were much fatigued. Lieutenants McIlvaine and Taylor were also recalled, and Lieutenant Ingalls was directed to lead a flanking party on the right slope while Captain Slack performed the same duty on the left. The enemy having by this time retreated beyond our reach, Captain Burgwin marched through the defile, and debouching into the open valley in which Embudo is situated, recalled the flanking parties and entered that town without opposition, several persons meeting him with a white flag. Our loss in this action was 1 man killed and 1 severely wounded, both belonging to Captain St. Vrain's company. The loss of the enemy was about 20 killed and 60 wounded. Thus ended the battle of the Pass of Embudo. On the 30th Captain Burgwin marched to Trampas, where he was directed to await the arrival of the main body, which, on account of the artillery and wagons, was forced to pursue a more southern route. On the 31st I reached Trampas, and, being joined by Captain Burgwin, marched on to Chamisal with the whole command. On the 1st of February we reached the summit of the Taos Mountain, which was covered with snow to the depth of 2 feet, and on the 2d quartered at a small village called Rio Chicito, in the entrance of the valley of Taos. The marches of the 1st and 2d were through deep snow. Many of the men were frost-bitten and all were very much jaded with the exertions necessary to travel over unbeaten roads, being marched in front of the artillery and wagons in order to break a road through the snow. The constancy and patience with which the troops bore these hardships deserve all commendation, and can not be excelled by the most veteran soldiers. On the 3d I marched through Don Fernando Taos, and finding that the enemy had fortified themselves in the Pueblo de Taos, proceeded to that place. I found it a place of great strength, being surrounded by adobe walls and strong pickets. Within the inclosures and near the northern and southern walls arose two large buildings of irregular pyramidal form to the height of seven or eight stories. Each of these buildings was capable of sheltering 500 or 600 men. Besides these there were many smaller buildings, and the large church of the town was situated in the northwestern angle, a small passage being left between it and the outer wall. The exterior wall and all the inclosed buildings were pierced for rifles. The town was admirably calculated for defense, every point of the exterior walls and pickets being flanked by some projecting building, as will be seen from the inclosed drawing. After having reconnoitered the town I selected the western flank of the church as the point of attack, and about 2 o'clock p. m. Lieutenant Dyer was ordered to open his battery at the distance of about 250 yards. A fire was kept up by the 6-pounder and the howitzers for about two hours and a half, when, as the ammunition wagon had not yet come up and the troops were suffering from cold and fatigue, I returned to Don Fernando. Early on the morning of the 4th I again advanced upon Pueblo. Posting the dragoons under Captain Burgwin about 260 yards from the western flank of the church, I ordered the mounted men under Captains St. Vrain and Slack to a position on the opposite side of the town, whence they could discover and intercept any fugitives who might attempt to escape toward the mountains or in the direction of Don Fernando. The residue of the troops took ground about 300 yards from the northern wall. Here, too, Lieutenant Dyer established himself with the 6-pounder and 2 howitzers, while Lieutenant Hassandaubel, of Major Clark's battalion light infantry, remained with Captain Burgwin in command of 2 howitzers. By this arrangement a cross fire was obtained, sweeping the front and eastern flank of the church. All these arrangements having been made, the batteries opened upon the town at 9 o'clock a. m. At 11 o'clock, finding it impossible to break the walls of the church with the 6-pounder and howitzer, I determined to storm that building. At a signal Captain Burgwin, at the head of his own company and that of Captain McMillins, charged the western flank of the church, while Captain Angney, infantry battalion, and Captain Barber and Lieutenant Boone, Second Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers, charged the northern wall. As soon as the troops above mentioned had established themselves under the western wall of the church, axes were used in the attempt to breach it; and, a temporary ladder having been made, the roof was fired. About this time Captain Burgwin, at the head of a