Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-02-09
FROM TEXAS.
LATE AND IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE.
From ,ho New orlcap, Bee J.r,,rv "a

From the New Orleans Bee, January Is.
by the steamship Neptune, arrived This morn
ming, we have later Intelligence from Texas. I,
appears that portion Of the invading forces, af
ter capturing the town of Mer were attacked By
large party OF Mexicans, who, after a desperate
struggle, retook the town, and captured $50 Tex.
ians. The following from the Houston Morning
Star gives tho news more in detail:
Since on paper went to nrees this morning we
nave seen Mr.. Needham, who arrived last NIGHT
direct from Bcxar. He states that General som
ervil.'. with portion of the army that remained
under his command, about 200 men, had refurned
70 DeTdr; Another portion OF 800 men lief: the
command Of Gen. Somerville, elected Col. Vim.
). Fisher commander, and went down 10 Mir
ana captured the town; but a shower of rain
came up Just after they had captured it, SO that
IN could not use their rifles to advantage, and
I've MEXICAN army arrived, and after a desperate
engagement refopk the toacn, and captured about
10" hundred or f,oo hundred and ffy IF our froops
Turing the engagement our troops captured Sc
ven pieces OF artillery, which were refakcn by the
Mexicans.
About 400 Mexicans were killed in this engage
ment; only four TEXANS were killed. 1t is not
known upon what terms the Texans surrend cred.
SnfY two TEXANS escaped, who were found at
Sohzales ny our army when it returned, and it is
from these two men that Mr.. Needham derived
ms news. The names OF these two men are
chalk and Sinclair. They say that they secreted
"'enSeiVes IN some canes in near the town.
wh'le The Iexlans were fighting i'm the stone ho,i-
ses' and they left in the night after the firing had
ceased. They say also thai the fight lasted from
IL O'Clock till L. M. the next day, and durino
all this time only four Texans were killed. and
Tour hundred hlexicaps were killed! This story
seems quite too Incredible for belief. The arrnoy
under Gen. Somerville heard nothing of i, uuiiI
they reached BeXar. Mr.. Needham saws Sinclair
reported that Tie Nlexicans were commanded by
Generals Ampudia and Canaes, and that the
whole Mexican force was 500 or 2,OOO
Mr. Needham mentions that our armv after
the capture. oil Laredo, moved down on the east
bank OF the Rio Grande to the mouth of the
Saiado, and found Canaes, with 800 men, ready
10 dispute The passage; but our troops crossed
without difficulty, and he retired without firinn
gun The troops lien proceeded to Guerrero. and
encamped near the town; the Aicalde came
out and Informed the General that the Mexican
troops had fled, and that he would furnish any ar.
tices they required.
The General made requis,ion for the articles
most needed ny the soldiers, and thcy were
promptly furnished by the Alcalde. Gen. Somer.
VILE, believing that his force was 700 weak 10
proceed further, gave orders for the army to re-
turn To BeXar. This gave dissatisfaction to a
large parry OF the troops, and, in consequence,
the division was formed, and the party under OF.
FISHER, refusing to "6ey orders, lett Ike command
as before mentioned, and went down the river to
capture the small towns above Matamoras,
Z. 5, By the arrival o! the Spanish Orig To-
iante from Lagupa, we have received information
That party of eighteen hundred Indians attacked
apiace called ChanpeItown, about The beginning
of the month, and captured il. The inhabItants
authorities, &c. had fled 10 Lasuna for safety.
The new steamship AionteZuma was seen by
the Fonan,e on the 9Th instant, at distance oil
about rs miles from Laguna, steering TO, Cam
peachy,