Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-16
From our Ertra-of Tuesday.
WAR! WAR!

.., Tuesday, Mav l2th 1916.

The Steamer "WapelIo' arrived at Glas.
gov last night, bringing us ST. Louis Re
publican of last Saturday, the only copy
which reached this place in advance. oil
the mail, from which we take the following
startling news, and lay it before our rea.
ders in an extra:
The War Commonwealth Defeat
Of U. 3. Troops Gen. TaylOr's
POsitiOn-RequisitiOn for Vol
untcers-pr prompt answer from
Texas and Louisiana.
The steamboat j. NJ. White arrived at ,hi:
port yesterday afternoon, bringing us papers
from New Orleans 10 Sunday last, inclusive.
From the New Orleans Picayune, May Sd.
The steamship Galveston arrived yesterday
morning, bringing The certain intelligence that
the United States army under Gen. Taylor, is
completely surrounded, and his communication
with Point Isabel entirely cut off. Dispatches
have been sent 10 the Governor OF Texas for an
special messenger. Col. Duane, is now in this
city with requistions upon Governor Johnson for
four regiments The emergency is imminent,
and immediate steps should be taken to send the
necessary force to the relief OF the army.
At Galveston, within an hour after The receipt
of Capt. Catlett's letter, which will be found in
another column, there was public meeting, and
it was determined 10 despatch 200 men that
evening in the Monmouth.
Gen. Taylor has fortified his position so
strongly that he can stand siege, but his com
muncation with Point Isabel being cut off, he is
in danger Of being compelled to take The field
with an inadequate force, on account OF the
shortness Of his provisions.
Matamoras is almost deserted. The American
army could take the town al once, but under the
circumstances Of his position Gen. Taylor can.
not divide his command or weaken bis camp by
sending off any considerable number OF men
from it. 49,
A reconoitering company Of American cavalry,
under Capts. Hardee and Thornton, was attacked
ON Friday, the 18th ult.; between the camp and
Point Isabel, Lieuts. Kan and 26 men were
Thornton missing, end Capt. liar.
dee and the. remainder Of the men taken priso
ners.
The war has begun in earnest The enemy is
upon our soil !!
DEPLORABLE NEWS FROM THE ARMY.
Col. Charles Doane arrived in this city at an
early hour yesterday morning, from Brasos San
liago, which place he left on the 18th ult., on
the steam Schooner Augusta. Sixty miles ives,
OF The S. w. Pass he was transferred to the
steamer Galveston. He is bearer OF important
dispatches from Gen. Taylor, and OF reouisi.
ton upon the Governor OF Louisiana for four
regiments. The previous news received, that the
Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande is fully
confirmed, and detachment Of American troops
cut off. But for the details we refer to the fol
lowing account Of operations kindly furnished US
by Col. Doane.
On Thursday evening" the 23d inst, Gen.
Taylor received information that body OF the
Mexican army had crossed 10 the east side Of the
Rlo Grande, at point some 20 miles above his
Early on Thursday morning he
despatched Capts. Thornton and Hardee, of the
I'd regiment Of Dragons, with q detachment of
70 men 10 examine the country above, and Cap
tain Kerr, oil the same regiment with com.
pany to examine the country below the encamp.
ment. The latter returned TO camp without
having made any discovery OF Mexicans.
Tie former, however. fell in with what he
considered to be scouting party of the enemy,
but which proved 10 be the advance guard of
very strong body Of the enemy, who were posted
in the chappaIral Immediately in the rear OF
General Taylor's camp. Capt. Thornton, con.
trary 10 the advice OF the Mexican Guide, charged
upon the guard, who retreated towards the main
body, followed by Captain Thornton, when in
an instant he found himself and command sur
rounded by the enemy, who fired upon him,
killing, as it is supposed, Captain Thornton,
Lieuts. Kane and Mason, and some twenty six
men, and taking Cap,sn Hardee and the re-
mainder Of the command prisoners. The Mexi.
can commander sent into Gen. Taylor's camp,
a cart, with a soldier badly wounded with
message that he had no travelling hospital with
him, and could not, therefore, render the soldier
The assistance which his situation required.
1t is supposed that the detachment OF the enc.
NY on the east side Of the Rio Grande consists OF
At least $500 men, under the command OF Coils.
Carasco and Carabajal, both old and experienced
officers, and that their object is 10 cut off all
communication between Gen. Taylor and Point
Isabel, the depot of provisions. In the execution
'f this object, they have fully succeeded, and
nave thereby placed The American army in
most dangerous position, as it will be utterly
impossible for Gen. Taylor, with the limited
number OF men now under his command, say
1900, 10 force his way through the dense chap
'arra, in which the enemy are already strongly
posted.
On the 22d, Gen. Taylor received from Gen.
AmPudia. by means Of flag OF truce, commu.
nication in very offensive terms, complaining OF
his having blockaded the Rio Grade; to which
he replied, that Gen. Ampudia had himself been
he cause OF The blockade, in having expressly
declared that unless Gen. Taylor commenced his
etrest behind the Nueces within twenty four
hours after his displaying bis flag upon the Ief,
'ank OF the Rio Grande, he would consider ,Uar
rs having been declared, and would act accord.