Daily National Intelligencer

RED RIVER INDIAN AGENCY, Nutachiloche, Aug. 27, 1817.

GENTLEMEN:

Herewith I enclose you copies of intercepted despatches, which were delivered to one of our traders by some Commanche Indians, who state, that they killed the bearers of them between St Antonio de Baxar and Labahie.

These despatches give an account, in detail, of the unfortunate fate of the gallant col. Perry and maj. Gordon, (late a lieutenant in the U. S. rifle corps) and forty two Americans, at the Cowpens, in the vicinity of Labahie. Also, a detail of the operations of the royalists, under the command of gen Aredondo, and the patriots commanded by gen. Mina, at and in the vicinity of Soto la Marina. Notwithstanding the patriots have sustained a great loss in the fall of the fort at Soto la Marina, (which contained all their war munitions) & notwithstanding the royalists claim a great victory over Mina, he (Mina) is pursuing the object of his campaign, whilst the enemy is sending back for reinforcements; and has already penetrated as far as Esperdee Santo, and in a few days more will effect a junction with gen. Victorio. This opinion is very much strengthened by the fact of his being already in a thick settled country of friends to the republican cause. The publication of the document which relates to the fall of col. Perry and his detachment will inform their relations and friends of their fate, and at the same time it may afford them some consolation to know, they died in the cause of freedom.

I have the honor to be,

Respectfully, your obt. servt.

JOHN JAMISON, Ind. Agent.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO. 1.

Don Antonio Maria Martinas, lieut. col. of the royal armies, decorated with the cross of the North of Germany, civil military governor of the province of Texas, New Philipines, &c.

I certify, that Don Francisco de la Haz, lieutenant of the first veteran company of Labahie cavalry, having marched from this capital on an expedition, by my orders, I directed him to Labahie on the 18th June inst. in order to pursue with a detachment of one hundred men, on the road of the interior of this province, a party of forty four factious Americans, commanded by col. Perry, who had disembarked on these coasts with hostile intentions, under the command of the traitor Mina; which officer complying, with the greatest exactness, with the instructions I had given him, overtook and attacked them at the dawn of the 19th instant, at a place called the Two Cowpens, and completely routed them, taking fourteen prisoners, of whom twelve were dangerously wounded, and leaving twenty six dead upon the field of battle, and among them the above named col. Perry and maj. Gordon. In this action lieut. de la Haz was severely wounded, having displayed not only the greatest valor, but superior military knowledge; and that he may make it appear on all suitable occasions, and obtain the reward of his services, I give these presents, which I have signed at Baxar, this 25th of June, 1817.

ANTONIO MARTINES.

Journal of operations of the army of gen. Aredondo against the fort at Soto la Marina, and its surrender.

MONTELSAY, JUNE 19.

By letters from the army of the 8th inst. at Patoalto, seven leagues from La Marina, it is ascertained, that they were marching with several hundred excellent infantry, and twelve pieces of artillery, and upwards of a thousand cavalry, to attack the rebels who were there; that the same number of infantry and four hundred cavalry, under the command of col. Arminan, were to have beaten, before that time, the rebel Mina, for that officer had just given official information that he was in pursuit of this wretch, and very near having already passed the mouth of the Bay, in the direction of Guastieas; but that at all events his design was to pursue him at all hazards, and we shall soon be informed of the result of this expedition.

That the main body, under the command of gen. Arredondo, would accomplish this expedition, by destroying those who remained at Soto la Marina, with Father Mier and commandant Sar-da Auditor Infante & Secretary Varose.

These wretches have burned the towns on their passage from San Jose, have ravaged the whole of La Marina.—Shutting themselves up in a fort, where they have cannon of a large calibre, bombs, grenades, arms and ammunition of all kinds, they, within a few days, dispatched a party of fifty or sixty men by the coast of the Refugeo, as it is said with a view to bring on Gutierrez,(gen. Bernardo.) whom they expect to seduce and alarm the people of the country; and another of equal numbers by Bererando & Freses, to chastise Paredez; and Don Felipe de la Garga and Don Luciano Garcia are in pursuit of them with one hundred and twenty men each. The frigate Sabine, with the Bellona and Proserpine, returned a second time to the bar of Soto la Marina; as the commandant of the former has officially made known, and it is ascertained he burnt one of their vessels, and took a brig; by this means no ship will dare to enter, and their retreat is cut off. The Vice Roy has given repeated orders to pardon none—to put all to the sword, since they continue in their obstinacy. The nearer we approach them, the less information have we of their situation; but we are
every day insulted with printed proclamations, which they promulgate whenever they can catch our people. It will not be long before capt. Villavenor, with an hundred men of Cerragorda, and also a regiment of more than a thousand men, will effect their union with the army; this will completely undeceive our secret enemies.

