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Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury. Santa Fc, New Mexico. Feb. 1G, 1847. Bailies of Ca-.ala, L'E/nbucla, and Slorming of the Pueblos by the U. S. forces under Col Price. Mr. Editor?A short time since I addressed to you a hasty communication giving a summary of our affairs here. I should not have seiit it, had I known that another opportunity would so soon present itself. I nronose to ffivo vnn n hr??f nc. 1 I o J "v count of the late attempt at revolution in this country. About the middle of January last, Gov. Bent and other Americans were on a visit to the valley of Taos, nor h of this place, which contains a population of about 12,000 souls, Indians and Mexicans. The inhabitants suddenly rose and massacred the Governor and other Americans, scalping them. &c. One man (Mr. Leil) was scalped alive, and driven through the streets in a state of nudity until death relieved him.? Col. Price, who commands in this department, immediately ordered in, to head quar ters. all detachments in the neighborhood ; but without waiting for them to arrive, pushed on with 300 men atid four pieces of artillery (howitzers) to a pass called Canada, 25 miles from this place, where the enemy showed themselves in force,?numbering about 1,000 Mexicans and Indians. Alter a sharp engagement, the enemy retreated with the loss of their leader and 30 or 40 killed and wounded. < ur loss was 8 or 9 killed and wounded. The artillery under Lieut. Dyer, U. S. A. suffered the most.? The Colonel pushed on to U htnburla, 15 or 20 miles beyond, where the enemy de1 PI* m 1 n t?f\ tn ?r? ?* lrn onnflmr cton/1 I U.% W.IMIUUU vw UIIIIIU WliVVUV.1 OWIIIU- JLII lliu meantime Capt. Burgwin with his Company of dragoons, on foot, had arrived. (The other Company was ordered to remain in Santa Fe. which was threatened with an attack from the Moro) Colonel P gave Capi. Burgwin, who was second in command, 180 men, and ordered him to drive the enemy from this pass, which in some places was not ten feet broad, and on either side precipitous mountains, covered with cedar and large rocks. Capt. B performed this service in the most gallant and effectual manner, daiving the enemy before him until they m ide a precipta'e retreat. The enemy, who numbered about 600, lost 20 killed?these xv^re counted?wounded not known. On the side of the Americans one killed, one wounded. This was on the 29th of January. The Indians and Mexicans after this retreated to their stronghold, which they boasted had not been taken by an enemy for 200 years. The name of the town, (an Indian one) is Pueblos de Taous The U. S forces appeared before it on the 3rd of Febuary, and bombarded their houses for some time but put ciF ihc assault until next day. The town after a reconnoisance, was found to be very strong, particularly - the church, which was surrounded by a wall about breasi-high, loop-holes were cut in the vvnllsnnil in tlio ("lnireli luhich ???.?<> nil..a by the eneiny, to the number of about 800, or rather p.trt ol these at first lined thr loopholes of the outer wall and adjacent buildings, thus enabling them to pour a destructive tire upon all who might approach.? The artillery played upon the wall and church with but little effect, the balls not penetrating at 200 yards more than onethird of the thickness, (three and a halffeet.) Col Price now order a general charge upon th?s works, holding back a small reserve.? The dragoons reached the wall first, and immediately jumped over, and rushed to the church. Here it was that this company was exposed to a most murderous fire from all sid?is, from the churchj the adjacent V>nilqoc nn#4 frrim tlio nnrnnm U-' *" Mvv.v\ ^ miiu iiwiu (,uu cuuiuio. uric al was that Gap tain Burgwin, of the U. S. Dragoons fell mortally wounded by a rifle ball in his right breast, while animating his men and pointing out the best station, for them. His men were cut down on all sides, bullets anJ arrows were continnally whistling and buzzing through the ranks. After some hours fishing our troops succeeded in firing the roof of the church from the outside, and holes were cut in the walls, through which shells were thrown by hand. The enemy finding the place too hot for them made a retreat through a side door, where they were met by a party stationed there to cut them off They wereshct down without mercy? about 60 were killed in this way. During thie> time, however, they continued a discharge of guns and arrows The main body retreated to two pyramidal edifices. 