The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-04-08
From the ". o. Courier, 25tA a>lt.
TEXAS.

~iSt lnSt. Iney contain little news.
The Corpus Christi Gazette of the 18th
speaking of that town says
Major John Irving, of the I'd Artil-'
lery, remains in command Of Corpus
Christi and St. Joseph's Island, with a
small detachment from the various corps
OF the Army, for the protection of the
government stores at the apove places.
We understand the company of Artille-
ry, now at St. Joseph's Island, will re,
main there for the present"
dress to the citizens of Houston, in
which he avowed his intention to sus-
tain the policy OF President Polk relative
to the grea: questions ct issue between
the two parties.
A new tribe of Indians lately Joined
the Commanches. The call themselves
Congress. They say that they emf
grated from the western country borde-
ring upon the Mexican settlements, and
that they have never seen any buffaloes.
They are at war with the Mexicans and
are allied TO the Lipans and to large
band of Indians residing in the noun
famous country districts near the Rio
Grande. They have an immense num-
Der of horses and appear to depend chief
ly upon these for subsistence. The
Commanches treat them with great
kindness and appear to be anxious to
have them incorporated into their con-
federacy. The emigration of so large
tribe of Indians from their ancient hun
ting grounds to distant country is a
singular event in Indian history.
We take the following from the Hou-
ston Telegraph of the 18th inst The
information was communicated by a
gentleman from Corpus Christi.
Gen. Taylor expected that the whole
army would be encamped OH the east
bank of that river by the Goth inst. The
main body of the troops were to march
by the inland route, or the old road to
Ma,amoros, and it was supposed the
camp would be pitched nearly opposite
Matamoros, where there is high bluff
that overlooks the city, and would give
the artillery of the army complete COM
mand ofthe place. Thispoin has been,
by singular oversight of the Mexicans,
entirely neglected; they have expen1;.!
large sums to fortify Matamorosy out
this bluff, which is several feet nieh:r
than the highest point of tho city, ali IS
also within cannon shot of the Puzzle
Square Of Matamoros, has been entirely
neglected. Whenever this place is for
titled, Gen. Taylor could hold it against
even an European force twice as large
as his own. The river renders it mac
ccssiblc on the west and south, and the
eastern and northern sides can be Sc
curely fortified by ditch and embanLl-
ment, which can be constructed with lit
tie labor. 1t is believed that with half
the expense that was incurred at Corpus
Christi, 4 camp can be fortified directly
within cannon shot OF Mutamoros, that
will not only command that city, but be
more secure than the camp at Corpus
Christi.
The Mcxicans appear to be totally
unprepared to defend any portion Of the
country on the Rio Grande. Instead of
concentrating forces there, as the editor
of the Corpus Christi Gazette predicted,
they have left that section almost entire.
ly defenceless; and it is believed that it
wouIG! now be impossible for the Mcxi-
can Government to concentrate forces
at Matamoros, capable of withstanding
even a rr,.mcnt Of American troops
Speaking OF the march of the Army
of Occupation" from Corpus Christi.
and the order that no one but those at
tached to the service should move with
it, the Civilian says
We understand that the order forbid
ding persons from accompanying the
army has been pretty rigidly enforced,
some persons who had violated it by fol-
lowing its march with whiskey to sell to
the soldiers having been arrested and
sent back in irons, and the barrels con-
tanning their liquor broken open and
their contents destroyed.
The news from Austin, the seat of
government, is to the llth inst. The
proceedings of the Texas Legislature so
far are not Of general interest.
Il 4 ~