CHAP. XI.] SKIRMISHES AT CANADA ALAMOSA, N. MEX., ETC.
Numbers 2. Report of Captain John H. Minks, of skirmish at Canada Alamosa.
DONA ANA, N. MEX., September 29, 1861.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance to Order No.--, from the commanding officer at Fort Craig, I proceeded with my company about 40 miles southward from Fort Craig to a small town called Canada Alamosa, in order to establish a camp there, &c., leaving behind only 10 ne as an escort for a train to Albuquerque, and 5 sick in the hospital at Fort Craig. On my arrival at Canada Alamosa I at once took the necessary steps to secure men and horses against a sudden attack, but I was not able to accomplish the work in one or two days at it ought to have been done, on account of my time being occupied in purchasing forage and making many necessary preparations in my camp to enable me to keep out constantly several small scouting parties. The operations were also retarded in account of the unwillingness of some of my men to use the spade and the pick ax.
Before I had finished my corral and breastworks, September 24, at about 5 p. m., I received information that mounted men had been seen in a southern direction from our camp. I immediately ordered 6 men, already in the saddle, to scout in the direction of Laguna, in company with a Mexican well acquainted with the topography of the country, to start and bring more positive information. They returned and reported the said men to be a scouting party form Captain Hubbell's company, in command of a certain Colisnara, who had come over on the right bank of the river to pasture their horses. Well aware that this was only an excuse for having abandoned their post on the Jornada, my intention was to arrest the party next morning and send them to Captain Hubbell. At a later hour the same evening similar information was received of having seen mounted men, but, as I considered this already explained, I only cautioned my men not to leave the camp and to keep silence during the night, so they could always hear my voice and be at all hours ready to repel a night attack. The teamsters, who were to start the next day, were ordered to leave early, at 3 o'clock in the morning before I retired. I was soon aroused by one of my sentinels reporting that he had heard a noise in the direction of the town. I gave the alarm to my men, who were immediately under arms.
The night at that hour was very dark; nothing could be seen. I ordered my men to saddle their horses, which were picketed in front of our line between the town and the camp, but before I could see what it meant they had disappeared int he darkness. Some of my men say they fired into our camp. I did not see or hear it, though at this time our horses stampeded. I ordered 8 or 10 men to bring them back or to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy, but more than 30 men went off before I could prevent it, on account of the darkness. At this moment a terrible Indian yell was heard from the town. I thought for a while the Indians were attacking the town, and, with more than 40 of my men, was prepared to march tot he rescue of the inhabitants, when were heard distinctly cavalry coming down on us, nd a voice near our line hallowing out: "Here's their camp; give them hell!" The firing now commenced, and the enemy fell back into he town. I then knew that they were Texans, and that it was not an Indian yell I had heard a few moments before. I nevertheless thought the force could not be a large one; that the firing on their side would