7 stones high, the only ingress to which is through a sixnll hole in the tops of the houses?the walls of immense thickness, (vide, Gregg's "Commerce of Prairies" for description.) They now iaised seveal white , which were shot down as soon as raised, by our marksmen. Col. Price finallv mnplmlorl it npn/?n uritli il-iom afior o?i.? ulating that the ringleader* should be given up. They delivered up the principal one. . who was next day hung in Don ('Fernando. Our loss in the storming of the :. Ptie/i/os, was 12 killed and 48 wounded. Of this number 8 of the killed wefedragoons, and of ,the wounded 19 were dragoons, thus exhibiting a loss of 27 killed and wounded, in acompany of 65 men. Do you recollect a greater proportional loss in any of Gen. < Taylors hard fought battles? The loss of the enemy 150 k illed-wounded not known. The RSb . Abajo, or lower country, kept quiet,during these fights. However, at the Moro, which is 9KK miles East of this and about the same tft'afenee frpm Ta<*v the -/ people rose and inhumanly butchered alt Americans there.-Qrte ArBeric?n,(to,show miscreant shot him through the back. At the buttle of Taos, it happened several times that while an American would be raising his rifle to shoot one of the enemy when they were retreating, the cowardly wretch would (all on his knees and beg for mercy; the American would lower his rifle; this was no sooner done than the dastardly scoundrel would raise his gun and shoot his generous adversary. Such are the Mexicans?they ore like their country,? mean of the meanest. At the tirm? the masacres took place at the Moro, there happened to be in the neighborhoud about 150 men, sent out to guard trains of provision?, graze horses, <fcc., these were immediately concentrated by the late brave and lamented j Captain Henley, (Mo. Volunteers,) the se- i j nior officer in that section. He was mor- ; i tally wounded in an attack upon the town? ; his exasperated men soon afterwards level j | led the village to the ground and sent in ! here some 18 prisoners?about 15 of the ; enemy were killed. Captain Burgwin of the Dragoon?, who i ! fell at Taos, was a native of .North Carolina ?he graduated at West Point in 1830, anil at the time of his death was hi<rh up on the li?at nf ?* . ..W* w. V/M^/VIIIIC. LJU %v??o V/HC Ul lilt; IUUM popular officers in the army, from his high , toned, gentlemanly character. His conduct and courage in the late battles, are the theme of universal praise. Alter being j wounded. Cot Price rode up to him and told hi in that whether he recovered or not, he should bear testimony of his gallantry. Ca;tain B. replied, "I hope. Colonel, you j will also bear witness that my company did j its duty." Lieut. Van. ValUeiiburg, ol the Infantry, died of his wounds in a few days I ?he had both jaws broken. i Captains Burg win and Henley were buried a few days since, with military honors. Their graves occupy a picturesque spot under the. guns of Fort Marey. ; You may inquire what are the prospects I here for peace and tranquility in future What number and description of troops, &c. should be st itioned hero, &c. ? I will state a few facts?two days since an express came , in from Col Doniphan, at El Pasn, statinq; that nothing had been heard ol Geti Wr.ol's advance on Chihuahua?that then- are many troops in Chihuahua. &c. He'has 900 : men?he may be defeated, and if so we will have the force of two departments i against us. These people cannot bi* do-. | pendedupon?we have no? more than 1,000 zr . i * enecuve troops nere. iniantry is the great I arm for this country. i The winter here has been very cold, and 1 about one in ten or twelve of the Volunteers | have died here?the hill is covered with ! graves. The Georgia Regiment.?We find in ' the Columbus Enquirer of Tuesday last, the following from