The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-21
From the N. Y. Tribune, Extra, Sunday May II,
40 Men cut to pieces by the Mexicans;
PhiIaaelphia. Sunday, a. Al

EHSU9GtpbI0, Suuudy, I IA, VI.
The schooner Mary Clare arrived ct
New Orleans on the 9th inst. from Brazos
ST. lago, which place she left on the 29sh.
Capt. Griffin and passengers report that
Capt. Walker and 70 rangers were nearly
all killed aud taken prisoners on the 28lh
olt, about 20 miles above Point Isabel by
4 large force Of MeSlcans.
Capt. Walker succeeded in reaching the
Point at 4 p. NJ. with only three men.-
lie applied to Major Thomas for more
men, aud announced his determination TO
proceed TO Gen. Taylor's camp or die in
the attempt-his object being to communi>
cate fall particulars Of the attack TO the
commanding officer.
He started from his camp On The 29lh
with his whole force 10 ~reconnoiter, and,
If possible, open a communication with
Gen. Taylor. He had proceeded as far
as about midway between Point Isabel and
the Camp, when an overwhelming Mex
lean force approached suddenly. A por>
lion OF his troops were raw recruits, he
instructed them 10 keep on his right and
gave orders 20 the who,o to relife under
cover Of The chapparel in view, but his
raw troops, panic strlckea, scattered in
confusion.
The Me%icans advancing with over
whelming numbers, be gave orders to res
lire. lie was followed until within a mile
Of Point Isabel, where he arrived with
ooIy two Of his men. six others suisse
quen!ly came in. Capt, W. estimates he
number of Mexicans he encountered at
1900, and he supposes that at least SO Of
them fel! during The fifteen minutes which
he engaged them,
This force is supposed to be a portion
Of hat which had, at the last accounts,
crossed the Rio Grande some 20 or rs
miles above Matamoras, and which is es>
timated at 5000 men. 1t is believed thai.
they had !aken a circui.ous route on the
Eastern side Of Gen, TayIor's camp.
The post is very strongly defended -
To the exertions Of Majors Monroe and
Saunders with 500 men to defend the post
it Is believed il can be made good against
three thousand. There are now about
Eve thousand Mexicans on the American
side Of the Rio Grande, one halt above
and one half below Gen. Taylor's camp.
From tho RIO Grande Direct.
The report brought 10 This City yesler-
day by the Schooner Empire, which !ef!
the Mouth of the Rio Grande on the 28th
ult. was that a body oftwo or three hun
dred Mlexicans e or 3 companies,) had
crossed The Rio Grande, at a shon dis.
lance above the city, and after an engage
meat with a portion Of our force, had cap
tured $50 men. The Empire also bro'l
a report that twenty or thirty Rhncheros
had crossed the river between The Ameri-
can camp and poilt Isabel, and captured
a wagon containing stores. This is a
Mexican report.
There are two ferries between Point
Isabel and M%a'amoras, one at Buchita and
the other about eight miles below Maia.
moros. AT intervals of some five miles
here are places where boats NIGH. land
unobservei.
The Captain of the Empire states that
the report when he left was that the Mex
icen Army consisted of about 5000 men
of which 5000 were regulars and
5000 Rancberos and Militia. There
were nothing but Rincheros below Ma.
tamoros.