The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-08
THE COLUMBIAN FOUNTAIN.
BY Saturday Evenings southern Mail.
EIGHT DAYS LAfER FROM RIO GRANDE.
MATAMORAS TAKEN OF
ONE OF THE McKELVEY GUARDS.


MATAMORAS TAKEN MURDER OF
ONE OF THE McKELvEY GUARDS.
49, From the N. o. Picsyune.
Inc steamship Galveston arrived last even
| rom brazos Santiago, which place she left on
'ne N'n inst. She brings confirmation Of the
news brought by the Telegraph. General
Taylor mas obtained peaceable possession OF
Matamoras. The Mexican army left large
amount OF ammunition IN. the city, which is, of
course valuable acqulsitlcn to our army
The Mexicans destroyed an immense ouan-
tty of their ammunition by filling up the wells
and throwing other portions into the river.
General Taylor gave most positive orders Ia
his men not to take the slightest article without
giving fair equivalent
The citizens were told by General Taylor to
continue their business operations. but PRO
HIBITED THEM FROM SELLING Ii
QUOR TO ANY OF THE ARMY.
Commodore Conner, with most of his squad
ron, had left for Pensacola, to reft and rein
force before making an attack upon Vera Cruz.
He intends taking with him three or four line
ofbattle ships.
The steam schooner Cincinnati, Capt Smith.
was at Matamoras the Mary Kingsand at an
chor off the bar, the Monmouth acting as her
lighter The steamer Augusta was aground
in the bay The Sea and Florida were also
engaged as lighters.
On her passage to the seat OF war, the Gal
weston was the scene of terrible murder,
man named Robert Mitchell, of the McKevey
guards, having stabbed one of his comrades
named William MalIoy. The deceased was
buried at sea, Capt. Waddell reading the fune
raj service The murderer was Immediately
put in irons and placed in close custody imme
diately on their arrival at Point Isabel.
General Taylor, Immediately after having
taking possession Of Matamoras, despatched
two companies Of horse to follow the Mexican
army. They accordingly followed them about
fifty miles, bnt never approached nearer than
six hours travel.
The amount Of money found in the Mexican
army chest, after the battle of the 9th, was, 1t
is said, $l6,0 900 in gold.
The James L. Day, which sailed on the
evening Of the Goth, arrived about O'Clock, a
short time after the Galveston. The only ad-
ditional items of news she brings is that the
Mexican army had retreated to Camargo, about
200 miles from Matamoras, 1t is supposed for
reinforcements party Of Col. Twgg's reg
iment of dragons, under the command OF Gap
tains May, Arnold, and Carr, arrived at Point
Isabel on the evening of the 25th inst, Tor the
purpose OF recruiting lnelr nOISes.
FURTHER DETAILS.
The N. Orleans Commercial Bulletin says:
"On the 18th inst, large portion Of Gen
eral Taylor's army moved up the river Tor the
purpose Of crossing, Gen. T. remaining at the
fortfcaton with about three hundred men.-
AS the army were seen by the Mexicans on
the opposite side to leave the encampment, and
approach the ford, Arista sent flag OF truce
to Gen. Taylor requesting an armlstice OF SIX
weeks, giving as reason for his request, that
he desired to communicate with his govern
ment Gen. T. answered, that he would give
him till O'Clock the next morning to evacuate
the city of Matamoras, and would permit him
to take the public property under his. charge
The flag then returned. On the next day, the
18th, the army crossed on fats OF their own
construction, and the bodies OF wagons caulk-
ed The passage was made about four miles
above Fort Brown. On arriving at the city, It
was discovered that Arista with his forces had
departed, leaving only the mounted batteries.
All the mortars and such OF the military appa-
ratus as could not be removed, in their haste TO
escape, were thrown into the wells. A parry
from our army went out TO reconnoltre lmme-
diaely after the entrance of Matamoras, and
overlook portion of the retreating Mexicans.
twenty oil whom were made prisoners. Hn
understood that Arista's headquarters are at
San Fernando, about ninety miles distant from
Ma!amoras."
A letter from private correspondent Of the
Daily Union, says:
"I forgot, in the beginning of my last letter,
to say. the commanding general has ordered
that the blockade of the Rio Grande will be
considered as raised in regard to all vessels
bringing cargoes for merchants in Malamoras..
except such as contain munitions of war of
any description
Commodore Latimere, commandant of the
navy yard at Pensacola, has made requisittn
upon the governor Of Florida, Tor two compa-
MES to garrison the Notifications at that place,
in addition TO the force remaining therein.
GA brother of Col. Cross Joined the Louis
vile Guards on the 23d inst He is described
as fine looking man, and thirsts to avenge
the death Of the lamented Colonel. The scene,
when he stepped forward to join the Guards,
was one Of thrilling interest"