small party, left the cover afforded by the flank of the church, and penetrating into the corral in front of that building endeavored to force the door. In this exposed situation Captain Burgwin received a severe wound, which deprived me of his valuable services, and of which he died on the 7th instant. Lieutenants McIlvaine, First Dragoons, and Royall and Lackland, Second Regiment Mounted Volunteers, accompanied Captain Burgwin into the corral; but the attempt on the church door proved fruitless and they were compelled to retire behind the wall. In the meantime small holes had been cut into the western wall and shells were thrown in by hand, doing good execution. The 6-pounder was now brought around by Lieutenant Wilson, who, at the distance of 200 yards, poured a heavy fire of grape into the town. The enemy during all this time kept up a destructive fire upon our troops. About half past 3 o'clock the 6-pounder was run up within 60 yards of the church, and after 10 rounds one of the holes which had been cut with the axes was widened into a practicable breach. The gun was now run up within 10 yards of the wall. A shell was thrown in-three rounds of grape were poured into the breach. The storming party, among whom were Lieutenant Dyer, of the ordnance, and Lieutenants Wilson and Taylor, First Dragoons, entered and took possession of the church without opposition. The interior was filled with dense smoke, but for which circumstance our storming party would have suffered great loss. A few of the enemy were seen in the gallery, where an open door admitted the air, but they retired without firing a gun. The troops left to support the battery on the north were now ordered to charge on that side. The enemy abandoned the western part of the town. Many took refuge in the large houses on the east, while others endeavored to escape toward the mountains. These latter were pursued by the mounted men under Captains Slack and St. Vrain, who killed 51 of them, only 2 or 3 men escaping. It was now night and our troops were quietly quartered in the houses which the enemy had abandoned. On the next morning the enemy sued for peace, and thinking the severe loss they had sustained would prove a salutary lesson, I granted their supplication, on the condition that they should deliver up to me Tomas, one of their principal men, who had instigated and been actively engaged in the murder of Governor Bent and others. The number of the enemy at the battle of Pueblo de Taos was between 600 and 700. Of these about 150 were killed; wounded not known. Our own loss was 7 killed and 45 wounded. Many of the wounded have since died. The principal leaders in this insurrection were Tafoya, Pablo Chavis, Pablo Montoya, Cortez, and Tomas, a Pueblo Indian. Of these, Tafoya was killed at Cañada; Chavis was killed at Pueblo; Montoya was hanged at Don Fernando on the 7th instant, and Tomas was shot by a private while in the guardroom at the latter town. Cortez is still at large. This person was at the head of the rebels in the valley of the Mora. For the operations in that quarter I refer you to the subjoined letters from Captains Henley, Separate Battalion Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and Murphy, of the infantry, and Lieutenant McKamey, Second Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers. In the battles of Cañada, Embudo, and Pueblo de Taos the officers and men behaved admirably. Where all conducted themselves gallantly, I consider it improper to distinguish individuals, as such discrimination might operate prejudicully against the just claims of others. have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, STERLING PRICE, Colonel, Commanding the Army in New Mexico. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C. SANTA FE, February 16, 1847. SIR: In obedience to the order of my superior officer, Maj. Lewis M. Clark, commanding the battalion of Missouri Light Artillery, to inform you in his absence from this place of all interesting events which may transpire here, and in which the part of his battalion, stationed at Santa Fe, under my command, may participate, I avail myself of this opportunity to address a few lines to you. In the last warlike events in New Mexico, from the 23d of January to the 11th of February last, 26 men of said battalion, under the command of Lieut. F. Hassendeubel, of my company, and Lieutenant Dyer, of the Regular Army, took such a share as will do great honor to the battalion to which they belong. In the first fight at Cañada, on the 24th of January last, the artillery alone was