The Colorado Citizen (Columbus, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 44, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 17, 1861 Page: 1 of 4
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VOLUME Tf.
.
COLUMBUS, TEXAS, AT/GUST 17, 1861.
NUMBER 44.
BATTLE OF MESILLA.
IX A2TD ISTÍKKBTIXG PARTIOULAR3.
JTrom the Mesilla Times, 29th ult.j
Lieut. Col. Baylor, commanding the Confed-
erate forces at Fort. Bliss, Texas, left there on
the 24th iust.. with the forces under his command
for the^Mesilla Valley, with the design of pro-
tecting the citizens pf Arizona, and relieving
then) of the Qppt&tiñfí and presence of a large
force of Unil^ SfiSSweplpapd to prevent
the further concentration of troops at this point.
The force under his command was some 300
mes, as follows: C apt. Stafford's Company of
Mounted Rifles, 85 m«n; Capt. Hardeman's
Company of Mounted Rifles, 80 men; Lieut.
Bennett, with a detachment, jof Teel's Artillery,
38 men, (they did no,t bring their cannon, but
were mounted,} Cápt. Coop wood's Spy Com-
pany, 40 men; added to these were a number of
the citizens of Mesilla and El Pase—in all,
about three hundred men.
On the night of the 24th, a position had been
taken by the Confederate troops, within six hun-
dred yards of Fort Fillmore, and picket were
placed oat and every pre|ptition taken to storm
the Fort the next morning at day break. .The
plan would have been a complete success, but for
the desertion of a picket, who went into the
Fort and gave the alarm. The Fort ,wai alive
ra a few minutes, and it wax evident Use surprise
mi a failure. „ t
. The Confederate force then moved across the
river, and at daylight took the town of Santo
.Toma , Two companies of .United, States'
.troops had been stationed there, but tbe birds had
flown, evidently in great haste.. Clothing, pro-
visions, air munition and supplies were left be-
hind in considerable quantities. Eight prisoners
were takan, disarmed and discharged, after be-
ing swótn not to fight against the Copfederacy, ¡
Cal. Baylor telhng them that he had rather figbt
them than feed .tbetn * About ten o'clock the]
Confederate forced entered Mesilla, and were
received with every manifestation of joy by the
citizens. Vivas and hurras rang them welcome
from every point. Preparations were immedi-
ately made to receive an attack from the United
Slates' troops; and the citizens offered ail the
forage and supplies they had at their command.
lifHt OP M« SILLA.
The United ¿States' troops were reported cross-
ing the river about noon of the 25tb. About 5
o'clock; the clouds of dust .indicated, that the
enemy were advancing for on attack towards
the Southern part o£ the city. The whole force
was mpved.'ta that point, and every preparation
made to give them the warmest of receptions.
Several of the principal streets of Mesilla con-
verge at the Southern .end of ¡'the town, the
houses forming an angle and are quite scattered,
•id corrals arid the proximity of the corn fields,
make the position a very advantageous on for
defence. The companies were stationed on the
tops of the adobe houses and behind the corrals.
Capt Coopwood' company was mounted. <The
citizens posted themselves tin the tops of the
houses on the principal streets prepared to ren-
der their assistance. The enemy advanced to
within 500 yards of our position and halted and
formed in line of battle, with two howitzer* in
the center and the infantry, and oij the wings,
eavalry—the whole force appearing tobe about
500 men. A flag of troce was then sent to our
position to «urrendef the town unconditionally.
The reply was, " That if they wished tbe town
to come and take jt."!: They uumasked ■ their
gum and commenced firing bumbo and. grape
into a town crowded with women and children,
without having, in a acor dense with an invaria-
ble rale of civrliztd warfare, given notice to re-
move the women .and . children -to a place of
eafety. Several shells were thrown in different
parts of the tiwri, fortnnatcly without doing in.
jury to a single individual. Two companies
were ordered to take their, position on the top of
the bouses on the Main Plaza. The first shell
thrown struck cm the top of the building, on
which was stationed a portion of Capt. Teel's
company, and exploded. After firing a couple
of rounds of ¿rape,at the .more advanced posi-
tion of. our force, the cavalry of the enemy made
a charge, and had advance to within three hun-
vards of a corral Behind which Capt. Hardeman's
company were stationed. From forty to sixty
fhots were fired by this company, killing four
mod wounding four of the enemy, and throwing
them into. confus;on, and finally into retreat,
their officer vainly trying to rally them. The
order wh given to charge four times to no pur-
pose, and they retiied in confusion, carrying
,with litem the dead and wounded. Captain
Coopwood's company bad been continually em-
ployed in deploying among the houses and cor-
ral., fir* a¡ ppearing mounted and then on foot,
and appearing in many different directions. Th¡B
and (Ufcer inurements, and the appearance of
rafen both far and near, at many points, buc
cecded in greatly deceiving the enemy as to our
real force. ThejC were disheartened by their ill
success in the charge, and as night was falling
they drew of their whole force in good order, in
the direction of Fort Fillmore. r . .
