American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-15

| at this point is sandy, low and flat, with strag-
Cling huts, government stores, &c. We re-
manned here in going, about o e hour, took
small steamboat and went round, distance nine
miles, TO the mouth Of the Rio GIande. Onthc
northwest side is the government depot, few
struggling Auts, and some zoe or 800 volun-
teers, who look disgustingly dirty-a fatal er-
ror among this class of our soldiery. Tho OPP
posite side of the river is the acknowledged ter
ritory of Mexico, where there are some few
native MeAlcans.
This island is called "Santa Anna Island"
having taken that name from the fact Of Santa
Anna concentrating his forces there at one
time. The government is busiIy swimming
some 400 mules across the river to the Mexl-
can side, in order to take wagons on to Mata-
moras, with view to facilitate descent upon
Tampico, which we learn has just been taken.
Sunday, IL O'Clock, noon, and just ordered on
| board for Matamoras, a distance of some Is
miles, which is about three times farther than
By land. Such is the everlasting twisting and
winding of this river, that almost every part OF
Mexico, within the range Of fifty miles, at all
| events is accommodated by its water. A great
convenience, if this useless people but knew it.
Some twelve miles from the mouth is q small
village, called Burita, containing about thirty
houses, made OF course, after the style peculiar
to country dwellings here, with an embank-
ment breast high all round it. The town was
surrendered to the volunteers.
At night we laid to at distance of some rs
miles from Matlmoras; and of course | awaited
myself of the opportunity to 60 ashore and
visit the Rancheros. They ale very poor, and
have miserable houses to live in. However,
learn that they can pretty nearly all read and
write, and have some little knowledge Of
geography At day break we started on our
Journey and landed at Matamoras about 10 o.
clock, Monday morning. The whole river,
from point to point, on either side, is low, with
large prairie and chapplrel countries, mlserably
cultivated; but, so fur as can see, the raising
of cattle must be their principal source of sup
port. The river is HaTrOW, not over 100 or
| $50 yards wide, but extending considerably in
front of Matamoras, and in It there are millions
! of geese, ducks, Sc. What a treat would it
be for some of our Baltimore gunners, if they
were out here. Immediately on our arrival in
Matamoras, we reported ourselves to the
Quarter Master, who at once gave orders that,
as soon as dinner was over, horses should be
| furnished us to go 10 the Resaca battle field to
dsinter the remains Of Lieut.. Cochran 10 the
meantime strolled about the city, which has,
so far as can learns population of some 5000
| or OUUU Souls, all lOlu. ne houses are low
blocks of buildings forming open squares on
the inside, with we'll in the centre, out Of
which they arc supplied with water-rather
salt, though, and not fit to drink. The streets
are tolerably wide, but mostly without any
pavement. As public building, the old I'M
finished Cathedral-the design of which is the
only thing worth mentioning--but owing to so
much having been said about this and other
objects in connection with the war, | will for
bear saying anything, save what may appear to
me strange. Around and in every part ofthe
city are to be seen myriads Of black birds-or
rather, should say, Jack-daw.s They are
favorlte birds, beliked by everybody and des-
pissed by none.
After dinner we made our second appearance
at the Quarter Masters Department, where
our horses and all were ready 10 start, the
Quarter Master accompanying us. UniOrtu-
nately for me, | had selected for myself bro
ken down warrior, no, as was endeavoring
to outflank my companions, stumbled, | raised
him up twice, but the villain had made up his
mind either accidentally or wlfully to uDhorse
me, and he did, giving me time only to throw
myself out fthe saddle, which did, head over
heels much to the establishment and mirth OF
nv party. We were, however, both up again
in a few seconds, when all difficulties were
amicably and hunorably settled. We arrived
ON the ground about O'Clock, and after giving
the necessary directions to the workmen, we
went 10 the battle field of the 9th Of May, and
with pleasure stood on the very spot where
poor RidgeIy and Nav distinguished them
selves, aISo the field where ArIsta had taken
no his quarters, &c. There Is nothing to be
seen on The field, save any quantity of old
uniforms
On our return to the grave, We found the
men had progressed butvery little, the ground
being cement-like hard, and were obliged &c
desist, the sun fast setting over western Mexi'
CO, and make for the city. During the even
ing had the pleasure of enjoying the hosPita-
lily of Or. McPhail, Of Baltimore, of whom
and of whose gentemanly treatment cannot
say too much. The heat here is about 80 deg
with falling off at night of some 20 or 81
degrees.
The next morning we got under way as soor
as practicable, and in passing Fort Brown,
called in and took birds eye view of the in
terror. It is much larger than we were led tc
believe by common reading. 1t would take al
least some 2 900 men to man this fort proper.
lv. Our means of transportation being now a
hand, was compelled, after few shakes o.
the hand with those who had shown me the
civlity of the fort, TO take seat in our car
riage-a common four horse wagon--where
bag, baggage and coffin were to be huddled TO-
gether. When we arrived at the grave, the
body was exposed, having been wrapped in ;
common course mating. The flesh had en-
tirely disappeared, but the bones were perfec
and dry The body being taken out and box
ed up, we started on our journey through {
chappare country We arrived at what il
called the halfway house, some two mile
Point Isabel side) this side of the Palo Alto
which is an immense plain, with grass knee
high, about half-psst o'clock, where we tool
a sort ola dinner. Immediately on our arrival
and my friend despatched man to the Palc
Alto battle field to procure US some Mexican
sSulls-n few Of which we have with US.