The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-19


only three hundred troops narrowly escaped with
his life
THE GALLANT ACT OF OUR LITTLE
ARMY.
| we feel more rejoiced than pen can describe.
at the news which reached here Yesterday after
noon Ii appears as though the guiding hand of
Heaven was in this thing. Truly hath He, the
God OF Battles, delivered us out Of the hands of
our enemies. With characteristic treachery and
cowardlce, the Mexican forces waited until the
main force of our army had left the camp, to open
communication with Point Isabel, when thew
commenced an attack upon some 800 men, but
those devoted men were commanded by the
gallant Major Ringgod, and his Flying Artillery
IN thirty minutes, caused the Mexican batteries
to be sienced. laid Matamoras in ashes. and laid
low sevcn hundred .Mericans. Terribly has the
murder of their brethren been revenped bv the
American arms
We hare met The Enemy and they are ours"
AMERICAN ARMS TRlUMPHANTi
Alter painful suspense of several days news
has reached US ofa severe, and we hope, effectual
blow, having been struck by the American army
on the Rio Grande.
at New Orleans, from Galveston, with Calves.
ton News Extra, of the 9th inst. we are enabled
give our readers this afternoon an authen tic AZ.
count of the battle. Capt. Walker, of the Texas
Rangers, had arrived at Galveston the 5th inst
from Gen. Taylor's camp, opposite Matamoras.
| from whom we learn, says the Galveston News
that an engagement had taken place between the
United States and Mexican forces The par,cu.
lars as far as we can learn are as follows:
Gen. Taylor having on the evening of the al
left the entrsnchment with detachment of u. S.
troops ior the purpose of opening communication
between FONT Isabel and the entrenchment nm
the morning of the 4th, the Mexicans, taking adj
vantage OF his absence, at day break opened
| heavy cannonade on the entertainment. which
was gallantly returned by the u S. troops. and
In thirty minutes silenced their batteries and re-
duced the city of Matamoras to ashes Upwards
of 700 Mexicans lay dead ON the field of battle.
and that the number of houses left in Matamoras
was not sufficient to accommodate tie wounded
| According to accounts received 1T Point Isabel.
the number of Mexicans in and about Matamoras
were estimated at 10000 men, and expecting re
Inducements daily.
On the morning of the 9th, previous to the de-
Parture OF the New York, heavy cannonades were
heard, and supposed to be another attack from
the Mexicans on the u. s. Troops opposite Mat,
amoras.
Great excitement prevailed at Point Isabel and
81. iago, up to o'clock, P. NJ, when the Nav
York took her departure-arrived at St. Iaoo on
the 9th inst. Schooner Flirt will leave in day
or two for New Orleans. Steamer Monmouth
lett on the evening Of the 9Th bound to Aransas
ior me purpose OF bringing every man capable of
doing military duty, 10 the camp at ST Iapo
When Gen. Taylor left Point Isabel. there was
not the slightest doubt entertained that he would
have cut his way to his entrenchments through
vastly superior numbers of the enemy, who were
known to be posted in large forces among the al
most impossible ihickets of chaperal on the road
with determination to cut him off, if possible,
IN his attempt to regain his other forces. The
number OF the Mexicans is entirely vague and
uncertain, though all the statements agree in es
tImating them at not less than ten thousand,
while many accounts put their numbers at fifteen
or twenty thousand, All accounts agree also in
stating that the Mexican forces were rapidly
Hooking IN from all quarters. How many had
crossed the river could not be told, though il
seems bu, reasonable to presume that large part
OF their forces will be brought into reuuision To
dispute the march Of Gen. Taylor. They could
not but see the Importance Of cutting him off, and
would doubtless employ all their ADVANTAGES of To-
cal knowledge, skill in horsemanship and all their
acknowledged resources in stratagem TO nccon.
plsh their object. Gen. Taylor anticipated a
formidable and desperate opposition TO his march,
but determined to accomplish it or perish. II
seems therefore every way reasonable to suppose
that decisive and bloody battle was fought yes
Ierday, and we wait with almost painful anxiety
TO hear the result by the next arrival.
f We learn from good authority, that Gen. Inv.
Tor had ordered the schr Alert to repair to Vey,
Cruz with dispatches, as is supposed 10 the Gnlf
squadron, to blockade the Mexican ports. There
is, indeed, but little doubt that all tho Msrican
ports in the Gulf are now under strict blockade.
and the American fleet in the Pacific is amply
somcient 70 smut up every port Of Mexico on that
shore, as orders can be- sent to tbat efF.c,
All accounts state that our troops were in high
spirits.
The main force Of tbs Mexcsns ars probable
on this side Of the river.