The Charlotte Journal

THE BATTLE OF MEIR.

James D. Cooke, (known to some of our citizens) has written a communication to the Editors of the N. O. Bulletin, detailing the circumstances of the battle of Meir. From his statement it appears that the expedition when it started from Texas, embodied about 700 men well armed and equipped, its object being a determination to chastise the Mexicans for their frequent inroads into Texas. After getting into Mexico disaffection among the men and want of energy among the officers reduced the force to about 300 men, who determined to accomplish something by way of retaliation, and about 270 marched to Meir, where after a desperate engagement they had to surrender to the enemy, but not until they had killed 700 or 800. Mr. Cooke's statement is too long for us to insert, but we give the following extract of a letter from the N. O. Crescent:

"On Christmas day we crossed the Rio Grande at Meir; got into town at 8 o'clock P. M. and thought we were opposed by 300 troops, (our own numbering 212). The fight commenced on our entering the town, and continued until 3 o'clock 26th, when one Dr. Simson was taken prisoner, and compelled to raise a white flag, which was brought to us by him, with a Mexican soldier under arms. This created confusion. During the cessation of firing we were surrounded, and some of our officers insisted upon a surrender, and, after a parley of one hour, we laid down our arms, leaving dead John E. Jones, Michael Cronican, Dr. Towers, James Austin, Hanna, J. Berry, Hannum, Jackson, Hopson, Dickson, Barrett, and E. A. White, and about seventeen wounded. We understand since here that there was between seven and eight hundred of the enemy killed and wounded, nearly all shot in the head. We gave them a good fight for about eighteen hours. Had we held out half an hour longer we would have had the town. On to-morrow we start to Monterey, thence to Mexico, 1200 miles distance, handcuffed and on foot. Should I be liberated in twelve months I may well be satisfied."