EVACUATION OF FORT FILLMORE.
! At one.o'clock on the morning of the 27th,
Maj. Lynde evacuated Fort Fillmore with all
his Command, previously destroying much valu-
abJjBjjroperfy and munitions of war. Tffe sol.
diets destroyed much of. their company property
—muskets,'clothing, a blaeksmith shop, bakery,
and one of the Quarter-Master's store roomshad
been completety^.burned down. The majority
of the building Were uninjured, and can be im-
mediately occupied1 by the Confederate forces.
The hospital stores,. medicines and furniture
were most completely broken up, and nearly all
the arms and a large quantity of ammunition
were destroyed. A great deal of valuable com-
missary stores and other property was unharmed,
to the amount of several thousand dollars.
T.HI RETREAT. (i
The United States' troops retreated íq the di-
rection of Fort Stanton, anc were seen by our
scouts immediately after daylight, ¡eight or ten
miles east of Los Cruces, in the mountains. The
whole command of Confederate troops were or-
dered in pursuit, and crowded on in Hill chase
after the fugitives.. The road iay over the table-
lands and mountains to a pass iu the Organos
chain, by way of San Augustine Springs, over
a route where there was no water, and the day
was excessively warm. Some six or seven miles
'on this side of the Sán Augustine Springs, strag-
glers of the United States' Infantry were over-
taken, and the way to the Springs had the ap-
pearance of a complete rout. . Guns were strung
along the road and catridge boxes. The six
miles to the Springs was a succession of charges
—men were taken prisoners and disarmed in
squads, the artillery was captured, and the
greater portion oJ the Infantry were taken be
fore the main command was reached.
T U K;: 3 V B R S SC R R .
Maj. Lynde was camped near the San Au.
gustine Springs and had still some four bundre*d
men with him, who formed in battle array on the
appcarance of the Confederate troops. Advance
was made to charge on them by our troops, and
they had reached within 300 yards; with eager
spirits for the fray, when a flag of truce was
raised by the United States' column, desiring to
know on what conditions our commander would
receive a surrender ? . The reply was, -'An un-
f ' TEXAS ITEMS.
(3* The LaGrange True Issue wishes to know
if some entsrprising citizens of that co,unty
couldn't start a train of wagons to the Corpus
Chasti Salt Lake? A train has gone from Bas-
trop connty. We, with the Issue, think it
would prove a profitable business.
O* The Issue mentions that several Missou-
rians are-out looking at land in Fayette, and
intend sealing there, to escape Black RepubK -
can oppression in their own State. Maj. Hugh
.Price,-brother of ex-Go*. Price, is among the
number. , .• . ,
O" The Issue says that new corn meal is
selling at seventy five cents per bushe^; corn at
from thirty-five to fifty cents; and new floor af
$4 per hundrid pounds. Why so much difference
in t he price of the corif and the meal ? It's the
Earn a way hete.
U* A plot among the negroes of Nacogdo-
ches county to murder and destroy all things
before them, was recently discovered. White
men were implicated. t ,
O* The LaGrange tfemacral eaya the ball
worm is doing great iujury to the cottou crep
in Fayette county. *
IT The Democrat says T. C. Gregory has
recived the appointment of Postmaster of La-
Grange from the Confederate States' Congress.
IP" As far as heard from in Fayette county
the vbté for Seuator stood : Harcourt, 528; Rus-
sejl, 304 ; Wilson, 19. Price is elected Repre-
sentative ; Flewellyn, Floater, and Davidson,
Sheriff.
IT Robert F. Bradshaw and Misa Anna
L. Cook—all of Fayette county—were married
on the 8th instant.
