Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-09-19
LETTERS FROM THE RIO GRANDE.

y
CAMARGo, Aususr "a, 1916.
The army in the field between Seravo and Point Isabel
to- volunteers and regulars, perhaps 900 mem
the volunteers being portions Of the quota each State that
has been called upon The remainder perhaps about 200
volunteers, are yet TO arrive.
At Poi Isabel there remains but company, and the
place commanded by Major Gardner the depot Of ord
and the general hospital In the vicinity the Basos
and Banta encamped two bigades Of volunteers Alma
tamoos and Fort Brown, three companies of regulars and
regiment of Volunteers
Captain fnton rediled from Canargo Mier with
small command, about fortnight SINCE in consequence Of
an Eruption the Indians for the protection Of the nha
bans against their incursons AT Seravo General Worth
was about 600 strong. & HtfHEl .sb
The brigade Of Colonel Smith has crossed the ve and is
awaiting the Of transportation TO enable him
wards Seralvo The rest of the army either route
wards this place, or are encamped here. 4
The transportation Of troops from the Brasos generally
operated by steamboats, after marching them om the
Basos the mouth Of the Rio Gande The river is
navgabe for of small class distance of about two
miles above the mouth of the ST JUAN at which point they
arrested by rapids similar obstruction occurs in the st
Juan about miles above this place, but overcoming this
obstacle, il said the river navigabe fur sixty miles II
would almost be worth WHILE should the position Of the army
Monterey TO take advantage OF high water in
the river b get the rapids, which, presume,
might be effected it would he vast ofTanspoitahon
II is understood that it is TIE wish Of General Taylor to
advance upon Monterey but that he is delayed by the neces
sly arrangements for depos of various kinds and the throw
Ing forward Of the necessary munitions, word
fecng his line OF communications The difficulties
tered operations of this nature 10 be very formidable,
for very little reliance is placed upon the resources OF the ter
Itoy in which engaged and il difficult to procure
supplies from the inhabitants who utterly hfess and
lazy, and who require for the little they do supply the most
exavagant prices. We pass through country richly pro-
vied with grass and covered with herds Of thriving cate
yet they supply the camp with fodder beef milk, &C. at
price far exceeding what be purchased for in the most
popuols cities of the United States Such the prices for
abundant products of the country but objects the result
of mechanical labor however fabrics that import
ed in fact every detail of convenience price here for
which only the ground Of their natural in
erness which gives nonate value in their eyes any
thing that is the result Of human industry added to which,
they have appreciation Of the value Of money by stan
dard since comparatively useless to them supplying
the Injuries of @ which in fact to be procured in
exchange for IL hence, regarded mass they most
primitive in their habits and really not many degrees
above the Indians of country They live in huts built Of
reeds mud and matched with kind OF straw They
possess scarcely any Of the appliances Of civilized life rude
couch table, and bench, when they do occur, are
their only objects of furniture their dress quite
that of Indians and their persons especially those of
the females, quite much exposed their language, though
based upon the Spanish miserable patois Eieninae
and lazy their occupations assmated with the domestic
occupations of the Indian hut they wanting in the en-
epse the latter displays in bis excursions They possess
striking advantage however, the INDIAN not being
addicted to the of intoxicating liquors. In regard to
sona appearance they likewise SUPERIOR and perhaps
| shade lighter in complexion E HI
Such people obviously meet in battle with
success they will abandon the field though their numbers
should triple AslE UI jss
From received this morning, the force at Monterey
Of about 900 men, Of which about two regu
lars being the remains Of the army defeated the 9Th and
9th of May They have Likewise force in advance of
Monterey of about 700 cavalry Cat Cadare distance 25
miles from Monterey. The informant reports them not
well prepared for action and that the horses in
miserable condition GI at
They have Monterey pieces of artillery, 24-pound
of he
but that their works are not in state Of completion
General Taylor received the last evening of the
ment without ORDERS of Lieutenant Colonel Harvey from
San Antonio towards Moncava it is almost month
since he set out upon the expedition Moncava is the
Rio Grande the road Chihuahua,he which
General Woods command to which Col Harvey is assigned,
| is destined.
Under existing circumstances, it is believed that General
Taylor will make The utmost exeron to reach Monterey
it believed that resistance will be made of any moment
to the entrance OF his The person who brings ne
gence that the people Of Monterey and tho country adj
acent anxious for the arrival Of the Americans
CAmr NEAR CANA nco, Aue Usr ID.
All the regular troops with exception Of the ID dragons
and several regiments of volunteers, have arrived here The
former will to about 500 men, and the volunteers
to about 2, 500 men, making whole force 5000. The
remainder of the volunteer force will be left Baa Mata
moos Reynosa, and other places the Rio Grande for the
lrstection of those places.
Notwithstanding the ardor and patriotism Of the majority of
the volunteers who cooled in remarkable degree
when they experience the pnvaons and suffengs
incidental soldiers e and exposed to and rain, mud
and water, and thousand other disagrewens OF military
campaign Visions of conquest and glory, pay and punde
faded away before the actual realities Of oome marches
denching rains, scorchng Home with all its COM
ease their magnaon and their longings
again ardent the Israees for the flesh pots
Of Egypt As proof it, of those volunteers enlisted for
three six months could be induced to the period OF
twelve months the shortest period allowed by Con
gress but claimed their discharges which they received and
Immediately home regiment Of Texas infantry
MA
honor Of battle by Gen. Taylor yesterday changed
their minds and wishes for glory, and concluded go home
very much to the surprise and disgust Of their officers.
Our encampmen is along the bank Of the San Juan river
half mile below the town of Camargo This is a most
wretched dlaaed place. having been nearly destroyed by
the late nundaon of the river and presents the most
appearance Imaginable Hardly dozen buildings the
place remain unnured The majority Of the houses
structed of aou dried bricks with matched roofs the
foundations of which speedily washed away leaving
heap Of To give you idea of the extent the
fifty feet nundaing the the depth Of three
four feet and destroying two three hundred houses
and huis
We get direct reliable information Of what the
Mexicans doing An American from Moncova reports
that Gen. Meja is in the neghborhood OF Monterey with
about 1000 men, the remains Of the army Of the Rio Gande
that the Mexican Government had called all the militia of
the provinces of ST. Leon and Chihuahua between the ages
Of eighteen and fifty resist and that the feelings of the
people, particularly of ST. Leon, decidedly hostile towards
We must therefore expect TO meet opposition, and
badly hard fighting. This reports that the peo
pie contributing large supplies Of &c for their army
and that they easily embody 900 but how they
will fight remains to be sincerely hope they will do
and opportunity OF ending, at one blow tins