Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-05-07
From the Texas Army Direct
Correspondence Of Tie Tribune.

NesSrs Greeley s NcEirath:
General Taylots army commenced its move
ment towards the Rio Grande on The 18Th, by
the advance of Col. Twiggs's cavalry and Ma
jor Rnggods artillery. The first brigade oi
infantry, numbering about 1000 men, and Lieut..
Duncan's battery Of artillery, left on the 9 h,
underthe command of Brigadier. General Worth
The second brigade Of infantry under Col
Macintosh left on the 10Th. Gen. TayIu,'>
staff left Oh The l'h in company with Col
Whsler's brigade and Lieut.. Bragg's battery
of artillery. Our train consisting Of between
800 and 400 wagons, had supplies Of provis.
ions and forage for about 25 days, and The bal
ance of The public stores were shipped for Bra
zos Santiago. Major Munroe's company af
,illery went by water 10 Point Isabella, and ar
rived there the same day that Gen. Taylor took
possession. The army reached This place on
The 2slh in good health, having marched l65
miles over poorly wa,ered country, without
every respect, and especially in marching al
the time we did, for we had little rain, and
found The prairies in favorable condition ior
crossing But few paIlies of Mexicans were
SEEN and they fled as we advanced. A few
collected at the ford of the Colorado, and ap-
peared disposed TO dispute our crossing. They
informed US that The first man that stepped into
The water would be fred upon. When our ad-
vance guard plunged in, the Mexicans forgot
to fire and fed like lightning. The river is 80
yards wde 4 feet inches in depth, and its
banks are bold. The scene was very exciting
and all expected 10 be fired upon, and the cross.
ing was military performance highly crediia-
bic to our army. Doubtless some of your cor
respondents have favored you with full ac-
count of this military feat
Matamoras is an old Spanish city contain
ing about 1000 inhabitants, and is beautifully
situated on the Southern bank OF the Rio
Grande; within lis folds, so that its from, and rear
are both on the river Seen from the Ameri-
can side, 1t has every appearance of being an
American town. The streets inlersecl each
other at right angles, and appear 10 be lined
with many varieties of shade trees, which give
The town an air of GOODNESS and render lis ap-
pearance very inviting Many of the buildings
are built Of BRICK and in The modern style o
architecture. The Cathedral, Market, and
buildings occupied by The Military, are among
the finest The dwellings of the poorer class
-, ,ro ad ypith bruSh rou1 nd
the like materials, aud are essentially Mexican
The town formerly contained double its pres
ent number of inhabitants, and was a place o
some importance. This rapid decline is owins
TO their internal commotions and the CROWN!
incidence Of the people. The citizens are al
under the rule of The Military, and are oblget
to provide for them. The Military is SUPREME
/, and the orders Of their General (Meja) arr
| Law.
The City has several Notifications, arme'
: with guns of different calibres, and force o
or 600 men is kept in them constantly
Since our arrival they have increased lhei
force 10 nearly 5000 men, and have been work
ing night and day upon the defences Of tn
place. They have thrown up several batter
les which bear upon our Camp, and we ar
:. quietly waiting for them to give US a bal
, Should they favor us, we shall return the com
pliment with series of them, for the Spanis
are very particularin in matters of etiquette. On
Camp is directly opposite the town, and 80
yards from their batteries. We are engage
in throwing up field work. constructing gu
batteries, and taking such precautions as ar
necessary to enable US to maintain our position
+. This seems important, since our intercours
. with them is entirely prohibited by the Mex
can authorities, asd their attitude is decided
hostile Gen Worth held conference wit
,, Gen La Vega OH The day of our arrival, on III
:, Mexican shore, aud The latter said that our al
+. vance upon The mexican soil, and The hoislin
!, Of the Stars aud Stripes, (Which were raise
during the conversation, and foaed out upo
: The breeze, accompanied by Yankee Dood
and other appropriate airs were acts whc
his nation regarded as hostile in their conce]