MARCH 28, 1862.--Engagement at Glorieta, or Pigeon's Ranch, N. Mex.
MARCH 28, 1862.--Engagement at Glorieta, or Pigeon's Ranch, N. Mex.
Report of Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley, C.S. Army.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NEW MEXICO,
Albuquerque, N. Mex., March 31,1862.
GENERAL: I have the honor and the pleasure to report another victory.
After the battle of Valverde our advance was uninterrupted to this city. Here sufficient supplies were secured for sixty days, while from Cubero, a village 60 miles distant, large supplies have been drawn from the enemy's depot. We have been surrounded with every description of embarrassment, general and individual. Whole trains had been abandoned, and scantily provided, as they had originally been, with blankets and clothing, the men had, without a murmur, given up the little left them. More than all this, on the representation of their officers that forage could not be procured with one accord the regiment agreed to be dismounted.
These preliminary facts are stated because it is due to the brave men under my command that they should be known and the hand-to-hand desperate contests duly appreciated.
The battle of Glorieta was fought March 28 by detached troops, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry, and Federal forces, principally Pike's Peakers, under the command of Colonel Slough, the one having 1,000 men and the other estimated at 1,500 or 2,000. Glorieta is a canon 23 miles east of Santa Fe.
Pending the battle the enemy detached a portion of his forces to attack and destroy our supply train, which he succeeded in doing, thus crippling Colonel Scurry to such a degree that he was two days without provisions or blankets. The patient, uncomplaining endurance of our men is most remarkable and praiseworthy.
Our losses was 33 killed and 35 wounded. among the killed are majors Ragnet and Shropshire and Captain Buckholts. Colonel Scurry had his cheek twice grazed by minie balls, and Major Pyron had his horse killed under him.
In consequence of the loss of his train Colonel Scurry has fallen back to Santa Fe.
I must have re-enforcements. The future operations of this army will be duly reported. Send me re-enforcements.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H.H. SIBLEY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.
MARCH 28, 1862.--Engagement at Glorieta, or Pigeon's Ranch, N. Mex.
Reports of Col. W.R. Scurry, Fourth Texas Cavalry.
SANTA FE, N. MEX., March 30, 1862.
GENERAL: I arrived here this morning with my command and have taken quarters for the present in this city. I will in a short time give you an official account of the battle of Glorieta, which occurred on day before yesterday, in the Canon Glorieta, about 22 miles from the city, between the confederate troops under my command and the Federal forces, commanded by Colonel Slough, of the Colorado Volunteers, (Pike's Peakers), when another victory was added to a long list of Confederate triumphs.
The action commenced at about 11 o'clock and ended at 5:30, and, although every inch of the ground was well contested, we steadily drove them back until they were in full retreat our men pursuing until sheer exhaustion we were compelled to stop.
Our loss was 33 killed and I beleive, 35 wounded. Among the killed was that brave soldier and accomplished officer Major Ragnet, the gallant and impetuous Major Shropshire, and the daring Captain Buckholts, all of whom fell gallantly leading the men around the foe. Major Pyron had his horse shot under him, and my own cheek was twice brushed by a Minie ball, each time just drawing blood, and my clothes torn in two places. I mentioned this simply to show how hot was the fire of the enemy when all the field officers upon the ground were either killed or touched. As soon as I can procure a full report of all the casualties I will forward them.
Our train was burned by a party who succeeded in passing undiscovered around the mountains to our rear. I regret to have to report that they fired upon and severely wounded Rev. L.H. Jones, our chaplin, of the Fourth Regiment. He was holding in his hand a white flag when fired upon.
The loss of the enemy was very severe, being over 75 killed and a large number wounded.
The loss of my supplies so crippled me that after burying my dead I was unable to follow up the victory. My men for two days went unfed and blanketless unmurmuringly. I was compelled to come here for something to eat.
At last accounts the Federalists were still retiring towards Fort Union.
The men at the train blew up the limber-box and spiked the 6-pounder I had left at the train, so that it was rendered useless, and the cart-burners left it.
Lieutenant Bennett writes for more ammunition. Please have it sent. As soon as I am fixed for it I wish to get after them again.
From three sources, all believed to be reliable, Canby left Craig on the 24th.
Yours, in haste,
W.R. SCURRY.
