The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-10 00:00:00

ENGLISH.

Gorgon steamer ... Captain Hotham ... 6 guns
Firebrand steamer ... Captain Hope ... ... 6 guns
Alecto steamer ... Captain Austen 1 gun
Lizird steamer ... Captain Tylden 1 gun
Harpy steamer ... Captain Proctor ... 1 gun
Dolphin ... ... Captain Levinge ... 3 guns
Fanny ... Captain Key ... 1 gun
FRENCH.

Gassendi steamer ... ... ... ... 6 guns
Fulton steamer
San Martin ... Captain Trehouart ... 9 guns
Procida ... •• • ... •• . ... 4 guns
Coquette 20 guns
On the 4th, at 10 A.M., there being a commanding
breeze from the northward, signal was made to weigh.
The Gorgon, leading past the batteries, and closely fol-
lowed by the Fulton and Alecto, anchored in a flanking
position 2,000 yards below the principal battery. and 800
yards from the field pieces on the cliffs. The Firebrand
and Gassendi at the 'same time took up their appointed
stations above the upper batteries and field pieces. The
enemy were well prepared, and received us with a brisk
discharge of round, grape, and musketry; the former
only doing any damage.
The first shot from the Gorgon was the moment se-
lected for our rocket battery to open fire. The enemy,
at the principal battery, not yet being within reach, and
anxious to see the fun with the upper battery, had
jumped on the parapet, and were shouting, " Viva la
Confederacion Argentina," &c., at a great rate, when the
rockets from the island drove them down much faster
than they mounted.
At 10h. 40w.. A.M. the action was general. The
firing from the steamers was beautiful, nearly every
shell bursting at the muzzles of the field pieces, or over
the batteries. Occasionally one would pitch into the
cliff, and, bursting, send tons of earth into the river, and
a column of dust into the air.

At 12h. 50m. P.M. all the convoy bad passed down,
except an English barque, the Caledonia, and two
schooners, which had grounded on the point of an island
about a mile and a half below the principal battery,
owing to their having kept too far over to avoid the
enemy's shot. The Alecto and Lizard were ordered to
their assistance, and afterwards the Firebrand. The
vessels were broadside on to the point, the barque on the
top of all, and lying over on her broadside. Finding it
impossible to get them off, the crews were received on
board, and the vessels set fire to, to prevent their falling
into the hands of the enemy.
The steamers then all passed down after the convoy,
and that night anchored four miles below the town of
Rosario. We were well pleased to find that no one had
ben killed in any of the 'vessels, although all the
steams, as well as the other men-of-war and some of
the confoy, were damaged in the hull and spars.
The Gorgon alone received ten round shot in the hull,
and one through the funnel, beside grape and musket-
balls. The small amount of damage done must be at-
tributed entirely to the bad firing of the enemy, as
most of the shot passed over us, and proves the havoc
that must have been made at Obligado among their best
gunners.

The amount of guns of the enemy was estimated at
from 15 to 20, of all sizes, from 6 to 18-pounders, com-
manded by General Mancilla, with about 1.000 men.
Gaining experience from Obligado, where their infantry
were ploughed up by our shot as they stood in their
ranks, on the present occasion no more showed them-
selves than were absolutely necessary to fight the guns.
From this circumstance, the secure nature of their posi-
tion, and the guns not being crowded together as before,
we cannot suppose their loss to have been very great.
An officer, supposed to be Colonel Thorne (an Ameri-
can, who rendered himself conspicuous for his gallantry
at Obligado), was seen to fall. Should it be so, it is but
due to so gallant an enemy to suppose that his loss alone
must be estimated by his patron, Rosas, as equal to that
of 100 men.

After this the convoy were allowed to leave the river
unmolested, and have since arrived safe at Monte Video.

RIVERA'S SUCCESSES.

