O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 9 [S# 9]
FEBRUARY 21, 1862.--Engagement at Valverde, N. Mex.
No. 2. -- Report of Col. Benjamin S. Roberts, Fifth New Mexico Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN MILITARY DISTRICT,
Department of New Mexico, Fort Craig, February 23, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report, for the information of the department commander, the operations of my command at the battle of Valverde, near Fort Craig, N. Max., on the 21st instant.
Conforming to his orders, I proceeded with one company of the First and four of the Third Cavalry and the four companies of mounted volunteers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Valdez, to watch the movements of General Sibley's Confederate forces, supposed to be attempting to reach the river near Valverde, and to prevent their effecting that object. This mounted force was supported by Captain McRae's field battery of four pieces, Lieutenant Hall's, Tenth Infantry, two 24-pounder howitzers, Captain Brotherton's company of the Fifth, Captain Ingraham's of the Seventh Infantry, Captain Hubbell's company of the Fifth Regiment, and Captain Mortimore's of the Third Regiment New Mexico Volunteers.
On reaching the crossing at the foot of the mesa of the Contadero I discovered that the Confederate forces had already reached the river and occupied the large bosques in the Valverde bottom with quite heavy forces of cavalry and several guns. Major Duncan, commanding the regular cavalry, in advance, promptly crossed the ford, and dismounting his force, commenced the action by skirmishing on foot, and in a spirited and sharp skirmish with the Confederates cleared the bosque of their forces, enabling me to establish the batteries to cover the crossing and to shell the enemy from the heavy timbers he had already seized.
A careful examination of the field of battle made by me some months ago impressed me with the importance of seizing and holding the thick bosque at the lower ford the moment I discovered the Confederate forces had reached the river. For this reason I directed all the strength of my command toward the accomplishment of that object. But the enemy had discovered it was the strength of their position, and they struggled with desperation to keep it. It was of paramount consequence to lose no time in gaining this point, as re-enforcements were rapidly increasing the Confederate forces, and their possession of this bosque in force gave them the command of the ford. They were first driven from it by the dismounted cavalry. Three times afterwards, with accumulated strength, they swarmed into it, but they were three times driven out by the slaughter of McRae's and Hall's guns, that disabled, in their last attempt to establish a counter-battery, one of their pieces and destroyed one caisson.. My anxiety to gain this position was extreme, and three times I sent orders to Major Duncan to take it and hold it at all hazards. It was my intention to place McRae's battery there, and had the dismounted cavalry, conforming to my orders, vigorously supported the advance of Brotherton, with his company of bayonets, and held the
position twenty minutes, McRae's guns and Hall's howitzers could have been crossed over and placed in battery on this key of the field. The disorder of the Confederates was very great at that time. Their re-enforcements were swarming down from the mesa in confusion, and the effect of our guns from this commanding point I had hoped to gain would have forced them back on the mesa and kept them from the river.
I cannot withhold my expression of regret that the commanding officer of the cavalry made no efforts to take and hold this bosque after my reiterated orders had been conveyed to him to do so. The success of my plan seemed to me beyond peradventure at the time I crossed Captain Brotherton's company over and reiterated the order to Major Duncan to support him and clear the bosque. Colonel Carson's regiment and Captain Selden's command of regulars would then have been crossed at the lower ford and thrown upon the Confederates' left flank with an assurance of victory as certain as the laws of nature.
The failure to secure this position in the early part of the action forced upon me the subsequent operations on the Confederates' right wing, by crossing Captain Selden's command higher up the river, which I was only enabled to do in consequence of the low stage of the water. No fords were known above, but the regulars took the water and crossed, selecting step by step their foothold among quicksands and against the strong current of the Rio Grande up to their arms in its water.
