A Signal Success Gained by the Federal Troops
From Major A. H. Mayer, late of this city, and Major elect of the Fourth Regiment New Mexico Volunteers, who just arrived direct from the seat of war, we are favored with the following interesting particulars of the late engagements near Santa Fe.
The main fight took place at Apache Canon eighty miles from Fort Union, and twenty from Santa Fe. Three battalions, one under Major Chivington, one under Capt. Lewis, regular, and one under Capt. Wynkoop, advanced to the canon on the 28th ult., when the pickets reported no enemy in sight.
The command then advanced, when shots were fired at them by the Texans, who were in ambush, and they succeeded in killing 4 of our privates. – Our men, under Slough, rushed on them, killing 20 or 30 Texans, wounding many of them, and taking 7 prisoners, 4 officers and 3 privates. – Major Chivington’s command, which went ahead and surprised the Texan pickets, taking 67 prisoners and 64 provision wagons, arrived, and a plan of action was determined upon – to meet the enemy in front and flank them at the same time.
About 12 o’clock on the 28th ult., the action became general, the Coloradians [sic] doing wonders. The battery under Capt. Ritter, and also the howitzer battery under Lieut. Claflin, cleaned the Texans and things generally. The fight lasted until 4 o’clock, when flags of truce were interchanged to bury the dead and care for the wounded. The enemy had about 2,000 men and one six pounder. We had 1,300 men and one each six and twelve-pounder and four howitzers. The enemy lost their entire train (64 wagons and provisions) and 230 mules, - about 150 killed, 200 wounded and 93 taken prisoners, among whom are 13 officers. Some of the latter have held commissions in the volunteer corps of the Territory.
Capt. Cook was wounded, but is doing well. His heaviest injury was sustained by his horse falling down and bruising his ankle. Lieut. Marshall, of Cook’s command, shot himself while trying to break one of the Texan guns lying in the field after the battle. Lieut. Chambers was wounded severely, and afterwards died. Lieut. Baker (or Becker) and Lieut. P. McGrath were also killed.
The Texans, when surprised, supposed it was Col. Canby’s force instead of ours that was coming.
The Texan officer in command, with two of his companies, made two different attempts to charge on our men and seize their batteries, but were each time repulsed with a tremendous loss on their side, and while daring, noble deeds were performed by our soldiers. At one time the Texan companies charged within a few yards of our batteries.
Captains Logan and Wynkoop were with Chivington when they seized the above wagons and prisoners. Capt. Sopris’ and Anthony’s companies, during the fighting in the canon, were situated so that their men sustained the heaviest disaster.
Our command fell back on the morning of the 30th, having done, as all say, wonders. Even the Texan officers and privates acknowledge this. The prisoners taken were sent to Fort Union. Col. Slough’s entire command marched on the 30th to San Jose, towards Fort Union, so as to be prepared for emergencies, on the reported arrival of Sibley with 600 men. Sibley is said to be on the march towards Pigeon’s Ranch, with the expectation of reinforcing the enemy, and waiting for either Col. Slough’s command or Col. Canby’s, whom he expected to intercept en route to Fort Union.
Our troops will remain for the present about San Jose, or Vernal Springs, so as to be on hand. No word was received, up to the hour of starting, from Col. Canby. Our wounded are doing well. The Texan officers in command were Col. Acarry, Col. Bailer, Capts. Carey, Enos and Chapin, Surgeon-General Bailey and Assistants Holden and Whittock – {Rocky Mountain News Extra, April 9.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2
From Major A. H. Mayer, late of this city, and Major elect of the Fourth Regiment New Mexico Volunteers, who just arrived direct from the seat of war, we are favored with the following interesting particulars of the late engagements near Santa Fe.
The main fight took place at Apache Canon eighty miles from Fort Union, and twenty from Santa Fe. Three battalions, one under Major Chivington, one under Capt. Lewis, regular, and one under Capt. Wynkoop, advanced to the canon on the 28th ult., when the pickets reported no enemy in sight.
The command then advanced, when shots were fired at them by the Texans, who were in ambush, and they succeeded in killing 4 of our privates. – Our men, under Slough, rushed on them, killing 20 or 30 Texans, wounding many of them, and taking 7 prisoners, 4 officers and 3 privates. – Major Chivington’s command, which went ahead and surprised the Texan pickets, taking 67 prisoners and 64 provision wagons, arrived, and a plan of action was determined upon – to meet the enemy in front and flank them at the same time.
About 12 o’clock on the 28th ult., the action became general, the Coloradians [sic] doing wonders. The battery under Capt. Ritter, and also the howitzer battery under Lieut. Claflin, cleaned the Texans and things generally. The fight lasted until 4 o’clock, when flags of truce were interchanged to bury the dead and care for the wounded. The enemy had about 2,000 men and one six pounder. We had 1,300 men and one each six and twelve-pounder and four howitzers. The enemy lost their entire train (64 wagons and provisions) and 230 mules, - about 150 killed, 200 wounded and 93 taken prisoners, among whom are 13 officers. Some of the latter have held commissions in the volunteer corps of the Territory.
Capt. Cook was wounded, but is doing well. His heaviest injury was sustained by his horse falling down and bruising his ankle. Lieut. Marshall, of Cook’s command, shot himself while trying to break one of the Texan guns lying in the field after the battle. Lieut. Chambers was wounded severely, and afterwards died. Lieut. Baker (or Becker) and Lieut. P. McGrath were also killed.
The Texans, when surprised, supposed it was Col. Canby’s force instead of ours that was coming.
The Texan officer in command, with two of his companies, made two different attempts to charge on our men and seize their batteries, but were each time repulsed with a tremendous loss on their side, and while daring, noble deeds were performed by our soldiers. At one time the Texan companies charged within a few yards of our batteries.
Captains Logan and Wynkoop were with Chivington when they seized the above wagons and prisoners. Capt. Sopris’ and Anthony’s companies, during the fighting in the canon, were situated so that their men sustained the heaviest disaster.
Our command fell back on the morning of the 30th, having done, as all say, wonders. Even the Texan officers and privates acknowledge this. The prisoners taken were sent to Fort Union. Col. Slough’s entire command marched on the 30th to San Jose, towards Fort Union, so as to be prepared for emergencies, on the reported arrival of Sibley with 600 men. Sibley is said to be on the march towards Pigeon’s Ranch, with the expectation of reinforcing the enemy, and waiting for either Col. Slough’s command or Col. Canby’s, whom he expected to intercept en route to Fort Union.
Our troops will remain for the present about San Jose, or Vernal Springs, so as to be on hand. No word was received, up to the hour of starting, from Col. Canby. Our wounded are doing well. The Texan officers in command were Col. Acarry, Col. Bailer, Capts. Carey, Enos and Chapin, Surgeon-General Bailey and Assistants Holden and Whittock – {Rocky Mountain News Extra, April 9.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2
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