Captain Calhoun. Alvarado, April 3rd, 1847. j We arrived at this place on yesterday. ; after a most fatiguing m;?rch of lour days? laming many, and completely exhausting ! others. On the 2nd in?f arrangements for I a b.ittle were mule by Gen. Quitman ; but i the enemy if near at the time, made it con| venient to be where they were not seen. j I nis place has been garrisoned by a thou! sand Mexican soldiers; but on our approach, they, with a large majority of the citizens, fled to the country. The city is capable of ! a good defence. They have sand forts on , both sides of the river, and one oii the west; ern side of thecity TheSe forts are eitherdij reeled by piling up bags filled with sand, i or dug out of the banks, and answer the ends i designed most admirably. About noon of . the 2fid in^t., information was received by us to the effect that the city was being eva cuated ; and General Q,ui?man, with a few ' dragoons, hurried on and reach it late at i night, where he found Commmodore Perry, ! who had nreceded him snmi> thiriw mlnmoc - y c. j When the Brigade, consisting of (he Alabama, South Carolina and (*?~orgia Regiments, reached this point, our boasted flag floated over the most beautiful little city we have as yet seen in Mexico. The few citizens who remained were greatly alarmed; but their fears and apprehensions were soon quieted. The Alcade was called upon to furnish quarters for our little ariny. which was soon accomplished by a selection of public buldings and houses vacated by those j who had fled from the city. Those assign-I ed to a few of us were not quite satisfactory ' to our fastidiousness to gentlemen who had been in the woods for ten months.? ri;lnt)in Rholtnn nn/1 mtntulT ,..*11...I '? j. ? ... ,lul. uuu llljOl II WUItru upuil IIJU Alcade nnd desired to know whether he i could inform us if we could, find rooms in which we might be rendered conformable. I le immediately pointed out to us several that were locked up, nnd authorized us to force an entry. I replied at once, sooner | than do violene to the doors, or injure pri | vate property in the slightest particular, we ; would sleep in the streets. Whereupon, a i fine, manly and intelligent looking Mexican | touched the Alcade upon the shoulder, and i on! A 1 1 uuiiivuwu nun iu in.inr u n'nuer 01 nis Cossa"?and we are inhabiting a princely establishment, with all necessary conveniences attached, with bathing rooms, ami beautiful Canaries and other birds,and with a mint bed that would gratify Dr. rtoswell's Virginia pride ; and we are preparing to dine to-day upon fish and fowl?a cir.cu'ittstance that is anrfreqitent in its occurrence To-morrow wo leave on our return to Vera Ctuz. We are consequently very busy in preparing our four days provisions Tor. the march. The return has this advan tage over out approach, the w .'lis then dug will save as much, labor, after fatiguing marches. , Adjmsot Harveyf to <vhota we are under many obligations for the obliging manner i %W ' : >' : / - : - - ' s^wSf' *,*? -V in weich he discharges the various duties assigned to him, is making necessary ar rangements to send our sick and lame to Vera Cruz by the steamship McKim. i am happy to say, not one of our Georgia friends are sick at this place,- but a great numberof sore leet are complained of. Our march was on the beach, the sand deep and heavy, and the water very bad. In cor.?ing to this place we have been t-.1 I r niucn uisappoinieu, lor reaiiy, many 01 us had expected to see and feel a fight. if nuftchange of purpose is wrought before we return to V< ra Cruz, we do not expect to rest there more than a day or two before we are to be ofT for Jatapa, about 70 miles west; a most delightful and salubrious region?and to which place 1 am anxious to hurry. It is said to b?\ in truth, a land of flowers, fine vegatables and most beautiful fruit. We fin I at'this place very large and well tasted wati-r-meloris; xcelleut bana- ! nas, pine-apples, an I various other fruits, to which weofthe .North are stranger*. The heat, at .this time is exc?ssiv?>, ?