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Show LEADING 878 FACTS MEXICAN NEW OF HISTORY NEW ate rush upon McRae’s battery. They were a thousand when they started; in a few minutes a hundred had been slain and wounded. But all in vain. Captain McRae, disdaining surrender, was killed upon one of his guns. Lieutenant Michler also fell and Lieutenant Bell was twice wounded. The supporting troops acted very badly; the guns were lost and Canby’s army, driven across the river, retired in great disorder to the fort, leaving the route up the valley of the No part of the Federal Rio Grande free to the victorious enemy. army stopped until safely within the walls of Fort Craig. The guns of McRae’s battery were lost and many small arms were taken by the The losses of men were about equal,® 60 killed and 140 enemy. wounded on either side. Among the Confederate dead or severely wounded in the decisive charge were Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton, 301 Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona ‘‘This fight of Valverde, as it is known, and New Mesico, p. 696, says: reflected little credit on the federal arms. Many individuals and a few companies fought bravely, but such is the discrepancy of testimony that I make no attempt to point out cases of bravery or cowardice, blunders or wise management. The Texans, though victorious, lost probably more than the Federals, whose loss was about 90 killed and mortally wounded and 100 wounded.’’ Hollister, 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers, says that the Federal loss was 64 killed, 26 mortally wounded, wounded. 100 wounded; Texans, 200 killed, 200 Lossing, Pictorial History of the War, says the Federals lost 62 killed and 142 wounded; the Texans about the same. . Reports of Colonel Ed. R. S. Canby, February 22 and March 1, 1862: ‘“Orders were accordingly sent to Captain Selden to fall back slowly and cover the retreat, and to the other commanders to recross the river. The movement of Selden’s column, four companies of the 5th infantry, in the immediate pres: ence and under the fire of the enemy, was admirably executed, the comman moving with deliberation, halting occasionally to allow the wounded to mai up with it, and many of the men picking up and carrying with them, the no of their dead comrades. The other columns, under the personal superintend ence of Colonel Roberts, crossed over without disorder, confusion or loss. ‘‘On the west bank of the river, the troops that had escaped from ~ battle were found to be much scattered, but the regular troops were easly collected and sent forward in the direction of the fort. Pino’s regiment ie of which only one company (Sena’s) and part of another, could be induced he cross the river — was in the wildest confusion, and no efforts of their be officers, or of my staff, could restore any kind of order. More than one 4U dred men from this regiment deserted from the field. at ‘“The battle was fought almost entirely by the regular troops (treble oH number by the Confederates), with no assistance from the militia, and hater little from the volunteers, who would not obey orders, or obeyed them too poi to be of any service. The immediate cause of the disaster at Valverde a : the refusal of one of the volunteer regiments to cross the river and a ee the left wing of the army. The contemporary operations of the right pie were eminently successful, but the confusion produced by the loss 0 day battery could not be remedied in season to retrieve the fortunes of the ' The retreat was effected in good order, and without further loss. MEXICO DURING THE CIVIL WAR 379 Major Lockridge, Captains Lang and Heurel , and several lieutenants. Colonel W. L. Robards and Major Raguet were also wounded. Captain N. B. Rossel, of the regulars, was captured while crossing the river. General Sibley decided that there was no danger in leaving Canby’s army in his rear and, leaving his wound ed at Socorro, advanced to Alburquerque and Santa Fé which fell without resistance. A very few of the prominent native citizens cast their lot with the Confederacy, including one of the wealthy Armij o families at Alburquerque, but the great mass of the people not only adhered to the Union, but, with a vivid memory of the past, hated the Texans with an honest hatred.?° At Cubero, sixty miles west of Alburquerque, there was stationed a small command of New Mexican volunteers, having charge of some commissary and ordnance stores. Through the efforts of some Confederate sympathizers this post surrendered and some sixty muskets and three thousand rounds of ammunition fell into the hands of General Sibley. At Alburquerque there was a large supply of stores in charge of Captain Herbert M. Enos, assistant quartermaster. On the Ist of March he learned that the Confederates, numbe ring four hundred cavalry, had reached the town of Belen. Immediately he ordered the ammunition wagons to be taken to Santa Fé, and in the evening ordered the burning of the balance of the stores. The provisions and supplies were rescued by the inhabitants and some of the wagons were captured near the Sandia mountains. The most valuable sup- plies were located at Santa Fé and Major Pyron was ordered to the a with a force sufficient to capture the city. The Federa l of- Oe Ne . aiemg . Heed eae ms Tee 0 Sibley ee ae A, in his Unwritten Episode of the Late War, p- 168, says of the native New Mexicans, after the battle of Valverde, in Union “must have been sadly disappointin and g infinitely anand his adjutant, the same Jackson who was Davis’ partisan late Secretary of the Territory . . . it should be made known asi art, Tought money, mules and provisions, and placed them at the disDeets the National troops, greatly no doubt, to the gallant but deluded ex‘spires s Surprise. Still, Sibley doubtless reasoned that this was a small thie pi a that all would be well when he should be safely in possession of “ile A A at the Fort Union arsenal ; and he knew well the road thither Sine sere Canon — just as the Persian Hydarnes, in B. C. 480, doubtless Rolivin, e ee road to some Grecian Fort Union throug h the Pass of Therena’ e. The only obstacle was a few of those brave men who in every age Country are in the best sense Spartans. ’’ i NS ‘Omeeead: |