O* The editor of the Democrat h^s been pre-
sented with a bottle of fine wine and some nice
cake. This he (tails "editorial sweets." After
drinking the wine, he must have been capable
ol wilting a " syveet" editorial ! ,
- O" The News says 2nd Liect. Robert W.
Key worth is officially announced as the Aid-de-
Camp of Gen. Van Dorn, to date from the 20th
ultimo.
- O" The Nev* eays the planters of Medina
county have authorized the Chiéf Justice to
offer the Confederate Government 250,000 bush-
els of corn.
IT Mr. Stribbling, of San Antonio, lias been
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Camp V>n Dorn, Texas, Aug. 10,1861.
Dear Citizen—
Wc learn here in camp that the fir&t division
of Texas Volunteers will st art for Virginia next
Tuesday ; .and that the other divisions of the
regiment will follow on as soon thereafter as
practicable. 'The "Echo" is in the th'ir/di-
vision, and Will not leave as soon as the iirrtt
and «Hwd divisions, by some days. The fceyn-
alTgetling tired of the suspense of living 'iu
are
conditional surrender—the same terms they had elected Judge of the 4th Judicial District over
endeavored to dictate to the Confederate forces."
This was sought 10 be modified by the United
States' commander, tehich was refused, further
than they would be allowed two hours to remove
their women and children. Id a place of safety.
The United States' commander finally agreed to
an unconditional surrender. In brief, during
this day eleven, companies of United States'
regular troops, mounted and foot, mustering 700
.effective men, surrendered to 280 Confederates
four pieccs of cannon, arms, equipment, 200
cavalry horses, mules and wagons, aud 270 head
of be(f cattle. The men and officers were dis-
appointed in one thing alone—that the victory
wis so easily wort.
All these important movements and the great
success have been made and gain d without the
Ices of one drop of blood on the Confederate side.
Tryibi to the Patience—For a wooden-leg-
ged man " have a wife who is r ven to waltzing.
t c * -
1 he Bosto*' Post has been compelled to reduce
its size on M.ccount of the pressure of ihe'times.
The two most precious things now enclosed
in hoops are girls and kegs of whiskey!
Prent><£ *ays : ." T he Federal Government
won't le. quirjim go to the Southern people. A
they won't shi ke with fear, Old Abe means
they sha nhake with ague ! "
Lncy Stone says, " The cradle is woman's
ballot box." Then, we've known some unlaw-
ful voting, wbers two ballots were deposited at a
time!
Where twenty persons have stomachs but one
has brair.v—hence brewers grow rich, while
printers remain r.
It may sound like a paradox, yet tha breaking
of both an army's wiu?s is a prettv sure wav to
•make it fly! 3
- '
The tent for a single regiment cost not far
from $4,000. Twenty-five wagons are required,
costing $150 each. The entire expenses of
equipping a regiment does not fall short of
sixty thousand dollars!
his opponents, Messrs. Upson and Leigh. Sweet
and Navarro are elected Representatives fr<m$
Bexar county, and Maveric, Floater. Mitchell,
it appears, is el eeted Senator from that District.
XT The San Antonio Ledger extracts from
the letter of a lawyer in lhat place to the New
York Times portions which represent San Anto-
nio as tsrribiy distressed by the United States'
Army disbursements being withdrawn. Let the
growlers alone, friend—they bark-, but don't
bite. ... .
ET The San Antonio Herald has good au-
thority for stating that the Confederate States
have ordered seventy thousand men to the relief
of Missouri. They are to be drawn from Ten-
nessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, &c.
¡ET The Brenham Enquirer says that J.
Black L$kridge shot, with a pistol, and killed
Albert G Hunt, about half 4 mile from that
place, on last Mcnday, the 6th inst. Lockride
escapcd.
O" The Enquirer states lhat lh£ boll worm is
doing considerable damage to the cotton crops i
m portions of Washington county.
The citizens of Chappel Hill beat, Wash-
ington county, have subscribed 1917 bales of
cotton to the Confederate Lean.
O" V. E. Petty, Esq. ¿ editor of the Brenham
Enquirer, has started for the war in V irginia.
HT The Jefferson (Marion county) Herald
says that L. A. Patillo, a highly respected citi-
zen of Hickory Hill, was brutally murdered by
Alfred Wilson, of Dangerficld. He first knock-
ed him down with a club, afterwards dealing
several blows. Mrs. Patillo offers 0500 reward
for Wilson's arrest. He is described as be*
ing five feet high, fair complexion, slightly freck-
led, smooth face and blue eyes, sandy hair and
about twenlv-nine years of age. : •
O" The Belltille Countryman has been pre-
sented with a beautiful Cohfederate flag by Mrs.
