South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-05-06
LATEST FROM TEXAS.
New ORLEANS, April "a.

4NGW ohLEANS3 "a PHI <ks
By the schooner William Bryan, we
have received our regular files Of the
Telegraph to the 18th inst. These pa
pers corroborate the intelligence of the
capture of the schr. Champion. They
further state, that information has been
received from Matagorda Of the arrival
Of the schr. Bonny-Boat. Captain
Thompson reports that off Velasco,
within sight of land, he was hove to by
a Mexican brig mounting l6 guns. At
this time there were two other briggs in
sight. After being detained for some
time, and receiving six passengers from
the schr. Louisiana, which was captur-
ed at the same time, he was allowed to
proceed on his voyage, having no arti-
cles contraband of war on board land ar
irving yesterday in Matagorda. Capt.
7. was informed, by Davis, the com
mander of the Mexican squadron, that
he had previously captured the schr.
Champion, laden with provisions, arms,
ammunition, and emigrants, which he
had sent to the westward. Davis also
informed him that the .Merican aamy
aoere at or aea, San Petsacio, advancing
toDm'ds 1e1as. 1t will be remember
ed that, according to the latest accounts
from Metamoras, the movement ofthe
Mexican troops was placed entirely out
of the question.
From letter published in the Tel
egraph, addressed to the Secretary of
War, (Mr. Fisher by Deaf Smith. it
appears there has been a skirmish be-
tween him and a party of Mexican
horsemen. The force under him con-
sisted only oftwenty men, and it seems
he was proceeding towards Loredo, for
the purpose of placing the flag of lib
erty on the spire of the church at that
place. This Deaf Smith, as the read
er doubtless is aware, is a celebrated
spy, something akin to the famous
Birch of the American Revolution.
When he discovered the enemy they
were about mile distant, and were
advancing towards him in fine order.
He suffered them to approach within
fifty yards, when he gave the order to
fire, charging every man to be sure OF
his aim. The engagement lasted about
forty-five minutes, when the Mexicans
retreated, leaving ten killed and taking
off as many wounded. Their force
consisted of forty men, all mounted.
Twenty oftheir horses were captured !;
and Smith would have pursued them,
if he had not been informed that a
force vastly superior to his own were
in the neighborhood. He returned,
therefore, to Bejar, where the inhabi-
tants plainly evidenced their sympa-
thies were with the enemy.
The weather has been unusually cold
in Texas. A severe frost on the night
OF the 18th inst. killed almost every kind
fgarden vegetables; and, what's more
calamitous, destroyed the cotton then
up, which, from the early planting in
the lower country, must have been a
large proportion of the crops. Corn
will probably not have to be re7planted.
Two of the oldest settlers of Austin's
colony say they never have seen SO
hard frostin Texas. Should the dry
weather continue, so as to prevent the
promotion of re-planting, agood cot
ton crop may be expected this year.
We have also received Velasco
paper'(the HERALD of the 18th, which
adds nothing further to our stock of in.
formation, except that the Texan Ma.
Wy is almost in state of mutilation-
torn to pieces, without men, without
provisions, almost.without officers, sew.
eral having resignedin consequence O.
the dilatory movement of the Govern
ment in furnishing means to man 6. nro.