P.S.--I do not know if I write intelligently. I have not slept for three nights, and can scarcely hold my eyes open.
W.R.S.
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SANTA FE, N. MEX., March 31, 1862.
MAJOR: Late on the afternoon of the 26th, while encamped at Gallisteo, an express from Major Pyron arrived, with the information that the major was engaged in a sharp conflict with a greatly superior force of the enemy, about 16 miles distant, and urging me to hasten to his relief. The critical condition of Major Pyron and his gallant comrades was made known to the command, and in ten minutes the column was formed and the order to march given. Our baggage train was sent forward under a guard of 100 men, under the command of Lieutenant Taylor, of the Seventh Regiment, to a point some 6 miles in the rear of Major Pyron's position, the main command marching directly across the mountains to the scene of conflict. It is due to the brave men making this cold night march to state that where the road over the mountain was too steep for the horses to drag the artillery they were unharnessed, and the men cheerfully pulled it over the difficulties of the way by hand.
About 3 o'clock in the morning we reached Major Pyron's encampment at Johnson's Ranch, Canon Cito. There had been an agreed cessation of hostilities until 8 o'clock the next morning. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the courage of the officers and men engaged in the affair of the 26th.
As soonas daylight enabled me I made a thorough examination of the ground, and so formed the troops as to command every approach to the position we occupied, which was naturally a very strong one. The disposition of the troops was soon completed, and by 8 o'clock were ready to receive the expected attack.
In this position we remained until the next morning. The enemy still not making their appearance, I concluded to march forward and attack them. Leaving a small wagon guard, I marched in their direction with portions of nine companies of the Fourth Regiment, under their respective officers, Captain [George J.] Hampton, Lesueur, Foard, Crosson, Julius Giesecke, Alexander, Buckholts, [J.M.] Odell, and Lieutenant Holland, of Company B, Captain Scarborough being unwell, four companies of the Seventh Regiment, under Captains [Gustav] Hoffman, [J.W.] Gardner, [J.F.] Wiggins, and [Isaac] Adair, four companies of the Fifth Regiment, under Captains [Denman] Shannon and [Darnel H.] Ragsdale and Lieuts. Pleasant J. Oakes and John J. Scott, three pieces of artillery, under Lieutenant Bradford, together with Captain Phillips' company of independent volunteers.
From details and other causes they were reduced until (all combined) they did not number over 600 men fit for duty. Ar about 6 miles from camp the advance guard gave notice that the enemy were near in force. I hastened in front to examine their position, and found they were about 1 mile west of Pigeon's Ranch, in Canon Glorieta. The mounted men who were marching in front were ordered to retire slowly to the rear, dismount, and come into action on foot. The artillery was pushed forward to a slight elevation in the canon and immediately opened fire. The infantry was rapidly deployed into line, extending across tha canon from a fence on our left up into the pine forest on our right.
About the time these dispositions were made the enemy rapidly advanced in separate columns both upon our right and left. I dispatched Major Pyron to the right to check them in that direction, and placing the center in command of Major Ragnet I hastened with the remainder of the command to the left. A large body of infantry, availing themselves of a gulch that ran up the center of an inclosed field to our left, were moving under its cover past our left flank to the rear of our position. Crossing the fence on foot, we advanced over the clearing some 200 yards under heavy fire from the foe, and dashed into the gulch in their midst, pistol and knife in hand. For a few moments a most desperate and deadly hand-to-hand conflict raged along the gulch, when they broke before the steady courage of our men and fled in the wildest disorder and confusion.
Major Pyron was equally successful, and Major Ragnet with his force charged rapidly down the center. Lieutenant Bradford, of the artillery, had been wounded and borne from the field. There being no other officer of the artillery present, three guns, constituting our battery, had been hastily withdrawn before I was aware of it. Sending to the rear to have two of the guns brought back to the field a pause was made to reunite our forces, which had become somewhat scattered in the last re-encounter. When we were ready to advance the enemy had taken cover, and it was impossible to tell whether their main body was stationed behind a long adobe wall that ran across the canon or had taken position behind a large ledge of rocks in the rear. Private W.D. Kirk, of Captain Phillips' company, had taken charge of one of the guns, and Sergeant Patrick, of the artillery, another, and brought them to the ground.