At 5 o'clock this afternoon, (10th June) the army of Arredonda arrived at San Jose, two leagues distant from Soto la Marina, and to-morrow (11th) will commence its operations, by placing itself within cannon shot.

20th June--By letters from the army of 13th inst. at a distance of three quarters of a league above Soto la Marina, it is said as follows, viz. On the 10th, at 2 o'clock in the morning, we came in sight of the fort of that town, and in three quarters of an hour the enemy opened their fire upon us, and although our vanguard advanced within 300 paces, and they fired cannister, no injury was done the whole day. On the 11th we erected a battery of four pieces, from four to eight pounders, which opened on them very early in the morning; they continued to fire granades without any particular accuracy.

This day arrived in camp our captain and lieutenants, prisoners to Don Felipi de la Garza, and captain Castro who routed a party of forty of the enemy, killing a captain and several Americans bringing in various prisoners with others taken in the vicinity of the Fort, having already thirty with the rogues of the country who have been imprisoned. On the 12th the captain commandant of artillery and another of fusileers presented themselves for pardon.

A pretty constant fire has been kept up on our part and they have answered it. To day 13th the enemy's fire has been very remiss, and now at 10 o'clock at night they have fired two cannon shot; for they might have perceived that we are erecting a battery within musket shot, to open upon the fort to morrow; to force this fort to surrender, which contains the greatest villains of the party of Mina. An immense quantity of horned cattle, horses and mules has been taken from them, which they fed under the Fort, by lieutenant cols. Sarda and Garza and captain Elguesabal Daicos and many other officers who even quarrelled among themselves, which shall go out against the enemy.

June 25th at 10 o'clock.—By dispatches from the General dated 16th instant, in his head quarters at Soto La Marina, it appears that he entered the fort which the rebels had erected, and which was surrendered by them the remaining prisoners at discretion, together with the disenchanted bishop, Father Mir, that he found in the Fort a great quantity of arms, ammunition and clothing, of which an inventory was to be made.

June 24th.-By express from San Luis Potosi we are officially informed, that the colonel of the regiment of Estramadura Arminan overtook Mina in the field of San Jose, near the Hairenda of Peotillas, not far from Malaguala, and although the latter drew up in order, and was determined to die combatting-after a battle of three hours and an half he was completely routed, and if the cavalry of Rio Verde had not fallen into disorder, and, flying back, broke the infantry, they would probably have exterminated the rabble, which the troops of Surragoda, Talaneigo and New Biscay were still pursuing; from which it is believed that Mina is going to unite with the rebels of Bario Lagas, who are under the discretion of the Curate Torres and Moreno.

Further account of the capture of the Republican fort at Soto la Marina, and the battle between Arminan and Mina.

After three or four days cannonading on both sides, and the consumption on our part of an immense quantity of ammunition, so that we had but five or six rounds left, and that for this reason we were resolved to assault the fort, the besieged demanded a parley, and surrendered, in number about two hundred, and among them Pierre, (said to be late a Major in the 44th U. S. Infantry,) and Father Mier, on condition that their lives should be spared, and in other respects at the discretion of the Vice Roy, to whom the principal prisoners have been sent, by the way of Attamina, escorted by capt. Don Felix Cevallos. They had about ten or twelve killed, besides the wounded. The commandant of artillery, another captain and a subaltern, contributed very much to the reduction of the place; having already joined our side, they manoeuvred in it with skill, and effected what they had promised. These officers joined us in the following manner: Lt. col. Don Philip De la Garza took a captain prisoner; as he was about to be executed, he entreated the general to permit him to write to the two above named--that if they did not come over, he would submit to be shot; but that if they came he should be pardoned, and it was done.

The plunder is very great; twelve pieces of artillery, two mortars, more than two hundred barrels of powder, more than two thousand stand of arms, pistols swords, so that they declare that a thousand mules would not be sufficient to transport them. But Mina had already separated from them, and fled; but the regiment of Estramadura overtook him, as you will see by the annexed report of its colonel, Arminan. It appears to have been the same day, about eleven.

I do not know if there is any thing new this afternoon. I had forgotten to mention the result of the action on the part of our army. It is said there were
killed two of the regulars, two of the corps of Ferdinand the 7th, one of the cavalry, and upwards of sixty wounded, and among them five officers, to wit: Lt. col. Blonia and Don Philip De la Garza, by a grape in the face, and Lt. col. Maneno with a ball: also, Madera, shot through badly, and Don Manuel Bargas, the youngest son of Lady Mayora, slightly on the ear; yet something more is presumed, and the wounded are dying off. Nothing is said of the army; when it will retire, nor whither. It is now six in the evening.

UGARTE.

Official report of Arminan, Colonel of the regiment of Estramadura.

