The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-20
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--------- OF TIE 7-7'--I-17-7717-7'
9 ? - N ! N 9 "a TILE
OF THE
M E XIC A N w A r.
Special Despatch TO the New York Herald
once.

st8 New ORLEANS May IL, 1916.
cannot express 10 you the intense feeling of satisac
aon experience at being able to write that the Amer
army the banks of the Rio Grands, have been
victorious and that the willy Mexican has outmanauvrsd
himself, and met with severe loss while his stronghold
and retreatng ground Matamoras has been laid waste
by the CALLING and terribly certain fires from the Amer
batteries.
Proudly still does the star spangled banner wave and
new laurels crown the American despatched to
you on Saturday tho account of a skirmish between
Captain Walker and large force of Mexicans and the
fact of his having departed to the camp of General Tay
The skill and experience Of The brave Texan tri.
umphed and after the most hairbrcadth escapes he
ceeded in avoiding the Mexicans and with his brave
companions reached the camp in safety and placed Gen.
Taylor in possession of all the circumstances that had
occurred at Point Isabel Gen Taylor appears to have
acted with promptnes and decision which does him
finite credit He MISUNDERSTANDING the strength of
az anst any attack OF the Mexcansto march himself
with portion Of his forces to Point Isabel and obtain
supplies for his troops at all hazards.
Orders accordingly given on the morning of the
st to about twelve hundred Of his force comprising
tllery cavalry and infantry and every preparation
all prepared and after dark learn they fled ont Of
camp took the road to Point Isabel marching
the expectations Of Cen Taylor and his officers they did
not encounter any Mercans and early on the morning Of
the 3D. they reached tho Point and marched into the town.
much to the establishment but greatly to the Joy Of Ma
jor Thomas and his command
| Mexcans between
and the campfor that there large force there ia
abshed beyond doubt-may be accounted for in more
from who arc Continually
vering about the camp Of General Taylors movements
and the most natural inference is that they did not At
tack him in hopes Of being able to disodge him from his
position at camp. They were perfectly well aware that
he nearly out Of provisions and knew that he would
not attempt to march to the Point unless he took with
him large Forces and consequently that he must have
materially weakened his camp and they therefore prefer
rad to suffer him to depart in peace preerrng prevent
his reganng HIS camp by themselves taking
of relying upon their batteries above in the and
That they had calculated upon General Tayors leav-
ing the camp, was evident from their movements tho
next mornings for the morning Of the 3D. the Mexican
while that in the in the chappora IA thick of
penetrabis sunderbrush also poured it. dre into tho
American camp The accounts say that our forces were
~ or p Of
latter calibrereturned their fire with compound inte
rest upon the town Of and did most terrible
the battery in the completely slsnced and the
part Of WAS
side of the Mexcans and but one American killed and
two slightly wounded BY the bursting of Mexican
she'll The accounts further state that there hardly
houses enough left in Matameras to accommodate the
wounded; but this is, doubtless, exaggeration
cause Of the firing which, ocourse distinctly heard
Of the 5h The firing was resumed after his departure
and continued at intervals up to the hour Of o'clock
r.
this port where she arrived carly last evening She also
reported that General Taylor had made his arrangements
would be attacked he fully convinced 1t Is thought
the Mexican force amounts to at least on both sides
am indebted to intelligent passenger tho New
York, for these particulars. The Alabama will, pro-
badly arrive to-day with still later
You can scarcely conceive with what rapidity the
news spread last night The town spprscd Of the
SsnH o. sne
Immediately brought into the Place darmes, and
national salute fred while shouts rent the air in every
Square, and all was rejoicing nearly all night long
This news will have grand effect upon the volunteers
who will be pouring in on all hands. Three new COM
force to about 1900, and all fighting men The Calves
companies Of regulars GAO Saturday night and the
Jane. Day left late last night early this morning.
graph The The drafting viii commencs to-day '
Tho weather is glorious and business is brisk. One
large mercantile house stopped few days ago.
for very large amount upon the reported failure Of
heavy house in New York whom 1t said had failed
for an immense amount have not the report
6rmed. Yours, d.
NEW ORLEANS, May 10, O'Clock, Pm.
The steamer New York is just in, and brings the graft
forces and the total destruction Of the city Of Maamora
appears that the evening Of the 3d. Gen. Taylor left
Point Isabel As soon he had departed the Mexcans
being aware Of IT, opened heavy fire on his detachment
Col Twiggs and in loss than half an hour their batteries
were senccd and Matamoras laid in ruins there not be-
ing sufficient houses left to accommodate the wounded
during the engagement The Mexicans lost between
100 and 800
Capt. Walker, who cut his way through to Point lisa
bel, mentioned in my letter Of IL o'clock this day.
picked men and commandments his loss, which caused
Gen Taylor to leave and force his way through. APP
pears the Mexicans did not modest him his route to
Point Isabel After his arrival he placed Brasos St Iago
and the Point under martial law and compelled every
man to bear arms The force Of the Mexicans on
the Rio Grande is said to be $4,000 strong and reinforce
The New York left Point Isabel at IL o'clock, NJ Soon
after heavy nading was heard, and Capt Phillips, to
doubt but that attack had been made the Point
Cen Taylor was few days ago to leave the Point for
his camp, SO as to unite his forces.
salute in honor Of the victory achieved is being
The steamer Monmouth left Galveston city on the
night Of the 9Th, with every that capable of
bearing arms for Point Isabel
As regards the loss the American sdc it is said
Nss viii
evening for the Point again write in haste You may
received
SHALL in all probability, go down and take look at
things.
From the Galveston Gazette, May 81
The steamship New York, arrived from the Brassos
Santiago on Thursday evening, bringing that the
ncaon between the army opposite Maameras and Point
Isabel, General Taylor proceeded with the main body
oithe army IN order to secure Point Isabel which was
or 500 men in the camp opposite Matamoros The army
proceeded without interruption, but the Mcxicans
thought the diminished force in camp offered favorable
opportunity for its capture it, and were repu
sed with severe loss-somo say several hundred The
loss side net stated but very Insignificant Our
batteries opened Matamoras, and reduced the
place to ruins nearly
This the Sd, and the fighting continued until
night Walker, the well known Texan soldier and spy
then took forty men to carry the news to Gen. Taylor
Point Isabel, during the night He lost six the
way, and had his horse shot under him. but got in.
Our troops in fine spirits Con Taylor was to leave
with large force Thursday morning, for the camp
opposite Matamoras
The New York had this news from the Cincinnati
which the bar take off the troops carried
down. Firing heard when the New York left
The main force Of the Mcxicans is probably on this
side Of the river.
Tho Texan schr. Santa Anna has been despatched
from Brazos Santiago with communications from Gen.
ylor for the American squadron of Vera Cruz.
The only written information we have had from the