P. Hardeman to Company A, Commanding Scout, October 6, 1861

October 6, 1861.

Doña Aña, Ariz., October 6, 1861.

SIR: Pursuant to my order of September 18, issued from my head- . quarters, to Capt. B. Coopwood, then commanding Camp Robledo, 12

* List of casualties shows: Number of wounded in Company C, 3 enlisted men; number of wounded in Company G, 3 enlisted men. AR.

miles north of this place, he detailed a detachment of 110 men, and proceeded toward Fort Craig, for the purpose of reconnaissances. During his progress had two engagements with the enemy; the first in the town of Alamosa, in which he dispersed a New Mexican volunteer company, taking the captain, lieutenant, and several others prisoners. The following day had to contend against 180 or 190 cavalry from Craig, in which he also made them retire. For further particulars of his pro_ ceedings I refer you to a condensed copy of his report made to these – headquarters. Respectfully, &e.,

i : JOHN R. BAYLOR, Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, C. S. ARMY, Headquarters Department, San Antonio, Tex.

No. 5. Report of Capt. Bethel Coopwood, Confederate forces.

Dona ANA, ARIZ., September 29, 1861. SIR: In obedience to your order of date September 18, 1861, I started from Camp Robledo on the 22d instant to make a reconnaissanee of the – country around Fort Craig with a detachment of 112 men, including officers, detailed from Captain Pyron’s company, B, and Captain Stafford’s company, E, Second Texas Mounted Rifles, and my spy company, as

shown by lists from the different companies, hereto annexed ; also one

man, the Rev. William J. Joyce, of Captain Hardeman’s company, A, Second Texas Mounted Rifles.

Having obtained reliable information that a company of U. S. volunteers had started from Fort Craig to occupy the town of Alamosa,

— . 85 miles from Fort Craig, I marched with all precaution to that place,

and on the morning of the 25th instant succeeded in getting between that place and Craig without being discovered. I immediately marched my force into town, and after some skirmishing captured Capt. J. H. Minks, Second Lieut. Metiaze Medina, and 23 privates and non-com— missioned officers. In the skirmish 4 of the enemy were killed and 6

M wounded. The remainder of Captain Minks’ company fled early in the aetion, and escaped by crossing the river and taking to the mountains.

‘In the camp of Captain Minks I found an amount of public property, and immediately appointed Lieutenant Poore to take charge of the same; and the duplicate of his inventory, hereunto annexed, exhibits the amount of property taken, except four Sibley tents and a number of saddles and other articles of small value, which were burned by my. order, not having transportation for the same. Not having transportation for the prisoners, [ administered to 22 of them a strong oath, binding them not to take up arms against the Confederate States during this war unless exchanged, &oc.,and then set them at liberty without arms; but I held Captain Minks and Lieutenant Medina and one sergeant as prisoners, and deliver them to you to abide your order.

From Alamosa 1 marched along the river road with the property taken to the place known as E Company Grove, and encamped for the *, night. On the morning of the 27th, while at breakfast, I was informed that my pickets were running into camp, and, rising to my feet, I saw

^. the enemy pursuing them. In less than ten minutes my camp was surrounded by U. S. troops, numbering about 190. None of the ordinary ceremonies of attack were performed. There being no misunderstand–

ing, we at once commenced business. The firing commenced at 7 clock –

and ended at 11a. m. Theenemy began to retreat before 11, and about that hour fled from the field. I lost 2 men killed, and -had 2 severely wounded, each in the arm, besides 6 others slightly wounded, all of which will more fully appear from the list hereto annexed. The enemy removed their dead and wounded as they retreated, so as to evade a ‘discovery of their losses; but, from the number of horses led away with bodies apparently lashed. across them, there were 12 or 13 killed, but the number of their wounded could not be ascertained.

