The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-19
BY this evenings southern Mail.
From the New Orleans Picsyune May "a.
FURTHER FROM THE ARMY.

FURTHER FROM THE ARMY
Safety OF Captain Thornton and Lieuten-
| ant kane--Attack upon General Tay-
lOr's Camp--Narratiye OF the Action,
| &c.
The steam schooner Florida, Captain Cliff, ar
rived at this port last evening from Brazos Santiago,
whence she sailed on the 9Th inst Although her
dates not 80 late by one day as the New Yorks,
they contain fuller and more authentic details OF
events on the Rio Grande, and put quite new as
| pect on affairs.
The reader will be delighted to hear that neither
| Captain Thornton nor Lieutenant Kane was killed
IN the affair Of the surprise Of Captain ThOntons
Dragons. We give below minute account OF the
surprise and action, of the accuracy Of which we
have no doubt II will be read with universal IN
terest.
The Florida brought over official dispatches from
General Taylor for the government. Colonel
| whistler came passenger on the Florida. gem
tleman-who also came passenger on the schooner
has furnished US with the following narrative of
General Taylors march from his camp to Point
Isabel, and OF the subsequent attack upon the camp.
Ii differs from the accounts received by the New
York via Galveston. The reader may repose en-
tire confidence in the following it may be cOnsid
cred almost official:
Attack upon General TaylOr's Camp.
On the first of May the main hody Of the army of
occupation marched from the camp on the Rio
Grande, leaving a. a garrison in the heldworks OPP
pOslte MatamOras the 7th regiment Of infantry and
| two companies OF artillery, commanded by Captain
LOyd and Lieutenant Bragg-the whole command
ed by Major Brown, 7th infantry.
On the I'd, the army encamped at Point Isabel
Early in the morning Of the Sd heavy cannonade
was heard IN the direction Of Mstamoras which
was continued during the day, and at intervals
| through the night, and during the day Of the 4th
Owing to the difficulty Of communicating with the
fort, intelligence received at headquarters
speeding the result Of the cannonade until the morn
ing Of the 5th, when a party sent forward to COM
muncste brought despatch from Major Brown,
announcing the particulars, brief statement Of
which follows:
Al o'clock on the morning Of the 3D. a FIRE was
| opened upon the fort from one Of the Mexican
batteries, and continued with seven guns. The
| FIRE was Immediately returned, and the battery ST.
fenced by our guns in thirty mnutes-two Of the
enemy's guns supposed 70 be dismounted.
The enemy then commencing firing from the
lower fort and mortar battery brisk fire Of shot
and shells was kept up, but without damage to the
fort or garrison.
deliberate fire was now kept up by our eighteen
| Founders upon the enemy's guns and the city Of
Matamoras the consulate flags being respected.
| The fire Of the enemy kept up without
cessation until haf-past seven. At ten it was tenn
porarily suspended but recommended and con-
tinued at intervals until twelve at night. Although
| il is believed that some 200 or 800 shot were
fired by the enemy during this period, but
one casualty occurred-a sergeant Of company,
third infantry being killed. Not one OF our guns
was dismounted, though the enemy's fire was con-
centrated for some time the l8-pounder battery,
and the shot frequently struck the embrasures. At
o'clock on the morning of the 4h the fire was re-
sumed by the enemy, continued for twelve or hteen
shots and kept up at long intervals during the day,
but without effect.
The amount of damage done TO the enemy, be-
| al. -. H..
| ly known
Our informant assures US that II was understood
to ne Ger. Taylor's intention to remain at Point
Isabel until that post should be perfectly fortified
and large accession Of troops should arrive but he
further gives every reason to encourage those en-
rolling, or who may desire to enrol themselves. to
believe that Gen. Taylor will lead them at once into
active service that it is his firm intention to "carry
the war into Africa"
We proceed now to lay before the reader ac-
count Of the surprise and subsequent surrender Of
| Capt Thorntons command. Though not official,
we have it from gentleman familiar with the cir
cumstances of the case, and upon whom all reliance
may be placed. We do not know when we have
published anything which has afforded us such sim
cere pleasure. Ii will cheer hearts that have been
wrung with all the bitterness of grief and make the
nation glad
SURPRISE AND SURRENDER OF CAPT THORN.
TONS COMMAND.
spies brought in intelligence to the effect that about
two thousand FIVE hundred Mexicans had crossed
the Rio Grande to the Texas side above the Amer
lean fort, and that about fifteen hundred Of
had crossed below General T. Immediately dis
patched a squadron of Dragons to each place Of
crossing for the purpose OF recommending them and
ascertalning their position The squadron ordered
below was in command Of Captain ker; the one
above was commanded by Capt. Thornton, and COM
posed of Captain Hsrdee, tieutenants Kane and
Mason, with sxty-one prlvates and non-commls-
stoned officers The former commander, Captain
Ker, on arriving at the point where 1t was sup
posed they had crossed, found that the report
fase that they had not crossed there, but had all
crossed above; which was afterwards proved by
| Captain It's command being surprised, in which
Lieutenant Geo. Mason with nine men killed
and two wounded. The wounded were sent to
General Taylor's camp, the army having no hos
pital in the field. Captains Thornton, Hardee, and
Lieut.. Kane miraculously escaped together with
the balance of the non-commissioned officers and
men, but captured, and arc now prisoners of
war IN Mexico
| The circumstances which led to the surprise are
these: After Capt. It's command had proceeded up
| the Rio Grande about tweny-fo miles, and was
supposed, to within about three miles Of the Mexican
camp, the guide refused to go any further and stated
| for his reason that the whole country was infested
with Mexicans. Capt. T., however, proceeded on
with his command about two miles, when he came
| ID farm house, which was enclosed entirely by a
chaparral fence, with the exception Of that portion
of it which bordered on the river, and this was so
DOGGY TO be impossible. Capt. F. entered this
enclosure through pair of bars and approached the
house for the purpose of making some inquiry, his
command following him. So soon as his command
had all entered the enclosure, the enemy, having been
concealed in the chaparral, about two thousand five
hundred in number, completely surrounded him and
commenced firing upon his command. Ho then
wheeled his command, thinking that he could charge
through the enemy and pass out where he had en-
tered, not however without considerable loss This
he attempted but did not succeed, the enemy being
| too strong
At this instant, Capt. Hardee approached him
for the purpose of advising him how to extri-
cate themselves. The firing of the enemy still con-
tnuing, Capt. Thorntons horse, having doubt
less received a shot, ran away with him and leap
ed the chaparral fence and plunged into preci-
pice where he fell, with Capt. T. under him, where
the latter remained insensibfe for five six hours
This casualty placed Captain Hardee in command
who attempted with the residue to make his es-
cape by the river, intending arriving at its mar
gin, to swim it. In this he failed, finding it bog
gy that he could not get to it. He then returned