Jane Railey. The flag wave3 gracefully over
the Countryman office.
O" Smith has been elected Representative
from Houston county; Caddel has a majority
for Floater; and for the Senate the vole stands :
Burnstt, 172; Miller, 32; Jowsrs, 41.
camp life on unéerlaintv. • ' i" ' [ í
The fight at Galveston amounted to nothing
|nore than showing the blockading vessel that
they could not too closely approach our shore*
without danger. The ladies of the city entered
into,the patriotic feeling prevalent, and dnrmg the
eugageotent Stood on shore watching tbe fight,
and at every shot frorñ our batteries threw up
their bonnets and clapped their hands for very
joy. With such inspiring manifestations on the
part of the ladies, who could' blame the Sou-
thern troops if (ap a New York paper says)
" they fought like demons ? "
The health, of our company is mnch improv-
ed, and Ufe boys in fine spirits—ready and anxi-
ous to go to Virginia. I shall write you soon
again. Your B*o. . BEN.
° I' 4 — ' —~■ '■ i.
COTTON PLANTERS' CONVENTION.
The following are the resolutions unanimously
adopted by the Cotton Planters' Convention, re-
cently in session in Macon', Georgia:
"The Committee of Twelve, appointed to
consider and present to the Convention the best
means of aiding"the Government of the.Confed-
erate States, beg leave to report the following
resolution . Which we think will cover the whole
ground, and we respectfully recommend IhÉr pas-
sage by the Conventien:
" Resolved, That we* do hereby declare our
willingness to aid tbe Government- with tbe en-
tire eotton crop, if the same shall be needed for
its use. •••-'•' - * • : •
"ResoUed, That We recémmcnd to the cotton
planters of the several States to hold meeting*
in their counties, and pledge themselves to aid
the Government with such part of the glowing
crop' as may be required for that purpose. «
"Resolved^ That we recommend to the Con-
gresb of the Confederate States to consider and.
devise some system by which the cotton and
other crops may become available in support of
the credit of the Government, Or as a basis for
bonds aud Treasury notes issued thereby.
"Resolved, That if, in the judgmentof Cpn-
gress, the purchase and control Of cotton and
other products be deemed advisable, we recom-
mend an issue of the public credit for that pur-
pose in the purchase by die Government of such
part or\he whole of ojr. exportable product , as
may be deemed expedient by Congress.
"Resolved, That we reeommend to the Con-
gress of the Confederate States to authorize the
issue of Treasury notes of denominations suited
for circulation as curreney, for an amount equal
to the exigencies of the Government—such noiet
to be paid out as money in pay ment of all Guv -
ernment dues, and convertible into eight per
cent, bonds of the Confederate States, at the
pleasure of the holder.
"Resolved, That we recommend to theaereral
Confederate States, and tbe people Ihcrcoif, that
they receive and pay out at par the Treasury
notes of the Confederate Government, and that
it be recommended to the cotton planters aud
citizens of the Confederate States, to pledgtf
themselves to receive said Treasury notes at par
value fur their cotton and other commodities,
and for all the use of currency. - •
"Resolved, That we recommend to thé plan,
tere and farmers to invest at least one-half of
the proceeds of the sale of their crops in eight
per cent, bonds of the Confederate States, and.
to capitalists and persons haviug money to lend
that they invest in like manner in these bands.'*
The Convention adjourned to meet again in
Macon on the 15th of October next.
'f-
" The victory is not always to the rtrong," 1
the boy said when he killed the skunk with
brickbat.
If anything will make a man feel "juicy"
about the heart, it is to talk velvet to a pair of
sky-colored eyes in a clover field!
—■ 1 , /
An excited gentleman once anueuncod to the
Connecticut Legislature a steamboat explosion,
a follows: " Spister Meeker and ledgers of the
membismalure, the Elliver Ollsworthe biled her
buster!"
Graham Sour.—Write " beef" on a piece
paper, and boil it in four bucket of water
the letter disappear. Dish up and saye with
an onion!
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J.D. Baker & Bros. The Colorado Citizen (Columbus, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 44, Ed. 1 Saturday, August 17, 1861, newspaper, August 17, 1861; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177629/m1/1/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.