exposed to the fire of the enemy for nearly two hours, which was so effective as to wound 5 men out of 20, and with the exception of one man, all had their clothes perforated by bullets. But they all stood like walls and behaved with such coolness and valor as if they had been veterans and not volunteers, hearing for the first time in their lives the bullets of the enemy whistling by. The same soldierlike and laudable spirit animated them in the next two fights before Pueblo de Taos, where three of them were wounded. *This Pueblo de Taos is one of the most remarkable places in New Mexico, and I take the liberty to add hereto a plan of the same drawn by Lieutenant Hassendeubel at the very place. The two largest buildings are seven stories high; the base covers nearly an acre, and the walls are from 4 to 6 feet thick. The entrance to these houses is from above, and the interior of this labyrinth, as I may call it, is divided and partitioned off in innumerable small rooms, it is believed in nearly 300. The structure of the houses in New Mexico is such as to make the use of mortars necessary that will throw a shell of at least 50 pounds. The walls are generally 3 feet thick and built of "adobes," a sort of sun-dried brick of a very soft quality, through which a ball of a 12-pounder will pass without doing any more damage, which in houses of brick or stone is quite different. I desired very much to participate in these fights myself, but the orders of Colonel Price detained me here in Santa Fe, and when at last an order arrived commanding me to join Colonel Price with 50 men and a 24-pounder howitzer, and I had already started, a counter order reached me on the march commanding me to return to Santa Fe, as Pueblo de Taos was taken and the enemy had surrendered. I reposed full confidence in my men, when sending them off to fight the battles of their country, that they would conduct themselves as soldiers and men of honor, and, according to the testimony of all officers who were present in this campaign, they have so distinguished themselves by their courage and good discipline as to exceed my just expectations. A great deal of praise is due to Lieutenant Hassendeubel, who, by his brave conduct and his coolness, set a worthy example to the men under his command. I have, sir, the honor to sign myself your most obedient and humble servant, Captain, Commanding Company B, Missouri Light Artillery, and Commander of Fort Maroy. Brig. Gen. R. JONES, Adjutant-General, U. S. A. List of the killed and wounded at Cañada, Embudo, and Pueblo de Tuos. List of the killed and wounded at Cañada, Embudo, and Pueblo de Taos-Continued. AT PUEBLO DE TAOS, ON FEBRUARY 4, 1847—Continued. In addition to the foregoing, Captain Hendly was killed at the town of Mora on the 24th of January last, and on the same day three men were wounded at the same place. SANTA FE, N. MEX., February 15, 1847. SIR: It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the death of Capt. I. H. K. Burgwin, First Dragoons. The official information I received from Lieut. A. B. Dyer, of the Ordnance Corps, is to this effect: “Battle at Embudo January 29; Captain Burgwin, commanding 180 men (Ameri- . cans), defeated 1,500 Mexicans and Indians, killing 20, wounding 50 or 60; Americans' loss, 1 killed and 1 wounded. 'Battle of Pueblo de Taos February 4, 1847. Our troops (under command of Colonel Price), 400; Mexicans and Indians, 1,000. Our loss, 12 now dead, 52 wounded. The enemy defeated; loss, 152 killed, number of wounded not known. Captain Burgwin shot through the right breast at 12.30 p. m.; died at quarter past 7 a. m. February 7, 1847.” The body of Captain B. was brought to this place and buried with military honors by my company on the 13th instant. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. H. W. STAUNTON, Acting Adjutant First Dragoons, Fort Leavenworth, Mo. WM. N. GRIER, Captain, First Dragoons. DON FERNANDO DE TAOS, N. MEX., February 16, 1847. COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to transmit the monthly return of the late Capt. I. H. K. Burgwin's company (G, First Dragoons) for the month of January, 1847. I have signed the return myself, and in order to explain it beg leave to submit the following statement: On January 23 Captain Burgwin marched with his company from Albuquerque, a town on the Rio Grande, 70 miles distant from Santa Fe, to join Colonel Price. He reached the latter place on January 26. On 28th he joined Colonel Price with his company at a town on the Rio Arriba, 35 miles from Santa Fe in the direction of Taos. |