OPERATIONS IN TEX., N. MEX., AND ARIZ. [CHAP. XI.
Twice McNally, induced him to give the order to haul down the secession flag in Mesilla; twice he gave the order; twice McNally was saddled up, and twice he rescinded it. The second time his adjutant, Mr. Brooks, (who had previously resigned,) came to McNally and told him that he had prevented his going to Mesilla, as he thought it best not to bring on a collision with the Texans. The first time he would have gone, but he (Brooks) prevented it.
The Texans were then at El Paso, 45 miles below. This was from the 4th to 25th July. They were always urging him on. The night of July 24 or 25 the Rifle picket, stationed 7 miles below, brought in a Texan prisoner, who stated that the Texan forces were coming up and within an hour's march of the fort. The long roll was beaten and our men fell in promptly. There they stood until daylight, except that 25 Rifles went out to call in Potter and Lieutenant Hancock, leaving the San Tomas road open for the Texans, by Major Lynde's orders. At daylight McNally went to Major Lynde, and asked him to let his company of 32 men, and Cressey's of 22 men, go over to Mesilla and see if the Texans were there. He said: "Yes; mount your command and go, and give me all the information you can collect." I took the command, crossed the Rio Grande, and went over as fast as possible to Mesilla, halted the command, gave it to Mr. Cressey, and rode into the town with three men, first sergeant, corporal, and a private. Gave orders to Cressey, if we were not back by a certain time, either to take the town or send back for re-enforcement, as he saw fit. Rode through the town; found everything quiet; the flag was not flying. Went back and reported to Major Lynde no Texans present, and everything appeared to Dr. McKee to find their trail. Found their camp within 2 miles of Fillmore, about 300 or 400 men, who had left shortly before and crossed gone in by the San Tomas road, abandoned by his order the night before. Lynde told him to dismount his men and put his horses in the stable.
This was at 9 a. m. on the 25th. At the same time positive word was brought back that the Texans were in the town of Mesilla (by Captain Potter). After that we laid quietly in garrison until 4 p. m., when he moved the whole forward, putting McNally, with 22 men, in front, with the order to go on and feel the way. He had four 12-pounder mountain howitzers. He first fired two shell s at long range. Ordered McNally to form and go ahead. McNally kept ahead until he got within 60 or 70 yards of the Texans. Halted, and reported in person that they were there in the jackals and corn fields. First McNally knew they fired one shot, that cut away his saber; the second struck him. Then fired a volley of about 80 shots. (They confessed to 70 men.) They had no artillery. McNally dismounted, and fired at random. They fired another volley. Remounted, not being supported by infantry or artillery, ordered his men to retreat. In this fire one sergeant and one corporal were wounded and one man killed. In retreating, the Seventh Infantry fired into us. I retreated behind the battery, and found the infantry still in the rear. There McNally fainted from loss of blood, and was carried from the field. The last he heard was an order from Major Lynde to retreat.
N. B.-Before Brown, the prisoner, was brought in, a Mexican came in and reported the Texans in force, and Lynde never sent out a scout. The command reached Fillmore about 10 p. m. on the 25th.
