted men occupying a position where they would be in some degree protected by the high bluff bank of the Santa Cruz from the fire of the enemy until the wagon train could be brought up; the artillery opened on the houses occupied by the enemy and on the more distant heights on which alone the guns could be brought to bear. The enemy discovering the wagons to be more than a mile in the rear sent a large party to cut them off, and it became necessary to detach Captain St. Vrain’s company for their protection. This service was rendered in 4 most satisfactory manner. As soon as the wagon train had been brought up, Captain Angney was ordered to charge with his battallon of infantry and dislodge the enemy from the houses opposite the right flank, from which a warm fire was being poured upon the Americans, which was accomplished in a most gallant manner. A charge was now ordered upon the enemy at all points where he was Seen in force. Captain Angney with his command, supported by Lieutenant White’s company, charged up one hill, while St. Vrain’s Company turned the same in order to cut off the enemy while in re- treat. The artillery, supported by Captains McMillan, Barber, and Slack, with their companies, at the same time took possession of some uses enclosed by a strong corral densely wooded with fruit trees, from which a brisk fire was kept up by the enemy, and of the heights |