The principal portion of the battle was fought with the enemy’s force . formed in two lines, forming the angle of a square, and my forces formed –

the same way inside of theirs, my lines being much the shorter. One of my lines was composed of the detachment from Captain Pyron’s company and a portion of the detachment from Captain Stafford’s company, .

under the immediate command of Lieutenant Poore, Sergeant O’Grady, and Sergeant Browne. My left line was composed of the detachment.

from my company and a part of the detachment from Captain Stafford’s .

company. This line was under the immediate command of Lieutenant

. Sutherland, being divided into two platoons, one led by Sergeant Coulter, and the other by Private Tevis, who was named for the special oceasion. : pe Ã

Iremained upon the field till 10 o’elock a. m. the next day, but was

prepared to receive another attack should the enenty return re-enforced.

In relation to the men and officers under me I woüld say to you, sir,

that I have not witnessed such a display of manly courage and perfectorder during my experience in wars. Wach officer and man conducted –

himself as though he thought the destinies of himself and his eountry

were depending upon his action on that oecasion. The wounded would

not even utter a cry, lest it would be injurious to the cause. A remarkable instance of this was displayed in the case of Sergeant O’Grady. After being severely wounded, and after having fallen to the ground from loss of blood, he continued to cheer his men and encourage them to fight, telling them not to cease firing until they had ayenged his blood. This kind of courage was also displayed by others whose wounds were not so severe. Sergeant Quinn, Sergeant Robinson, and

Antonio Lambert, after having each received a wound, continued to —

fight, if possible, with more courage and determination. The officers. and men paid strict attention to every order, and acted more like veteran troops than volunteers. I cannot with words express the esteem – I have for all who were with me. Nothing short of witnessing a similar occasion ean impress you with an idea of the value of such troops .

and the credit due them for what they have already done. I herewith *annex a list of the names of all who were with me, that you may know that number of men by name who will not flinch under the most trying circumstances. ; ; Regretting much that some of my esteemed fellow soldiers have suffered the fate of war on this scout, T most respectfully submit to you this report of the same. ; CDM pe Iam, sir, your most obedient servant, Le A , BETHEL COOPWOOD, Captain, Commanding Scout. — Lieut. Col. JoHN R. BAYLOR. i

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 7, 1861.—Operations against Indians from Camp Robledo, N. Mex.

Report of Capt. P. Hardeman, C. S. Army.

CAMP ROBLEDO, ARIZ., October 8, 1861.

SIR: I have the honor to report to you, in obedience to General Orders, No. 16, issued at headquarters, San Antonio, August 21, mak-

. ing it the duty of officers of scouting parties to forward reports of their

operations to headquarters through their respective commanding officers, that, in obedience to your order, I, with a detachment of 25 of my men, aecompanied by Captain Frazier, took up the line of march on the 30th ultimo en route to the Upper Rio Graude, to see if I eould make any discoveries of the enemy in that portion of the country. After passing up the Jornada road some 50 miles I directed my course westward, to intersect the road running up the river by old Fort Thorn. Before reaching that road I came across an Indian trail with a large flock of sheep. The trail being fresh, [thought proper to pursue them.

_ After crossing the river and trailing about 10 miles northwest the trail

then turned a due west course for 15 miles across a level plain to a very

rough, mountainous country. Here the trail turned nearly due north

through the chain of mountains. I followed them across the headwaters of the Rio Miembres, and thence to the tributaries of the Gila River. Not being able to overtake them at this point, and some of my horses becoming very tender-footed from traveling over the rocky country without shoes, and having started from camp with only three days’ rations, and being entirely out at this time, I thought it prudent to abandon the chase and return to camp, which we did without having the pleasure of capturing the red rascals, and arrived in camp on the 7th instant, having been out four days without any rations or anything to eat except a few wild grapes which we were lucky enough to find in the mountains. I have the honor tobe,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain Company A, Commanding Scout.
Lieut. Col. J. R. BAYLOR,
Commanding Second Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles.
OCTOBER 11-16, 1861.—Operations against Indians from Fort Inge, Tex.
Report of Sergt. W. Barrett, C. S. Cavalry, forwarded by Lieut. John
Bradley, €. S. Infantry.
Fort INGE, TEX., October 17, 1861.