Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-12

UFThe following letter, addressed to
friend of ours. from the author of "Com.
merce of the Prairies," has been kindly
handed US for publication. DR.. Gregg is
attached to the army as confidential agent
and Interpreter Of the U. s. Government,
and his opinions may be regarded as some.
PREsiDIo DEL Rio GRANpE,
October Is. 1916.
My DEAR SIR:-Embracing the opportunity
Of friend who is returning to the United States,
| have barely time to inform you OF our safe
arrival at this place, which the advance entered
on the 9Th inst. without any show of opposition:
in fact. the Alcaldes, &c.. with many Of the c,i.
zens. met US on the other side OF the river,
with assurances Of their friendship and subms.
sion. Three companies OF Mexican troops which
were here. abandoned the place. three or four
days before our arrival, and are by this time, /
suppose. at least 100 miles South Of US.
Many Of the citizens also left, for fear OF our
troops. yet | am happy 10 say no outrages have
been committed upon any one. and our com.
manding Officers use every means to assure the
people OF security and protection. Were the
Inhabitants all here. the town would contain full
2. 600 souls-a more importsnt place than | had
expected 10 find Instead OF being on the river
bank, as | had supposed, i. is situate some FIVE
or six miles west Of Rio Grande Tor del Note }
BY actual observation, | find the latitude to be
% deg. 90 min.-longitude 100 deg. 80 min.
The people are among the most kind and hos
pitabls have met wth-though the inhabitants
Of the backwoods villages Of Mexico are gener.
ally Of this character;-l can scarcely enter
house and attempt 10 leave it, FIVE minutes after
wi,hou. being stopped by the presentation OF q
cup OF coffee, or some refreshment.
Brig. Gen. Shields arrived here, two days ago
just from Camargo. and confirms The reports we
had already heard here. Of the battle and capitu
lation OF Monterey If there is really an arms
tce Of eight weeks as reported, feel Iiule doub
but il will end the war. Notwithstanding, III,
force here Consisting Of over 2 900 men) will
march early tomorrow morning in the direction
Of Misunderstanding thence. presume. toward
SalIilo (he seat Of government oil this STATE,
where the main force OF the enemy is said to b.
consrega,ed. feel now convinced that rh
army was never intended for Chihuahua-onl,
TO make a demonstration, 10 draw troops lhi,he
from both North and South.
| believe have already told you something
OF an attack made upon detachment left nes
here by COL II. last summer and that three o
eight men who were fred upon at this bank o
the river. were lost-probaby killed or drowned
Strange as it may appear. that some fifty shot,
fired a. eight men. hardly ten PAGES distant
should only slightly wound two or three. it ha
nevertheless turned out. to Our great Joy, that tn
three missing men are still alive! They wer
taken prisoners, and two Of them since sent I,
SaltiIlo; the other escaped the night before h
was 10 have been started South, and mounting
on log, in Rio Grande. he foaed down Il
Laredo, some 60 or 80 miles below here. in III
vicinity OF which he remained concealed unit
few days ago. when he returned and gave
the first authentic information OF his fate an
adventures. JOSIAH GREGG,