Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-30
EDITORS coRREsPoND



gence from the seat Of war, which you will find in
the papers that go by this mail. The town is full
of rimors of every kind, many of them Of an un-
favorable nature, but in which place little or no
confidence. The only point that appears certain
is that Gen. TAYLOR, on his return from Point
Isabel to his Camp, with an escort of dragons,
was met by messenger with information that the
Mexicans had been reinforced at Matamoras and had
crossed force over the river, which were between
him and his camp. He therefore returned to Point
Isabel, and would collect the reinforcements that
were arriving there and move forward again to join
his army. Fourteen hundred regulars and youn-
teers had already arrived, and one thousand or
twelve hundred more would be there in forty-eight
hours; all the marines, and probably body Of
seamen, would be landed from the squadron--the
latter to protect the Point; and he would thus have
nearly or quite three thousand men. cannot bring
myself to the belief of the reported amount of re-
inforcements that it is said the Mexicans had re-
ceived. 1t is rather mystery how, in the deplo-
rabe and distracted situation in which the country
is, that they could have mustered SO large and SO
well-appointed force as that which was defeated
by Gen. TAYLOR; but that they should, in addition,
have fifteen thousand more men moving on, or ac-
tually arrived at Matamoras, seems incredible. II
it is true, however may regret that our gallant
little army has such fearful odds to contend against
we cannot refuse high degree of credit TO the
Mexicans for the promptness and energy with which
they have organized and collected such force under
all the adverse circumstances of their situation. All
accounts agree that the army who fought General
TAYLOR were well and fully equipped and supplied
with every requisite, and that they displayed much
skill and frmness in action. General VEGA, now
here, says that the charge made by the dragons
under Capt. May, and the consequent capture Of
the Mexican artillery, saved the American army.
ads
but had breaswork thrown np with ditch in
front ofit-in fact an actual battery. So soon
Gen. TAYLOR perceived it, he rode up to Capt MAY
and told him he must take il at any cost; and off
he dashed at the head of three troops of dragoons
going forward like tornado, bounding over ditch,
breastwork and every thing else that came in his
way, followed by the fifth infantry in full run, who
nobly supported him, although of course the horses
heels outstripped them in the race. One of the
published accounts states that the Mexicans subse-
quently renamed these guns ; but learn this was
not the case, the fifth regiment followed SO close
that they prevented it, and the Mexcans again
fired those guns, and they remained in our posses
sion. Eighteen of the Dragons, among them the
first Lieutenant of NAYS troop, fell or were dis
mounted by their fire in the charge simultaneous
cheer rang through our ranks as they saw the dra-
goons so gaantly dash over the breastwork, and,
as one letter expresses it, "rgh through the Mexi-
cans like streak Of lightning" Capt. Max killed
himself three Mexicans in the charge, and per-
sonaly made Gen. VEGA his prisoner. So advan-
tageously was this battery posted, one letter
says, that, had it not been Immediately silenced,
il would in a very short time have made sad havoc
in our ranks, and the sudden fall of two or three
hundred of our men under its fire might have had a
very unhappy result; as it was, it never fred but
one round. The poor " benighted creatures"
suppose, never dreamt of dragons storming bat
terry. Another striking feature in the battle, and at
which Gen. VEGA has expressed great surprise, was
the manner in which our artillery was manGuvred
and served the celerity and precision of its fire was
"a subject of general remark and admiration; one
portion Of il dashed forward with the horses at top
speed against body Of Mexican infantry, and be-
fore the latter had hardly Time to see what it was
or make any movement, they had halted, the horses
were detached, the guns numbered, and pouring
in the grape with such rapidity and effect that the
Mexicans broke at once under the fire.
The letters say that, from the first to the last Of
the action, there was not mistake, false move
ment, or one moments hesitation wavering on
the part of either officers in the most prompt
execution of every order that was given. have
always understood that a finer set of officers were
never collected with any army and they do distin-
guished honor to West Point where nearly the
whole of them graduated
AS the main BODY oil the army, Win the Iull sup
plies which they took up with them, is at the camp,
they will, l should hope, be fully able to defend
themselves, even if large renorcements have reach
ed Maamoras though one of the current rumors is
that the Mexicans were throwing their shells with
such precision as to render the garrison very un-
comfortable; and if the enemy have again crossed
the river, after their drubbing and with
the knowledge that the main body Of our army was
at the camp, it certainly shows much confidence on
their part, and would argue in favor Of the report
as to their new reinforcements. We shall be in
anxious suspense until we have further arrivals,
which we shall probably have to-day, and at any
SO soon as they disembark their troops. large
supply of shells went down by the steamer Col.
Harney, and no doubt went up TO the camp with
the army which will place them equality in
this point with the enemy, as heretofore, though
there mortars in the camp, the shells for them
had not arrived and we could only return round shot,
In the excitement of the moment, business affairs
except with those Immediately interested, is lost
sight of | am sorry to say there is no improve
ment in them, and no relief to the pressure. Money
is worth % to per cent. per month in the street,
and exchange continues depressed and nearly un-
saeable.
The mail has brought the proceedings Of Con-
gress on the receipt Of the Mexican news, and am
pleased to see the prompt action Of both Houses.
| hope, however, that the Government do not intend
TO carry on this war by volunteers, but that they
will at once increase the regular force.
Surryp,SG Ar the Carr ne VKRps.--SeveraI days ago