The successes of the Government troops have been so
rapid since Rivera took the field, two months ago, that
we have scarcely had time to celebrate them all. On
the 12th we announced a fresh defeat of Montoro, with
800 to 1,000 men, at Arenal Grande ; and on the 16th
he dates his dispatch from Mercedes, the most important
town between the capital and Rio Negro, having fought
Montoro again within its very walls on the 14th, and
finally crushed 'that division of Oribe's army, leaving
Montoro, its-cruel chief, dead on the field, and taken all
his officers prisoners.
The following was published on the 21st:—
" THE CAPTAIN GENERAL TO THE ARMY OF THE
CAPITAL.

" Soldiers,—Two months have not yet passed since
General Rivera marched from the capital, with part of
the forces which defended it ; yet, within 50 days he
has obtained five victories over the enemy, gaining, as
the result, the occupation of the coast of the Uruguay.
" General Rivers commenced his campaign without
one horse—to-day he is at the head of a strong army
and well mounted. He has just given a new triumph to
the Republic by his 'capture of Mercedes, of 500 pri-
soners with all their arms ; Montoro and Morancelli are
amon the dead.
" The Government has received the official account
of this victory. I congratulate you on its great im-
portance.

" MANUEL CORREA.
" The Outer Lines, June 21, 1846."

GENERAL RIVERA'S DISPATCH.
"Mercedes, June 16, 1846.

"From San Salvador I informed the Goverment of
the complete rout of the enemy's cavalry, commanded
by Colonels Montoro and Flores. The latter was pur-
sued by Commander Sosa into the woods of-Agraciada.
Commander Sosa joined me on the night of the 12th,
and I had news shortly after that Montoro, having taken
refuge in this place, had gathered together about 300 of
the dispersed cavalry ; that he reckoned on a chief
named Granada, who held a division south of the Rio
Negro, in front of Mercedes ; and that, trusting to this
aid and the strength of this place, defended by above 400
infantry and seven pieces of artillery, he had determined
to make a stand, come what would.

" I instantly gave orders to march, and to cross the
river San 'Salvador, which was much -swollen. This
was effected at dawn of the 13th, and I then forced my
march. At five, P.M., I was at Saree del Iliscocho ; not-
withstanding a torrent of rain which fell, we passed the
Mantas and the Daca all but swimming ; for seven
leagues we never halted, it being of the utmost conse-
quence that we should come upon the enemy by break
of day, and unawares.
" I advanced in person to reconnoitre his position,
and ordered my infantry forward for the attack, Colonel
Baez to lead the battalion of Vascos against a group of
about 300, who were firing from the town, and Colonel
Flores, with the artillery, to attack the azoteas of the
Plaza, upon which were stationed large numbers of the
enemy ; the battalion of Colonel Lavandera formed our
left ; our cavalry Surrounded the town. Within ten
minutes after Colonel Baez opened the attack the enemy
yielded before our bayonets in the principal streets, but
formed again in great strength in the Puerto ; there he
held out for two hours, making a vigorous defence, but
at the end of that time was completely overcome, with
the loss of his principal chiefs, his artillery, and every-
thing defensive be possessed. On our parts the only
damage sustained has been an officer of the Vascos and
seven soldiers slightly wounded.
"At half-past eight there were in our power 500 pri-
soners, a colonel of infantry, and 40 subaltern officers.
Mentor° himself was among the killed, and Morancelli,
and various other chiefs, 1,500 stand of arms, five pieces
of artillery, abundance of munitions, and 2,000 horses in
good condition, have fallen into our bands ; and,
moreover, we have liberated Mercedes, after her three
years' sufferings under the yoke of a detestable enemy.
" FRUCTUOSO RIVERA."
Ignacio Oribe, it is supposed, was at Maharaja, and
Servando Gomez at Arroyo Valdez. At Mercedes it is
thought the latter has not a force altogether of 700
men.

Rivera says, in a private letter to Soares, the Pre-
sident, bearing the same date as his dispatch :
" The resources are immense of which the Govern-
ment cats now dispose. We remain masters of a vast
district, full of cattle, and of people who will in a short
time render important services in the, operations of the
army. Trade may at once commence between this and
the capital, and will soon drive away those distresses
which your heroic people have for three years suffered.
" The troops are hearty, and desirous to be again in
sown t 9 inixe iota gl9ry fox their 09gutry.