The fire of our batteries commenced at 10 o'clock, and under the admirable serving of Captain McRae, Third Cavalry, Lieuts. L. Mishler, Fifth Infantry, I. McC. Bell, Second New Mexico Volunteers, and Robert H. Hall, Tenth Infantry, drove the enemy's forces from all their main positions. But they were constantly receiving re-enforcements, and having established their guns at different points within twenty minutes after Captain McRae's first shot, replied with well directed and rapid returns of shot, shell, and grape, making the most desperate efforts to regain the ground from which they had been driven by Major Duncan's skirmishers. This contest of artillery and rifles was continued for more than two hours with a desperation on the part of the Confederates well worthy of a better cause. At about 12 meridian I had driven them from all the positions they had taken, forced them to withdraw their guns, and take a position higher up the river.
Captain Selden's battalion of regular infantry, including Captain Wingate's and Captain Plympton's battalions and Colonel Carson's regiment New Mexican Volunteers, reported to me at this juncture. I directed Captain Selden with his command to cross the river higher up, in the direction the enemy had been driven, and engage them with the bayonet.
Having received information that 500 Confederate cavalry had crossed the river above and threatened my rear, I placed Colonel Carson's regiment in a bosque higher up, near the main road to Valverde, to observe that direction, and to prevent any attempts on my left and rear. Captain Selden promptly formed after fording the river, and in the most gallant manner attacked the large forces that had been driven from their first positions and taken a still stronger one higher up the river. He drove them with great slaughter from the bosque they had then seized, repulsed a determined charge of their Lancers, made with audacity and desperation, and was master of the field.
I had intended Major Duncan's dismounted cavalry and Captain Brotherton's regular infantry to press the enemy's left at the same time Captain Selden attacked their right, and had sent my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Meinhold, to the major with the order to do so, and it is to be regretted that Major Duncan conceived that his small force justified a non-compliance with my order. I am undoubting in my conviction that if the dismounted cavalry and Brotherton's infantry had vigorously pushed the enemy's left while Captain Selden was successfully forcing their right wing their rout would have been complete.
I now felt secure in crossing the batteries, and having posted them on Captain Selden's right, with the support of Captain Brotherton's and Captain Ingraham's companies of regular infantry and Captains Hubbell's and Mortimore's companies of volunteers, opened fire again on the other parts of the field still held by the enemy. This movement forced the Confederates to change the positions of their guns, and they renewed the artillery combat with activity and spirit, but the superior service of our guns, under the skill and conduct of Captain McRae, again silenced their batteries, and seemed to assure us of victory.
[extensive excerpt - not germane to lances or lancers in combat]
The officers whose conduct came under my own observation and were distinguished above praise are Capt. H. R. Selden, Fifth Infantry; Capt. B. Wingate, Fifth Infantry, badly wounded; Captain Mortimore, Third New Mexico Volunteers, three times wounded; Lieut. I. McC. Bell, Second New Mexico Volunteers, serving with McRae's battery; Lieutenant Anderson, Fifth Infantry, acting adjutant to Captain Selden's battalion; Lieut. F. Cook, Fifth Infantry, and Lieut. R. H. Hall, Tenth Infantry, serving the 24-pounder howitzers. These names are not mentioned to lessen the great praise due to many other officers who served in my command, and who are deserving honor and gratitude. I refer the commanding officer of the department to the reports of battalion commanders for their names, and present them as especially entitled to distinction.
I mention with pleasure Lieuts. Charles Meinhold and William W. Mills, of the Fifth Regiment of Volunteers, who served as my aides on the field, and who executed every duty gallantly, rendering most important and valuable service. Capt. James Graydon, with his independent Spy Company, rendered me eminent service by his vigilant watch of the enemy's movements, and great energy, enterprise, and daring during the entire day. Assistant Surgeon Bill, in charge of ambulances on the field, was distinguished for his energy and admirable arrangements for the relief of the dying and care of the wounded.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. S. ROBERTS,
Colonel, Volunteers, Commanding.
Capt. WlLLIAM. L. NICODEMUS,
12th Infantry, Act. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. New Mexico.
Keeper of the Scales
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Bringing the