Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-05-21
LATEST!
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
AMERICAN EsOOPS VIC
EORHOUs!!

u
Important from tie Rio Gra1de-- General 1ay-
Tor at Point Isabet--.4ttock on ms camp
Repulse Of the .Hericcns- Dearztcfto,a q
.Matnmora.- general Blockade cftte .Ner-
lean Ports Ordered!
The steamship New York, Capt. WisDLR,
arrived in port on Sunday evening, having lett
Rrazos Santiago the afternoon Of Wednesday,
the 9Th inst Her news is important, and Of
the most gratifying description.
Our last previous accounts came down to
Wednesday the 18th ult. Capt. WALKER, Of
the Texas Rangers, having come into Point
Isabel on the evening Of the 18th ult, from
his desperate encounter with the Mexicans,
had volunteered 10 carry dispatches to General
TAYLOR We now learn by the New York
that in that desperate attempt--so desperate as
to be though. fool hardy-he fully succeeded
Gen. TAYLOR learned from him the critical
situation in which Point Isabel was placed,
and the imminent danger offs being carried by
an empowering force Of the Mexicans. He
promptly determined upon movement which
should protect Point Isabel and re establish his
communication with his supplies. Accordingly
the evening of Friday, the LIST instant, he left
his camp opposite Matamoras, with the main
body Of his forces, determined to cut his way
through, leaving behind him for the defence of
tne WOrBS opposite ndtdLioids petWccu wv
and 800 troops.
This movement of Gen. TAYLOR upon Point
Isabel was effected without encountering a SIN
gle Mexican. In place Of molesting him they
concentrated their troops about the camp he
had just left.
On the morning of the Sd Gen. TAYLOR des-
patched Capt. WALKER, back to the Camp for
intelligence. The gallant Ranger, executed
his commission with success, returning to
Point Isabel the afternoon of the 9Th. He re-
ported that the Mexicans, taking advantage of
The supposed weakness ofthe camp, common
ced an attack upon it in front the morning
of Sunday, the Sd, with all their batteries from
the opposite side of the river, and simultane-
ously with detachment of their forces on this
side of the Rio Grande, in the rear. The
Americans holly returned the fire. The at
tack IN the rear was Immediately repulsed, and
in less than thirty minutes the Mexican bate
RES were silenced, and the city of Matamoras
battered down. The loss of the Mexicans in
the action is variously set down. While no &C
regard to it, which we fnd in the Galveston
News, carries it as high as 700. The A meri.
cans lost but a single man, it is said who was
killed by a she'll None were wounded--so
admirable was the state of works before Gen.
TAYLOR left them. The town of Matamoras
is a complete ruin; there are scarcely houses
enough left standing to serve as hospitals for
the wounded
The New Orleans Tropic says
1--WE understand that Major RrNGeoLp of
the Artillery, commanded in the American
camp opposite Matamoras during the engage
ment with the Mexicans."
The only written information we have had
from the seat of war, comes from Capt. SYMP-
TON, late of the Revenue service OF Texas
now in the employ of Gen. TAYLOR. 1t da-
ted May A. Capt S. says:
s.The news was brought to Point Isabel by
our friend WALKER, OF Major HAYS com
rnand. The Mexicans made the attack on our
works after Gen. TAYLOR came down here
The fight continued the whole day. The Uni
ted States batteries knocked down Matamoras,
killing two or three bundled Mexicans--they
killing only one of our men, by the explosion
ola shell. The works were so completed the
Mexican shot could not injure them.'
This attack and repulse, however, is con-
sidered but the opening OF the campagn.-
Cannonading was distinctly heard at times,
down to the hour of the departure of the New
York. Gen. TAYLOR set forth on the 9th inst.
TO return to his camp with ample supplies
The Galveston News states that when he left
Point Isabel, there was not the slightest doubt
entertained that he would have to cut his way
TO the entertainments through vastly superior
numbers of the enemy. who were known to
be posted in large forces among the almost I'M
passible thckets of chaparral on the road, with
a determination to cut him off, if possible, in
his attempt to regain his other forces. The
number of Mexicans is entirely vague and I'M
certain, though all the statements agree In esti-
mating them at not less than ten thousand,
while many accounts put their numbers at 10
or 20 thousand. All accounts agree also IN
stating that the Mexican forces were rapidly
ilocking in from all quarters.
How many crossed the river could not be
told, though the News think ii would be rea-
sonable 10 presume that large part OF their
forces would be brought into requiston to dis
pute the march ofGen. TAYLOR. They could
not but see the importance Of cutting him OIL,
and would doubtless smploy all their advanta
ges Of local knowledge, skill in horsemanshlp
and all their acknowledged recources IN STRAIT
agem to accomplish their object. Gen TAY-
LoR anticipated formidable and desperate op-
position 10 his march, but determined to ac-
complish il or perish.
Thus reasons the Galveston News and accor-
dinghy anticipates intelligence OF decisive
general action. We are greatly inclined to
doubt whether the MeXicans would venture TO
attack Gen. TAyLoR's whole force, although
they so out-numbered him; but should they do
so, we are confident that we shall have glorl-
Gus victory to recount One account before us
states, however, that Gen. TyYLoR had not
left Point Isabel, and probably would not leave
there before the arrival of further reinforce
ments-he having full confidence in the abili-
" Of the troops left in camp to maintain their
position against any odds.
In the skirmishes which Captain WALKER
had with the Mexlcans, previous TO the depar-
ture of the Ellen Clara, ii is now known that
not even the remainder have returned into
camp safe.
The bodies Of FIVE of them have been found,
but owing to the shocking manner in which
the Mexicans had mutilated them, Captain
WALKER recognised but two, McCLisTER and
RADCLIFFE
The u. S. schooner Flirt was to leave the
Brazos in day or two with dispatches Tor
New Orleans. The U. S. brig Lawrence was
su at the mouth ofthe Rio Grande, enforcing
the blockade. All well ON beth vessels: Stea-
mer Monmouth left on the 9TH, bound for Ar
anzas, for the purpose of bringing every man
capable of doing military duty, to the camp at
St lago.
The arrival of the New York at Point lsa-
bel was mos, opportune. twill be recollected
that she had nearly 200 regular troops on board