Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-06-25

place, but leave them to administer
their own affairs so long as it did not
conflict with his duty as commander
of an invading army.
Whilst at the Head Quarters, two
Mexican women came crying to the
General and entrcated him to release
their husbands, who were prisoners in
the Fort. He simply babe the inter
prefer tell them, he could not, and they
went on their way, apparently not the
least surprise at his refusal. A Ran
chero also wanted the release of some
servants, saying that his cotton was
full of grass, but his request met the
same success.
Capt. Thornton, of the Dragons,
whom you will recoIlect, was sent out
some time ago to take observations,
who charged the enemy, was defeated
and taken prisoner, is still under arrest,
and will shortly be tried for acting
without orders. 1t is not likely that
any thing will be done to him more
than censure, lfthat. Heis spoken of
as brave and worthy officer. Lieut..
Deas, was exchanged for him, though
he was suffered to remain with the enc
myas punishment forhis indiscret,or.
He was taken for spy, and that was
one reason why Gen. 7. used no exer-
ton to get him back, thinking 'twould
be a bad precedent. No one thought
him so, and attributed his singular con-
duct to generous disposition to find
out what had been the fate OF Colonel
Cross. ....r ..a.
Looking over the papers received
yesterday. | saw several attempts at a
description of a ehaparet, but all incor-
rect. 1t is series of thickets of vari-
Gus sizes, from 100 yards to a mile
through, with muskett trees inter-
spersed with various kinds of bushes,
and briars, all covered with thorns,
and SO closely entwined together by
their respective branches as to pre-
vent the passage of anything through
larger than wolf or hare. When
they are in the course of a traveller
he must travel around them, sometimes
four or FIVE miles, before he can make
half mile on his route. In the mid.
die of most of them you will find a
small prairie, with numerous beds of
pr!ckly pears, the frivet of which is
often ventured for by those who are
accustomed to its use and "know the
ropes" 1t was IN one of these prai-
ries where Capt. Walker was first fired
on in the commencement of the battles
the enemy had cut down the bushes
and drawn piece of artillery to its
edge and planted it just as Walker en-
erged from the thicket by a mustang
trail, on the other side. In the large
thickets, good woodsman can crawl
on his belly without comingin contact
with the branches, and thus approach
near enough to its outer edge to take a
deliberate aim at ar object in the prai-
RE. t-. 4t+e
Four o'clock, p. MI ceased wri-
ting this morning, because l had moth
ing TO write about; put my implements
and crossed the river in search ofnews.
The first place | went to Walkers
headquarters, a place where all the
news respecting the enemy is TO be
found. Walker with the greater par,
ofhis men are absent on ranging or
spying expedition, and when he returns
be will advise US Of the movements OF
Arista.
On the other side Of the river the
war bill has created quite an excite
ment, and the Mexicans look as though
all hope of saving their country from
being overrun is lost. Fifty thousand
men they think, or pretend to think,
will! run over Mexico. Our soldiers, too,
seemed chee~ed by the news, and an
ticipate brilliant termination to their
campaign, which few days ago they
feared would end in smoke.
One ofthe volunteers was found dead
in the streets of Matamoras this mern-
ing, having been stabbed in the back,
and another ismissing, supposed also
to have been murdered. A Spaniard
or Mexican was found dead in his
house this morning early, and his wife
came to Taylor's quarters, complained
of the deed and pointed out the mur
derer. He was promptly arrested and
placed under guard for trial.
We have a regular mail arriving
here every morning from Point Isabel,
which leaves again in the evening for
the same place, which viii afford me an
opportunity Of sending you something
either in way of acords or news every
day or two. Yours,
THE CcnrcRAL.