>xhausting and enfeebling. Mv room has ' 1_ t . oeen crowded nil the timr since I commenced this letter. One only, Lieutenant Phillips has energy enotijrh to rerd a newspaper. The adjutant sleeps lila* an innocent in a toe*king chair, and our M-ijor is | writing. I i In another place, I oiiirht to h;ivo said, quite a rich vill?ir?',of two thousand inhabitants, some eight miles distant, Sum ndereil, and during tiin afternoon ol yesterday was taken possess. of, and some public pro- j perty seized As here, valuabh field pieces : and other munition were seized Rut nauj?htofgreat value. The \ ill.i?re alluded to is known as Tiaacotalpam?a name not easy of pronunciation to an American lunirue. J S. C ? t) <? 13 ^ 3C K ?? U. 'ABBEVILLE C. H., S. C. Weil lie id ay, April 28, 1817. Cotton market. j Charleston April 2 Ir* from 10 3-8 to 11 | 7-8 Hamburg, April 21st, from 10 to 11 1-4 . cts. t j 53" We ar* indebted to Mrs Moorr. Inr 7 " a rness of Strawberries j JCr* Our citizens who are interested in cleaning out the branches 'round the village, are requested by the Council, to send i their hands enrly to morrow morning. Those, we understand, who send hands will receive credit for so many days work upon the road. ; His Excellency the Governor, has appointed the Gth of May to he observed as a day of fasting and prayer for the signal triumph of our arms in Mexico, an I that peace may be restored. Daniel WeAster, is to visit this StiltA QAAI1 onrl 1 1 uuu mo vitiwiis ui v^iiiiriesioii, we perceive by the papers, are preparing to give him a worthy reception. Foreign Mews. By steamer Cambria^ news has been re* ceived from Europe fifteen days later. The most important item in it is the advance of cotton, Anrtencan descriptions of all quaU* ties have ris^n 1-4 penny perpound.andthe great bulk of ordinary kinds 3 8 d. The suTiring by famine in' Ireland. Scotland, and on the continent, is unabated. | Thousands are still emigrating to this conn- i try in consequence of the scarcity of provisions. \ From Mexico. We have received nothing of very great interest from Mexico since our last. The capture of Alvarado was a quiet aflair, the garrison Surrendered without offering to resist our troops : also a town some eight miles from it, containing about 2000 inhabitants. The army had not, at the latent dates, left Vera Cruz, for want of means to transport the baggage ; as soon as these could be ob* tained, the line of march would be taken up for Jalapa, some seventy miles distant from Vera Cruz. The Rail Road. ' TWe have been informed by a gentleman of this District^ that a letter has been re' ceived from Colonel Coleman of Greenville, stating that the people of that District, are now disposed to aid in running the Road through this District, provided two hundred thousand dollars be subscribed by our citizens to the road. And R & suggested that a' meeting be held on sale day next, at this place, to consider. the; matter, and give ex-, preasion to the sentiments of tfife district upon this subject. Two hundred thousanddollars; We belie can be easily rafted iff <W fcr an ert' - iiimiirii'''-" terprise so important as this. If the citizens of our district will rightly consider their own interest, they will now bo up and doing, and especially those, in whose vicinity the road will pass if established. Should we let the opportunity slip, of securing this road through the district, we may not expect again to have J t in our power ?? From tlie Aruiy. City op Vera Cruz, April 4th, 1847. The stars and stripes are waving proudly over t?ie city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. It is unnecessary for me to say any thing about the bom* bardment of the city, as I have mailed, on yesterday , three copies of the first number of the Americin Ei^le published here, which will roach you by the time this does, and will give you a full account of the i whole matter. We have suffered considerably from the j heat, of the sun. and the clouds of sand dii- j ring the Northers, but have had but little i fighting to do. Our regiment, however,was ! engaged in the severest skirmish of any that j occurred?Colonel Dicinson. wounded pretty severely in the right breast, is slowly re- j covering ? the others, four or five in number, ! are all recovering ?no one in our