Battle of HuajuIa, or Guautla
{"character_count": 4672, "word_count": 822, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9815999865531921], "ccnet_perplexity": [651.0999755859375], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}


 tive land'

 ----------

 Battle of Hua5uIa, or Guautla.

 We find in the New Orleans papers an interesting letter from ohe of the ac- tors in the ill-conirved expedition to Huajutla. We omit the introductory part of i', giving the reasons for the march, as our readers know that il was to rescue body of American prisoners:

 Their march for four days was unin :. terrupted, passing through the towns of Puebla- Viejo, TampicorAl,o, Ozuama and Tantoyuca. in all of which the peo. pie made professions of friendship, and had got within seven miles of Guautla, eight miles beyond the last mentioned town, and one mile from Rio Calabasa. Here the Colonel met an Indian, who informed him that large force of Mex. jeans, under the command of Garay, had heard of his approach, and was m ambush on both sides of the river. Col DtRussy immediately despatched Lieut.. Lindenburger, acting Adjutant with an order 10 halt the column (advance guard) under command of Capt. Boyd. The Captain had halted at the river for the purpose of watering his horses, and while in that act, he received destruct- i've fire from an unseen enemy. As 1 said before, Ihe horses were all mus tangs, aod ai the report of the musketry they became manageable, ihrew most of the riders, and created great confu- sion. Captain Boyd dashed across the river, followed by his Lieutenant and six men. In crossing the Captain was shot in the head, and of course died on reaching the opposite shore. Three Of the men were also killed. All this took place before Lieut.. Lindenburger reach- ed him. The remainder succeeded in recrossing the river, and joined the main body. Thus fell one of Ihe bravest ard finest men that ever lived.

 O. hearing the report of the mrsketry from the opposite bank of the river, the Mexicans concealed on this side cons menced firing on the main body of the expedition from every side, when Capl. Wyse came gallantly into action with his field piece, and opened a destructive fire on the enemy, with grape and cans isler. At he same time, Capts. Mace and Seguine charged the enemy oh the right and Jeff, in most spirited manner. The battle now ragged with great fury on both sides for an hour, when the Mexi- cans sounded retreat, at least that portion of them in front.

 The Colonel now discovered a large body of lancers approaching him in the rear, but before he succeeded in getting within reach of them, they captured a portion Of the pack mules and then took to their heels.

 During the engagement, Lieutenant , Tonnehill was mortally wounded, ball passing through his thigh and breaking the bone. The six men at he cannon were all severely wounded; three bul ! lets passed through Colonel DeRussy's coat, and as many through Captain Wyse's. Captain Mace was struck twice with spent ball, but not hurt.

 After the engagement, to the astoDish ment of all, only one round shot and one charge of canister was left for the gun, when our troops, having fired away .he greater part of their amunition, il was deemed prudent 10 fall back on Tantayoca, which was accordingly done.

 The road from the river to Tantayoca lay through a narrow defle, the sum mits of the mountains nearly hanglhg over the heads of the men as they pass ed through ii. The deep and precipi> iious sides were covered with dense chapparal from base to top. Here they rallied, and concealing themselves from view, poured destructive fire down up- on our little band, which from the na. ture of the ground, they were unable 10 return.

 On approaching Tantayoca, in which .ney had encamped the previous night, and from which they had started peace. ably tna, morning, our men found, 10 their surprise. that the plaza, church and streets, were crowded with lancers and other troops. They marched up boldly 10 the enemy, until they got within few hundred yards of the plaza, when they opened to the right and left, and gave Captain Wyse an opportunity to discharge his last round shot. It did some execution, killing and wounding three or four, and also making ire. mendous hole ,n the walls of the church. Col. DeRussy, with Capl. Seguine, at the same time made charge up the street, when the Mexicans, for the SC. cond time, took to their heels, returning only few scattering shots. The low est estimate l have heard made of the number of Mexicans engaged in thls affair was 1000. Some say as many as 2000 and 5000. Our troops now took possession of the town, and encamped on the same ground they had occupied the previous night, Sunday the ll.h instantly

 A detachment was now sent through the town to search for ammunition, and they succeeded in finding enough to make five rounds of canister, which