CAMP LOCKRIDGE, N. MEX., February 27, 1862.
    SIR: I have the honor to report to the general commanding the

Army of New Mexico the operations of the light battery which I had the honor to command in the battle of Valverde, N. Mex., on February 21.
    I received orders on the morning of the 21st, at camp, 5 miles below the battle-ground, and opposite Fort Craig, to detach one section of the battery, under Lieutenant [James] Bradford, to march in the front of the column and head of the train to Valverde, and place the other section and remain myself in rear with the Second Regiment of Sibley's brigade, which orders were executed.
    About an hour after the head of the column had moved I received intelligence that a large body of the enemy's cavalry, infantry, and artillery had taken up the line of march for Valverde.
    I then placed the section of the battery in command of Lieutenants [Jordan W.] Bennett and [Joseph H.] McGinnis, and went to the head of the column; before reaching the head of the train I heard the firing of the advance at Valverde.
    I found Lieutenant Bradford, with his section, at the head of the train, and ordered the pieces to the place of firing at a gallop, and in a few minutes it was placed in battery about the center of Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry's regiment, and commenced firing upon the battery of the enemy and his line in a few minutes. I lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded, which left but 5 cannoneers to man the two pieces. I then kept up the fire alternately with the pieces. Finding it impossible to use the pieces with steady and effective fire, I called upon Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry for men to fill up the detachments of the guns, which were immediately sent from Lieutenant Ripley's company of howitzers. After sustaining the action for some time the enemy changed his front. I then placed the section in another position.
    Lieutenants Bennett and McGinnis having by this time reached our line, I ordered them to place their section in battery, which they did, and opened upon the enemy with good effect.
    From the great length of the enemy's line and his superior number I found it necessary to detach the pieces. Lieutenant Bradford was sent to the extreme left flank with his piece to support Majors Lockridge and Pyron's commands, which had been engaged with the enemy for more than an hour; Lieutenant McGinnis, with his gun, on the right of Major Lockridge's battalion; Lieutenant Bennett at the center of the right flank, and the other piece at the extreme right flank; Lieutenant Riley, with his battery of howitzers, on the left wing, and Lieutenant Woods, with his battery of howitzers, on the right wing. The different pieces and howitzers changed positions, however, during the action as circumstances required, and were used with effect whenever the enemy presented a front or his battery in view.
    Having received orders that our troops were about to charge the enemy, I placed the guns in battery upon the extreme right flank as a reserve, in case the charge was unsuccessful, so that I could open the line of the enemy with raking shots or engage his battery until our troops would prevent my firing by their closing with the enemy. The charge was made by our line, and in eight minutes his battery was captured and his troops completely routed. Lieutenant Ochiltree, aide-de-camp, rode back and ordered the guns forward, which order was executed, and soon the enemy's guns, as well as ours, were opened on his retreating forces. Firing was kept up from our guns until the enemy's rear was out of range of them; I then ordered the firing to cease.
    I lost 4 men killed, including 2 who died the day after the battle,

and 6 wounded; 25 horses killed and wounded, one gun partially disabled, and eight sets of harness rendered unserviceable.
    I refer with great pleasure to the gallant conduct of Lieutenants Bennett, McGinnis, and Bradford, of my company, as well as Lieutenants Riley, Woods, Raguet, and Falcrod, of the batteries of howitzers; also of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the all the batteries.
    I cannot close my report without bearing testimony to the bravery and coolness of the officers under whom I acted during this sanguinary and well-contested battle. Colonel Green, and especially Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry, who so promptly manned my guns from his regiment (the First), and who was present with my guns under the heavy fire in the morning, and whose voice was heard above the din of battle and smoke, and flame, and death, encouraging the men to stand by their posts. Also the lamented Lockridge; Major Jackson, assistant adjutant-general; Major Brownrigg, brigade commissary; Lieutenant-Colonel McNeill and Lieutenant Ochiltree, aide-de-camp, who were rallying the men to the charge and were in the line leading on the troops; also Captain Dwyer, of the staff, Colonel Robards, and Major Raguet. Also the deep obligation I am under to Lieutenant-Colonel Scurry, and Captain Scarborough and his company, who hauled out a disabled piece by hand under a hot fire; to Captains Campbell, McPhaill, and Killough, and their respective companies, for the promptness and willingness with which they replaced the killed and wounded at my guns, many of their comrades having been killed and wounded while aiding in manning the battery during the action.
        Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
                                                 T. T. TEEL,
                                                    Captain, Artillery.
    Major A. M. JACKSON,
         Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army.

Source:

United States. War Dept., United States. Record and Pension Office., United States. War Records Office., et al., "Roanoke," The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Prepared, Under the Direction of the Secretary of War, by Bvt. Lieut. Col. Robert N. Scott, Third U. S. Artillery. Published Pursuant to Acts of Congress Approved June 16, 1880. Series I-Volume IX. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1883, pp. 523-525.

    The Lieutenant Raguet, of Riley's battery, mentioned in Captain Trevanion T. Teel's report above, is Charles Raguet, Henry W. Raguet's youngest brother, who served with him in New Mexico. There is a letter still in existence from Charles to Mary Raguet, written from Camp Thorn, dated January 18, 1862.

    I'd like to thank a special friend of mine, Shannon Morris, simor@sprynet.com, of Austin, Texas for her invaluable help over the past several years regarding the Raguet family and their Wynkoop relations. Shannon is the author of Ever Thine Truly: Love Letters From Sam Houston to Anna Raguet, published in 1975 by the Jenkins Garret Press. Shannon is currently at work on another book right now. She has spent countless hours answering my questions about the Wynkoops, Raguets and Irions of Texas and other parts, without a complaint. Shannon, I can't tell you how much I've appreciated your help over the years.

    One final word. You will search in vain among the Official Records of the Civil War for information regarding Major Henry Wynkoop Raguet, Jr., since the folks who originally transcribed the hand-written records mistook the "u" in his last name for an "n," thus spelling his name Ragnet instead.

    I have taken the liberty of restoring his name to him and you will find it properly spelled in all of these records, without comment. He was a gallant gentleman, well liked by his peers and deserves to be better memorialized than he has been.

    Chris