Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-05-14
THE SURPRISE AND DEFEAT OF
CAPTAIN THORNTON.
N the Nc Orleans Pieaurnle Of the Sd. ,

THE SURPRISE AND DEFEAT OF
CAPTAIN THORNTON.
In the .heic Orleans Picayrple of the Sd, we
find the following letter from the Camp:
CAMP OPPOSITE MArAMoRAs,
April 20, l646.
MISUNDERSTANDING that in the present
excited state Of the public mind, as regards
our Mexican affairs, and the welfare OF our
little Army. as most exaggerated reports creep
into the public prints, thereby carrying with
them sorrow and anxiety into the bosoms of
the friends and relatives Of many officers.
feel Tiny duty to give you a hasty but correct
account Of the capture of Capt Thorton and
squadron of Second Dragons by force Of
the Mexicans under the command of Gen
Touelon. Gen. Taylor, on the Oath had re-
ceiyed report that the enemy were crossing
the River above the camp Capt. Thorton,
with his conmas.i was sent out on the even
ing of the oath to examine the country above
and see whether there was any truth in the
report His command was composed of Capt.
Hardee, Leuts. Kane, Mason, FIVE sergeants.
four corporals, one hugler, and 49 prlvates.-
His Mexican guide returned this morning sta
ting that he had been attacked al eight O'Clock
on the morning OF the 25th by large number
of the enemy, and that the whole command
was captured or destroyed. The guide warn
ed him that he was in the vicinity Of the enc
my, and refused to proceed. He waited until
night, and none of the party coming in, he re-
turned. About eleven O'Clock this morning a
private was brought in cart, wounded in two
places. The man who brought him was the
bearer Of note from Gen. Torreion to Gen.
Taylor, the amonnt Of which was that on the
score of humanity he claimed the privilege of
sending into him two Dragons who were
wounded in. an engagement brought on by a
charge from an American cavalry officer
against his command of 200 men, as he had
no flying hospital. He then spoke Of the rest
being prisoners, and said they would be treat
ed with consideration due prisoners of war,
agreeably to the custom Of civilized nations.
From the wounded Dragons we obtained
the following facts That the charge was made
IN open ground; that when the command
charge" was given but few of the enemy
were seen; but, as they dashed over the hill
the whole command presented themselves
They were fired upon and Immediately sur
rounded and taken prisoners. He does not
know what became of Capt Thornton. Capt
Hardee and Lieut.. Mason are prisoners, and
are well. He reports Lieut.. Kane as shot, and
ii is feared he is dead. Ten men were killed.
Before the cart left one of the two men men
toned in the note died. From the note of
Gen Torrelon il seems that he accuses Capt
Thornton Of having charged upon him. One
can hardly conceive Of such madness as char
ging 200 men with SO, and it is fair to pre-
sumo that he was surrounded and charged TO
cut his way through. Time viii clear ii all
up. Ihe capture of Capt. Thornton's party,
and the sad death Of Col. Cross are rather
melancholy commandments of the war. !
say war, war; for there Is no doubt OF its eXls-
tence, and that unless an arInistce is signed in
ten days we must have some hard fighting
The enemy are collecting in some considerable
numbers, and think their force may be esIi-
mated with safety at five thousand. Gen.
Taylor is rapidly pushing forward his field
works, and | understand has sent for 1000
volunteers-two thousand from Louisiana and
two thousand from Texas.
If they viii give us fair fight we do not
doubt our ability to whip them but if they are
going TO give us q second edition of the Florida
War it will be very annoying affair Yours,
very truly, w. S. HENRY Lieut.. U. S.A.
The New Orleans Bulletin ofMay says
"No later information has been received
from the army on the Rio Bravo than was pub
lished in our second edition of Saturday morn
ing We have seen, however, number of
private letters, which give a clearer insight in
to the state of affairs. From the best lnforma-
ton we can get, we do not anticipate any Sc
rous disaster to the main body of the Ameri-
can army. The Camp of Gen. TAYLOR is so
well situated and entrenched that letters from
himself and other officers OF the army eynce
no apprehensions whatever"
A general Town Meeting was to be held at
New Orleans on the evening of the 4th instant
to adopt measures to second the action of the
Governor and Legislature of Louisiana.
A company Of more than one hundred vol
unteers left Mobile for New Orleans on the 4th
instant.
Gen. GAINES has made rsquisition upon
Commodore LATIMER, at Pensacola, for the
steamship Mississippi and battalion Of men,
to be despatched forthwith to Point Isabel.
According to the New Orleans Delta high
" respectable gentleman of that City received
letter from Gen. TAYLOR on the 2nd instant,
in which he (Gen. To expresses great conf
dence that he can hold has position against any
force the ,Merieals can bring against him, ao,ta
he receires reintorcements He expresses no
uneasiness at the result.
.A-. 49,. r.