company was ' hurt. We were in full view of the city during the ski mish. and they threw the bombs and cr.n i? n balls so thick and fast, that it required a sharp look out to dodge them ; in fact, we have been exposed to their cannonading j ever since we landed until the surrender of . the place, and \v?? have become so used to it. i that we look upon the bursting of bombs as a mere matter of irfotfn.shine. We will probably leave here for Jalapa in a few days, and would have been gone j ore this, had it not been that we lacked j mules to transport our bagg igo. Our regi- , ment is now on an expcili ion to Alvarado, j principally for the purpose of capturing one J thousand mules, said to be in the neighborhood of that place. You may firm some idea of the am u it of j stores to be transported, when [ tell you that j there have been 300 waggons, five m-ilc i teams, employed for four days hau'ing bag- j t_r ?l. i ! - -i - - gagt;yiom inc mnuing 10 me city, throe j milos, and are not yet done. We have a fine view of Orizaba, with its snow clad I peak.and are extremely anxious to be on the march in that direction. t received a letter from you dated 13 h i M irch on yesterday: your letters have, I j expect, generally arrived safe : they arc j sometimes a g md while in getting here ; but j y?iu need have no (ears a* to their reaching ' us. City of Vera Cuuz.. April 4 1847. j I saw your letter to of Hate the l3ih u!t. This Was the latest intelligence fr?!in ' Abbeville, and hence very interesting. I j wrote you some days ago. and attempted t.? \ give you a description of the far-famed city | of Vera Cruz. I have just returned from an expedition to Antigua. Col. Harney, j with his dragoons, one battalion of Infantry, and Capt. Taylor's battery of light artille* ry. together with your humble servant, were ordered to open the way. make discoveries, and capture mules <fcc. We Wfjp ordered 10 .tnugiin. and readied there on Friday j night about 2 o'clock, twenty-two miles j from Vera. C/vz after cutting our way J through impediments thrown in the road by | the enemy. We took them by surprise? the dragoons and myself with them swam j the river just opposite the town.? As soon ns we struck the opposite bank, j we jumppci off upon the gallop, and j got to the barracks just a? the JLzacers were ; ? i ? / ?/ )' T?l 4.'-- I i//ca; %/tv fii/c X IIUI U WilS UI1U company of one hundred men, and out of (hat number we captured thirty horses with saddles, lance.?, and all ready for mounting ?one 1st Lieutenant and ten men. The others scampered in every direction like a covey of flushed patridges. We pursued them but the enemy those not captured, had "left the premises." We returned, saw the Aloalde, who gave us much information. Five mi'es off was Santa Anna's farm, where his son was ?jl. l * t * ~ * witu lour nuntirea men : seven miles further was the Nutwnal Bridge, whero General La Vega, was fortifying and preparing to receive m. Be gave us a fine supper, good lodging?, and in the nmrning dismissed us with the benedictions of himself and people. The Palmetto: Regiment hus gone under General Quit#an to Alvarado. Since we landed here, I have been detached from the Regiment. Assistant Quart** PPHU? - ?yio,p, vB under the orders of the Pepartment, and not j, permanently attached to any eorpT. I have been attached during the to v mm,::.^S;"' Vi car^^hat!^Tthey^lo^votlcay^^n^Tvon^ V Cruz this summer, and I have been promised \ 1 a position with the moving army. General \ \ Quitman's command has not returned from \\ Alvarado?heard nothing from them?un certain when wo will leave here ; we would have been gone, but for the want of transportation ; almost all our mule* died on the voyage here. Antigui is an interesting place on account of its being the place Cortes landed, ( i and comtnenced building the first Vera Cruz: the very walls in heaps are still there. The Battle of Bnena Vista. ?3" Tho following l? tter which we copy from the Yazoo Democrat, is from Samuel S. Caldwrll who is a native of this Dison J pfiloAfl I** ?* ?!!!