Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-30
BY Masser l. Eisely.
FROM THE RIO GRANDE.
The Troops tn Fine Spirits-.Sa safety of Capt.
Thornton and Lieut.. Kane.

The steam schooner Florida, Captain Cliff,
from Brazos Santiago, 9th inst, arrived at New
Orleans last evening.
Although she sailed previous to the depar.
ture of the New York, she brings more full
and detailed report than was received by the
steamer New York.
Col. Whistler, of the United States Army,
bearer of dispatches, arrived in the Florida.
Nessrs. Thos. II. Jenkins, w. Bolden, b.
Wheeler, H. r. Wansely, also came passen.
gers.
We are indebted to passenger for the fol.
lowing report semi.oflicial:
ATTACK UPON GEN. TAYLOR'S CAMP.
On the 1st instant, the main BODY of the army
of occupation marched from its camp on the Rio
Granee, leaving as garrison in the field work
opposite Matamoras, the 18th Regiment of infan.
try, and two companies of Artillery, command.
ed by Capt Loud and Lieut.. Bragg, the whole
commanded by Maj. Brown of the infantry.
Although it is believed that some 1900 TO l5,.
90 shot were fired by the enemy during the pc.
rod, but one casualty occurred, sergeant of
company B, of seventh Regiment of Infantry,
having been killed. Not one Of our guns were
dlsmounted, though the enemy's fire was Cor
some time concentrated on the 1S pound bat
terry, and that shot frequently struck the embra.
sures.
At five o'clock on the morning CT the 4th the
firipn w h,, Il
tinued for twelve or fifteen minutes, and kept
upa long intervals during the day, but without
effect. The amount of damage done TO the enc.
my beyond the sencing of their batteries can
not yet be correctly known. Capt. Walker,
ofthe Texan volunteers, broght the dispatches
to Point Isabel
On the ID the army cncamped at Point Isa.
bel. the morning of the heavy cannonading
was heard in the direction of Matamoras, which
continued during the day, and at long intervals
during night of the 4th Owing to the difficulty
of communicating with the forts no intelligence
was received at head quarters respecting the
result of the cannonading, until the morning of
the 5th A party was sent forward to commu.
nicate, and brought a despatch from Major
Brown, announcing the particulars, briet state.
ment OF which follows.
AT five O'Clock on the morning of the Sd a
| fire opened upon the fort from one Of the Mexi-
| can batteries, and was continued with seven
guns. The fire was Immediately returned and
the battery sllenced by our guns in thirty min.
u,es-two of the enemy's guns supposed to be
| dsmounted.
The enemy then commenced firing from
the lower fort and harbor battery. a brisk fire
Of shot and shell was kept up, but without dam
age 10 the tort or garrison. A continued fire
was now kept up by our l6 Founders on the en-
emy's guns and the city, the Consulate flags be-
ing still respected.
The fire of the enemy was kept up withou;
cessation till halt past 6 O'Clock. At 10 it was
temporarily suspended, but recommended and
continued at intervals till II o'clock at night.
1t is supposed that 5000 or 6,000 Mexicans
attacked the fort, and the chapperral is full OF
them.
Genenl Tayor's troops arc in fine spirits
and in good health"
The Picayune also contains confirmation
of the rumored .afety of Capt Thornton and
Lieutenant Kane. C.C.F.
From the New Orleans Picsyune.
We proceed now to lay before the reader ar
account of the surprise and subsequent surren
der of Capt Thornton's command. Though moi
official, we have it from gentlemen familiar
with tho circumstances Of the case, and upon
whom all relunce may be placed. We do moi
know when we have published any thing whici
has afforded such sincere pleasure. 1t viii
cheer hearts that have been wrung with al
the bitterness Of griet, and make the natioI
glad.
SURPRISE AND SURRENDER OF CAPT
THORNTON'S COMMAND.
On the evening OF the Odd ult, Gen. Taylor
spies brought in intelligence TO the effect tina
about two thousand five hundred Mexicaus ha'
crossed the Rio Grande to the Texas side, abov
:he American Fort, and that about fifteen hund
; red of the same had crossed below. Gen. l
Immediately despatched squadron of drugoon
to each place of crossing, for the purpose of reco
noitering them, and ascertaining their position
. The squadron ordered below was in comman
e Of Capt Ker, the one above was commanded b
. Capt Thornton, and composed of Capt. Hardet
a Lieuts. Kane and Mason, with sixty.one pr
It Yates and non-commissioned officers. The fol
e mer commander, Capt. Ker, on arriving at tn