While trying by the fire of these two guns to ascertain the locality of the enemy, Major Shropshire was sent to the right, with orders to move up among the pines until he should find the enemy, when he was to attack them on that flank. Major Ragnet, with similar orders, was dispatched to the left. I informed these gallant officers that as soon as the sound of their guns was heard I would charge in front with the remainder of the command. Sending Major Pyron to the assistance of Major Ragnet, and leaving instruction for the center to charge as the fire opened on the right, I passed in that direction to learn the cause of delay in making the assault. I found that the gallant Major Shropshire had been killed. I took command of the right and immediately attacked the enemy who were at the ranch. Majors Ragnet and Pyron opened a galling fire upon their left from the rock on the mountain side, and the center charging down the road, the foe were driven from the ranch to the ledge of rocks before alluded to, where they made their final and most desperate stand. At this point three batteries of eight guns opened a furious fire of grape, canister, and shell upon our advancing troops.
Our brave soldiers, heedless of the storm, pressed on, determined if possible to take their battery. A heavy body of infantry, twice our number, interposed to save their guns. Here the conflict was terrible. Our men and officers, alike inspired with the unalterable determination to overcome every obstacle to the attainment of their object, dashed among them. The right and center had united on the left. The intrepid Ragnet and the cool, calm, courageous Pyron had pushed forward among the rocks until the muzzles of the guns of the opposing forces passed each other. Inch by inch was the ground disputed, until the artillery of the enemy had time to escape with a number of their wagons. The infantry also broke ranks and fled from the field. So precipitate was their flight that they cut loose their teams and set fire to two of their wagons. The pursuit was kept up until forced to halt from extreme exhaustion of the men, who had been engaged for six hours in the hardest contested fight it had ever been my lot to witness. The enemy is now known to have numbered 1,400 men, Pike's Peaker miners and regulars, the flower of the U.S. Army.
During the action a part of the enemy succeeded in reaching our rear, surprising the wagon guard, and burning our wagons, taking at the same time 16 prisoners. About this time a party of prisoners, whom I had sent to the rear, reached there, and informed them how the fight was going in front, whereupon they beat a hasty retreat, not, however, until the perpetration of two acts which the most barbarous savage of the plains would blush to own. One was the shooting and dangerously wounding of the Rev. L.H. Jones, chaplin of the Fourth Regiment, with a white flag in his hand, the other an order that the prisoners they had taken be shot in case they were attacked on their retreat. These instances go to prove that they have lost all sense of humanity in the insane hatred they bear to the citizens of the Confederacy, who have the manliness to arm in defense of their country's independence.
We remained upon the battle-field during the day of the 29th to bury our dead and provide the confort of the wounded, and then marched to Santa Fe, to procure supplies and transportation to replace those destroyed by the enemy.
Our loss was 36 killed and 60 wounded. Of the killed 24 were of the Fourth Regiment, 1 of the Fifth Regiment, 8 of the Seventh Regiment, and 1 of the artillery.
That of the enemy greatly exceeded this number, 44 of their dead being counted where the battle opened. Their killed must have considerably exceeded 100.
The country has to mourn the loss of four as brave and chivalrous officers as ever graced the ranks of any army. The gallant Major Trashier fell early, pressing upon the foe and cheering his men on. The brave and chivalrous Major Ragnet fell mortally wounded while engaged in the last and most desperate conflict of the day. He survived long enough to know and rejoice at our victory, and then died with loving messages upon his expiring lips. The brave, gallant Captain Buckholts and Lieutenant Mills conducted themselves with distinguished gallantry throughout the fight and fell near its close. Of the living it is only necessary to say all behaved with distinguished courage and daring.
This battle proves conclusively that a few mistakes were made in the selection of the officers in this command. They were ever in the front, leading their men into the hotest of the fray. It is not too much to say that, even in the midst of this historic band, among whom instances of individual daring and personal prowess were constantly occurring, Major Pyron was distinguished by the calm intrepidity of his bearing. It is due to Adjt. Ellsberry R. Lane to bear testimony to the courage and activity he displayed in the discharge of his official duties, and to acknowledge my obligations for the manner in which he carried out my orders.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W.R. SCURRY,
Colonel, Commanding Army of New Mexico.
Maj. A.M. JACKSON,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of New Mexico.