The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-05-13
DEPLORABLE NEWS FROM
THE ARMY
war! To Arms!! To Arnas!!!

HUI bringing the certain intelli-
gence that the United States army un-
der General Taylor, is completely sur
rounded, and his communication with
Point Isabel entirely cut off. Desna,cb-
es have been sent to the Governor of
Texas for an immediate reinforcement
of 240O men, and special MESSENGER
Col. Doane, is now in this city with re-.
QUESTIONS upon Governor Johnson for
four regiments. The emergency is inn
minent, and immediate steps should be
taken to send the necessary force to the
relief of the army.
AT Galveston, within an hour after
the receipt of Capt. Catlett's letter. there
was public meeting, and it was deter
mined to despatch 200 men that eve.
ming in the Monmouth.
Gen. Taylor has fortified the nosit;on
SO strongly that he can stand a siege.
but his communication with Point isa-
bel being cut off he is danger of being
compelled to take the field with an in
adequate force, on account of the short
ness of his provisions.
Matamorous is almost deserted. The
Army could take the town at once. but
under the circumstances of his position
General Taylor cannot divide his COM
mand or weaken his camp by sending
OFT any considerable number of men
from it.
A accommodating company of Ameri-
can cavalry, under Capts. Hardee and
Thornton, was attacked on Friday, the
24th ult., between the camp and Point
Isabel. Lieut., Cain and Is men were
killed-Capt. Thornton missing, and
46 men were taken prisoners,
The war has begun in earnest! The
enemy is upon our soilF! Louisiana
volunteers the hour has arrivedl!l
We copy from an Extra of the Gal
vos:oa News, dated Thursday morning morning
April 3d.
On Thursday morning, Esd Mexi-
can came into Gen. Taylors's camp and
reported 1000 Mexicans crossing the
river some twenty miles above. That
afternoon captains Hardee and Thorn
ton were sen, with two companies Of
cavalry, 63 men III all, to reconnoitre.
On Friday morning they fell into an
ambush Of the enemy, when Lieutenant
Cain and l3 men were killed, Captain
Thornton missing, and Capt. Hardee
and 46 men prisoners. On Saturday
afternoon the Mexicans sent in a woun-
ded man who made the above report.
These Mexicans is stated, were com.
manded by Canales and Carabajal. AZ
ter the fight, the Mexicans on this side of
the river were largely reinforced and
have surrounded Gen. Taylor's camp,
cutting off all communication with Point
Isabel, at which place is the train and
all of the stores belonging to the army
General Taylor not having on hand
over ten days provisions. There are at
Point Isabel 80 artillery men, 20 dra-
goons, about $50 teamsters and about
$50 citizens and laborers; and the en-
trenchments not half finished.
The steamer Monmouth landed Mr..
Catlett on the night of the 28th at Port
Labaca, with dispatches from General
Taylor calling on Gen. Henderson for
40 companies of Rifemen, 60 men each,
go of the companies to rendezvous at
Corpus Christi, when they will be mus
tered into service and supplied with pro-
visions-the foot companies will rendez-
vous at Galveston where. transportation
will be furnished. The steamer Angus
ia was to have left the Brassos St. iago
on Monday night for New Orleans
with Gen. Taylor's call on the Govern
ors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Ala
bama for 5000 troops. Should not imme.
diate relief be sent to Point Isabel it will
most probably fall into the power of the
enemy with all the arm stores and the
destruction of the whole army may fol-
low.
Gen. Taylor's works in front of Ma.
tamoros would be completed on the
morning of the 2Sth, at which time it
was expected the fire would be opened
on the city. Troops should not await
the call of the Governor, as it will be
week before it can reach this place, but
hurry TO the relief of Point Isabel. as bv