-?.? Xtf i ...V. J uuu iuidi^u lit uui Vlllitgt!i VV lieil tL boy, he met with a serious accident in the loss of three of his fingnrs by the bursting of a gun, which arc now in the possession of Dr. I. Branch, of this place. He is in the Mississippi Regiment, that so distinguished itself at the battle of Buena Vista. Saltillo, Mexico, March 1 st., 1S47. Dear Brother:?[ received n letter from you on yesterday, which was the only one I have received from you or iiny one else since I came on this sid?' of the ' Biqf Drink." It gave me great pie ?sur* to think that ihouuh a poor miffed soldier I was not 'orsjoiten. If people at home knew the sufferings of a soldier in Mt-xien nr Vimu ? , ... r "fc a consolation to him it is to receive a letter from a friend or relative, they woul I cprtainly devote an hour or two occasionally in writing to him. But let this pass Well, I have heard the big bull dogs howl and the small fice. bark, seen the very elements rain copper and lead, and have also seen a fifty acre plain as thickly covered with dead and wounded men as is an old clearing with dead trees cut up for a log rollinnr. < >n the'21s* of February Wr were camped w.tli about 5,000 fighting iripn at the pass on the road to San laiis-2-2 mil^c this place, called Aurua Nurva, resting contented. whfii tin* picket and our spies camo running in and informed (>M Zi<*k that the Mexican army, munhering from 20,000 to 25,000, with Santa Anna at its head, had advance I within 30 inil?*s, and from appearance were going to march on against us. \A^en our old general heard this he issued owtfcrs lor us to hold ourselves in readiness to inarch towards Saltillo, No sooner said tlun done. We knew we had no tiim* to lose, and in less than hall'an hour were on our road to this place. Our Rfgiun-nt, May's Squadron and Thomas* arid Bragg's batteries accompanledo! IZark. VVe piti'lifd our t.-nts, raised our fl>i?*s and and ev? ry man of us swore lie would die before we would give up the city. General % I r I - - - l- -- ' w ijiii miiH ins position iii a well known pass oilIrd Bufna Vislaand st.tiiorn-il his comm:iti-1 m sni'li a position as to keep the enemy back il he should attempt to advance that nii?ht. We left one company of eaval ry at A4U.1 Nueva t?> watch the enemy and act as a picket*. Next morning at sun up which was the 21st, the picketts were h ard to fire the alarm ^nns. W*' all knew, then, that bloodshed must follow. The picketta e.uiie into Gen. Wool's camp brin?;iii? in* formation that the enemy were advancing rapidly and would ml stop lontr at A?.rua Nueva as the advance iriiard had already passed it. Gen. Wool despatched an express post hjiste to Gen. Taylor; and by nin?* o'clock we vV^re all on the ground we were 10 occupy, miner we had to inarch 8 miles. We stood ivith silence at our posts until twenty-seven minutes past 3 o'clock in the evening win n one of the bull dojjs of the en? my was heard to growl. It sound* ed the death knell of some of the hrava Kemucki ms Then the whole plain on our side ot'the lin.? gave a cheer, but wr did not net fairly into action th.it day. Tho Kentucky Kiflemen who were stationed on the sides ol the mountains on tlv "lell flank engaged in ?he sport. *|'lxey hvlI. their positions until dark wheu a?l. w;.$' tlll?hl'(l hut n fouf rifluo - ?. ? .v t> ?<><? im'ii vicir ifi'iii u iw crack and looked l>k*' lightening buys illu>. minuting the tups of the mountain* Our Regiment wa$ ordered to cumpj" bUtf nosleep did we get that night. Kxpres>s after express arrived bringing us the news Next morning- at sunrise we wereta-our way to the field oi action* When- arrived there, the enemy had> broken through' on our left flank, which caused us to hasten to repel him The Arkansas Regiment had commenced retreating h'l'er shelter.---We rant them and' tried-to incucethemto ' ... go back with us, but only 3U' returned.-*--# 1 They thought all was lost, but We charged' on the yellow chaps and soon told them we a ?* * -* ncic mo Mississippi ooys?iiwy learned something of us ut Monterey. Seeing uschurge on a body of not l?ss than 8,000 they became panic strickrn. Gar Regiment' with the assistance one battt^ arid a' Regiment of Indianonus succtVdhd in driving them baclf ^voiid fhfr gvrttind they occupied1tlm ;datf< twfonvand that too i