The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-30 00:00:00

LATEST FROM THE ARMY.

SERIOUS MILITARY RIOT ! INSUBORDINATION NEAR
MATAMORAS !—SOLDIERS KILLED AND WOUNDED !—DI3-
ASTROUS STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION !—MARCII FOR MONTE-
REY ! Wastaxorox,l4th September.—SteamshipMeKim,
arrived:on the oth inst, at New Orleans, from Brazos San-
tiago, which place she left on the 2nd inst. She brought
several sick volunteers and some discharged soldiers.
Colonel Hayes, with his Rangers, had been heard
from. They had scoured the country, and returned
to Camargo, without doing anything of note. Most of the
army remained at Camargo. A great riot among a
company of Irish Volunteers and some others took place
on the night of the 31st, at an encampment opposite Burita.
Guns arc fired, and 15 or 20 men are reported to have been I
killed and wounded. Besides the killed and wounded seen
or shown, 8 or 10 arc said to have been pushed from a steam-
boat (lying by the shore) overboard, and were drowned.
The Colonel of the Georgia regiment gallantly attempted
with swords and pistols in band, to quell the riot. Ile shot
down one man, and wounded several others.
Col. Baker, of the 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, re-
paired to the scene, and ordered two of his companies, A
and c, to assist in quelling the fight, and went in person
with 20 chosen men to the steam-boat. He commanded
peace as soon as he got on board, but was attacked by the
rioters, and had a desperate conflict, in which he defended
himself bravely for some time against swords, bayonets, and
shot, but was finally shot in the neck, the ball entered behind
passing out through his cheek or mouth.
Of the twenty men who accompanied Colonel Baker, eight
' were wounded, six with bayonets and two with balls. On
the arrival of companies A and G, Captain Roberts, of the
former, ordered his men to charge on board, and led them to
the steps, where he received a severe wound from a bayonet,
which entered near the shoulder-blade and passed through
his back. The boat was so well defended by the rioters, that
the Illinoisisns had to retreat, not having cartridges with
them. Ammunition was soon furnished them, however,
and on again approaching the boat, everything was quiet.
No one of the Illinois volunteers was killed, and it was
thought next morning that Baker and Roberts would reco-
ver of their wounds. It was feared two privates in Com-
pany C were mortally wounded.
The rioters were subdued, forced to surrender their arms,
and placed under a strong guard, preparatory to trial by
Court Martial.

August 27, 1846.
The blockade of the ports of Mexico is strictly kept up b
Commodore Connor. Four vessels are kept cruising off
Tampico ; three, and sometimes four or five, off this port.
If any one can run the blockade, as it is termed, he must be
wide awake and fast under canvas. I presume the Treasurer
of Mexico has not lost less that a million of dollars in the
way of duty, receivable at Vera Cruz, in consequence of our
blockade of this port.
I told you in my last that General Santa Anna was ex-
pected from Havanna, in the British Mail steamer of the
14th. He did not arrive in Ler, but arrived on the 15th
inst., in a small Spanish steamer, with all his family, and is
now quartered in the Government House. The St. Mary's
sloop of war boarded the steamer, after which she was per-
mitted to pass. • •
I must ask you, hew is it possible that Mexico can carry
on this war much longer ? They have no government at
this time, no means, and are so divided amongst themselves
'tis impossible to make bead way.
The English French and Spanish squadron are there, all
on the most friendly terms with our Commodore. They
could nut be otherwise. lie carries on the blockade strictly
under the laws of maritime nations—ships to do it with—
and warn off—with a courteous and gentlemanly manner,
at all times, towards neutrals.
The weather is oppressively hot—temperature 92 to
98 degrees in the shade. In the sun 120 degrees!
Sometimes it rains and storms fur a week, with but
little change in the temperature. Therefore, in a
small vessel we are either burned to a crisp with
heat, or drowned out with rain. The only consolation we
have is, that we hope we are doing the "States some service,"
though in • small way. We are now living entirely on
"salt junk" pork and beans; a day or two ago, a small boat
came offfran the shore with supplies, at the very moderate
tear price, as follows very poor chickens, two dollars
each; two dozen of eggs, two dollars; halt bushel of pots
toes, four dollars. What surprised me wax, that anything
of the kind could be had in the neighbourhood of Vera
Cruz. The city at this time is distressed fur every thing but
beef, which is abundant. Where are some of our active
money-making young men, that they do not come out here
in a small vessel loaded with kniekknaccries ?.

All eatables and drinks would find a ready sale in our
squadron,as well as in the English, French, and Spanish
squadrons; in all some fifteen or twenty vessels of war,
who would purchase at fair or even large prices. I Lace
been astonished that no one from New °titans has come here
with an assorted cargo.
There was quite a gala day on shore last week. Santa
Anna made u speech to the citizens and soldiery of Vera
Cruz. Their replies and shouts were Viva Santa Anna,
and the Constitution of 1824." This seems to be their hopes,
the Constitution of 1824.