After having marched very nearly 13 leagues, I overtook the perverse Mina, who received me with his columns formed. I instantly attacked him, but found myself engaged with a division of the enemy who came determined to die slaughtering. I ordered the cavalry of Reoverde, of six hundred horses, to advance; but that corps fell back upon the infantry in the utmost disorder, and completely breaking their lines, and flying, notwithstanding the greatest efforts of the chiefs and officers to restrain them. Notwithstanding all that, I routed them completely, after an action of three hours and a half. Soon after came up the provincial infantry of Ceiragonda and Talansingo, to complete their route, and pursue the wretches, who have taken the road to Venado. The little cavalry of these last corps is entirely on foot, and this deprives me of the opportunity to exterminate the enemy. I hope to deserve from your excellency a fresh supply of two hundred horses, in order, with this reinforcement, to finish with this rabble.

Camp of San Jose, June 16th, 1817.

BENETO ARMINAN.

Addressed to Don Manuel Maria De Torres.

From Catonce they say as follows, to wit:

We are surrounded with disquiet, Arminan having overtaken the rebel Mina at Peotillas, and gave him battle; but at the first fire his cavalry broke and gave way, and he remained with three hundred men of the regiment of Estramadura, so that the two armies closed with each other, and about two hundred and upwards fell on each side. We are assured that Arminan is in pursuit of him with the forces he had behind; but it is said that Mina has passed Hedionda, as far as Espirito Santo.

FROM THE NATCHEZ INTELLIGENCER,

Extract of a letter from Doctor John Sibley to Doctor John H. Robinson, of this city, dated Natchitoches, August 27.

"Since my last, the Spanish intercepted dispatches, taken by some Hieten Indians, who killed the two Spaniards bearing them, between St. Antonio and Labadie, have been more fully examined: They make it certain, that Perry and his party were attacked near the two cow pens in the vicinity of Labadie, on the morning of the 19th of June, by more than two hundred Spaniards, and the result was, that after a desperate fight, twenty-six of Perry's party were killed, and fourteen made prisoners, twelve of them being severely wounded; and that Perry and Gordon were among the killed. No other names were mentioned, except that the Spanish commanding officer was severely wounded. It appears from a paragraph in a letter, that Perry was detached to escort general Bernardo Guiterez, whose presence in St. Andero and St. Louis de Potosi was greatly desired. Arredondo, after a siege of 6 or 7 days, took by capitulation the little fort of Soto la Marina, in which was Major Pierre, of New-Orleans, and the patriot Bishop Mier, who were with the other principal officers sent towards Mexico. They state, that in the fort were 200 men, mostly inhabitants, who had joined Mina, and that Mina was overtaken 13 leagues distant, by an army of 3000 royalists; 600 of whom were cavalry. Mina's force were from 800 to 1000: He received them with great gallantry. The royal cavalry charged upon his infantry, who stood firm and threw the cavalry into disorder, who fell back upon their own infantry, and confused the whole. The cavalry could not be rallied again. Mina profited by their situation, and by their own account destroyed 200 of them. They retreated, and Mina pursued his route, towards Green Lake, where some patriots are strongly fortified, under the command of an ex-priest. Arredondo was unable to pursue him.

"Mr. Davenport received a letter from capt. Galvan, written in Attakapas, stating that he had received information from Mexico contradicting the accounts brought to New-Orleans by colonel Bean, and at the close of his letter says: 'I have this moment received accounts by a person in 4 days from Galveztown, stating that General Mina had been very successful; and beaten Arredondo in two important battles, and that he was about setting off for New-Orleans to attempt again what he had been just ready to execute, when col. Bean arrived, and brought the discouraging news from the vicinity of Mexico, which since appears not to have been true.' The new establishment above Grand Ecore, called Fort Salden, is abandoned, it proved uncommonly sickly. Out of 105 who were there in June last, 90 of them were sick, while those at Fort Claiborne were healthy.

"All the troops in this quarter are at this place, consisting of Fowk's, Riddle's and Beard's companies, commanded by colonel Trimble; who is now gone with Judge Johnson, on a forty days tour into the woods, after a new stock of health; they passed the Caddo nation ten days ago, all well, and mending. Our troops are abundant, Natchitoches improving, and the country in the vicinity settling: Between the Rio Honda and the Sabine, where, when you knew it, few people lived, now contains about 200 families, and about 400 families are settled on Red River, between the Conchetto and the Caddo country, and Pecan Point, including the Mount Prairie and the Prairie Ohan settlements; the waters of which drain into Washita. It is probable they will double in the course of one year. This new settlement will be of more benefit to this place than all the Spanish trade would. There are a number of people, mostly Americans, living at Nacogdoches, and are purchasing up Spanish land claims under the belief that the boundaries of the United States will soon extend beyond that place. Galvestown continues the rendezvous. Matagorda was found not to answer; there are about 200 prize negroes there for sale. Several persons in this state are speculating in them. They will be watched, and the negroes seized as soon as they are brought in. Twenty or thirty of them have been seized in Opelousas."