Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-06-25
MISCELLANEOUS.

SCENES IN MATAMORAS.

From the N. Y. spirit of he Times.
SCENES IN MATAMORAS.
CAMP NEAR FoRT Brown, MExIco, May 90, 1876
DEAR tn my last predicted that my nex
would be dated at Matamoras. So it is, although
our camp is in the outskirts of the city. On the
18th the General had decided that we should move
to the river and commence operations against the
city, We struck our tents early that morning.
Our unusual stir and activity was seen BY the enc
my, and no doubt attributed it to the proper cause
We were all anXiously waiting the order 10 move
when we were informed that parley had sounded
and that deputation from Gen. Arisa had crossed
10 see Gen. Taylor. Gen. Ricardo was at the head
it Arsta proposed to enter into an armstice until
they could hear from Mexico, not doubling that the
boundary would noO be settled. Gen. TAYLOR said
"no," that he had offered them one, sometime since
had evinced the most friendly disposition that they
would not agree TO it when his army was weak and
now, that ren0rcements had arrived, he should die.
tate his own terms. Ricardo wished to know Il
the General intended taking Maamoras? He said
Eyes" k. offered to surrender all the public proper
ty, ammunition, &c. if he would not cross The
General said "nO, he must have Matamoras if he
had to batter it down, and said that now was he
prepared to do it. He told him to tell Gen. Arista
that these and these only were his terms, That
the city must capuate, all public property, ammr-
milton, provision, &c. must be gwen up, and that
then the army might march out and retire"
The deputaton then retired TO get Gen. Arsta's
r.. ~ t.
In the meantime the army marched and encamped
70 miles 0, at the point selected for crossing. Gen.
L. told Ricardo thar iien. hmpudia had written to
him, that the war should be conducted ngreeably
to the usage of civilized nations. That in the last
battle the enemy had stripped our dead and mutt
lated their bodies. r. replied that the women
who followed the army and the Rancheros did it.
and that they could not control them.n Our brave
old General replied, I'm coming ovsr and PH cont
troll them for you"
During the evening active preparations were
made for crossing the troops. No reply was given
10 the General 3 proposition. The country people
commenced crossing TO us, and reported that the
army had deserted the city and retired. On the
morning OF the 18th, continuation was received of
the reported flight of Arsta and his army The
scare was still working. Early in the morning the
Dragons, the light companies of the different bat
taons, Ridgeley's Qate the lamented knggold's)
Artillery, and the 9th infantry were crossed.
regret to record that in crossing, Lit Stevens
OF the I'd Dragons, was drowned. He was fine
young officer, much beloved by his Regiment and
his death threw gloom over the camp. For what
singular destlnles are We reserved, and how GER
talnIy and Wesistably one has to advance and ful-
I'll his fate lie was among those gallant fellows
who stared death in the face, in the late brilliant
charge of Capt May, at the battle of Resaca de la
Palma. With balls scattering around him in every
direction his life spared only to be delivered
up in few days. in the waters of the Bravo.
The General decided upon crossing the rest of
us at the upper ferry of the city. As we approach
ed the ferry our boys in possession of the
Fort and rapidly engaged in preparing to run up
our flag. Just as we reached the bank Capt Kerr
Of the I'd Dragons, ran it up; 1t floated graceful
ly in the breeze and proudly waved over Mexico.
The men of The advance sent up three hearty
cheers TO welcome the flag of their country Per.
hdps MIR. esprit" those cheers were some! There
was rope stretched across the river and 3 boats
manned by Mexicans, ready to transport us. We
had the felicity of being feried across by The erenv!
AS we landed, the companies formed and awaited
the arrival of the Others When the whole of the
I'd Regiment was formed, it moved off to the right
to the tune Of Yankee DOODLE" Did YOU ever
hear it, Mr. "Spirit?" | reckon you never did. in
foreign land, Just conquered, by good, honest and
hard blows! If you did, yon never heard such an
honest cheer as arose from the gallant fellows on
the opposite bank, when the drum and fife gave us
the air which fills, at all times, an Americans breast
with the purest patriotism! All was excitement,
and every one boiling over with "amor patriR - Ii
was proud day for the American Army. Citizens
In any number came down to see US. Many Of
them who ten days ago would have cut our threats,
were now apparently our warmest friends shook
our hands heartily and cried Justify, ".amigo p
we here saw some signs of the hurry IN which
Arlsta had lett As we landed near the Fort, box
es of destroyed ammunition presented themselves.
and 1t was rumored and has since been confirmed.
tHat TWO pieces OF cannon were thrown into the
river The army left during the day and night OF
the 18th, most precipitatey, taking with them, as it
appears, ] ! pieces Of artillery, and anything but a
large supply of ammunition. Our victory is more
complete than we have claimed credit for. The
citizens say that Arista had not over 5000 men
with him. What has become Of the remainder of
the 1000? The bloody battles of the 9Th and 9th,
and the whirlpools OF the Bravo can tell the tale
Our Brigade encamped within half a mile of
the city, We had INDUCED the hope of being quar-
tered in it, but our worthy General saw fit to d-
rect otherwise. Women, they say, are all curosi-
", but II they ever felt more than we had to see
that city, say God help them We had encamp-
ed but short time, before party of us rode up to
crafty the consuming passion Never have been
disappointed did distance more thoroughly
"lend enchantment to the view." The Matamoras
as seen from Fort Brown is not the Matamoras that
we hold. As it may be interesting TO YOU will
try to give you some idea of the city.
first rode up to the Plaza, which is quite large
square surrounded by chain Of trees. The hous-
es surrounding the square are of brick or stone the
lower parts are used for stores, offices, and the
second story as dwellings. They have the appear
ance OF defensive works. Streets dverge from the
Plaza, and are again crossed by others. The Ca
thedral occupies large space of one side of the
square, and is an unfinished mass of masonry. Di-
recty opposite TO the Cathedral is the Prison
Properly situated, 81 the prison and the antdoten-
There are great many stores, and quite large
market house, which ! am told is well supplied
went to visit the different hospitals. They are