BY GEORGE II . PETTIS, BREVET CAPT., D. S. V., LATE LIEUTENANT COMMANDING CO. K 1STCALIFORNIA INFANTRY, AND LIEUTENANT AND ADJUTANT 1ST NEW MEXICO INFANTRY.
HE buffalo hunt) of Captain John R. Baylor cul-minated on his reaching El Paso (Franklin), Texas ,on the border of New Mexico , in the first week inJuly, 1861, with about three hundred men of hisregiment, the 2d Texas Mounted Rifles, C. S. A.,and occupying Fort Bliss, across the river, whichhad been abandoned by the regular troops. Hewas warmly welcomed by the few secessionists inthat neighborhood, prominent among whom wereColonel B. Magoffin, Judge Simeon Hart, and JudgeJ. F. Crosby, who were the wealthiest persons in
CAVALRY ORDERLY. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
CAVALRY ORDERLY. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
that vicinity. On the 23d of July Captain Baylor, with about two hundredand fifty men, advanced up the Eio Grande, crossing to the west side of theriver at San Tomas, and proceeding to La Mesilla . On the afternoon of the25th Major Isaac Lynde, 7tli U. S. Infantry, who was in command at FortFillmore, a post about four miles distant from Mesilla , proceeded against therebels with about four hundred men,—artillery, cavalry, and infantry,—andafter a desultory attack on the town, involving a loss of three men killedand two officers and four men wounded, he cowardly returned to the adobewalls of Fort Fillmore. On the morning of the 27th Lynde evacuatedthe fort without reason, and commenced a retreat for Fort Stanton ,having about five hundred men. When near San Augustine Springs,Baylor appeared in his rear with less than three hundred men; and with-out a shot on either side Lynde surrendered his entire force, which consistedof seven companies of the 7th Regular Infantry and three companies ofMounted Rifles.
In the meantime, Fort Buchanan, situated near Tubac, and Fort Breckin-ridge, on the north side of the San Pedro River and above its confluence withthe Gila, had been abandoned, and the troops ordered to Fort Fillmore.Upon reaching Cook’s Canon, this command, consisting of Captain IsaiahN. Moore, 1st Dragoons, with four companies, were informed of MajorLvnde’s disgraceful surrender, whereupon they destroyed a large amount ofGovernment stores which they had in charge, as well as private propertyat the eastern end of the canon, and fled precipitately to Fort Craig. Onthe 1st of August Captain Baylor issued a proclamation organizing all thatpart of the Territory of New Mexico lying south of the thirty-fourth parallel
i See Mrs. Caroline B. Darrow’s “ Recollections jor Lynde was dropped from the army. This actionof the Twiggs Surrender,” Vol. I., p. 33; also map was revoked November 27th, 1866, by generalon p. 8 of that volume.— Editors. orders, restoring him to his commission and plae-
& On November 25th, 1861, forthis conduct Ma- ing him on the retired list of the army.— Gr. H. P.
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