Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-05-14
s'on the y o Plea!une MAY
Deplorable News from
the Army.

the Army.
Y Col! Charles Doanc arrived in this city at an
early bonr Yesterday molnlng, iIom BIazos
II Sanlago, which place he lcil ON the 2sth ulI.
\ ~ the scan schooner Augusta. Sky miles
Il Wcs ol The :. w. Pass he was transferred TO
the x7mcr Galveston. lie is The bearer Of i'm.
\ pofanl dispatches llun Gen. Taylor, and al u
tIcquiSi'iou upon the GDye:"Ur oi Lousi3na iur
four regiments. The previous news received, 4,
that the N"xicans had crossed the Rio Grande,
/ is fully confirmed, and detachment Of Ameri-
I can troops has been cut of lui for the details
: We refer 10 the following account ot opci aIion>
I furnished rs by Colonel Doanc
y On Thursday evening, the 2.h Inst, Gen.
\ Taylor received information Thai body OF .he
/ Mexican army had crossed Ia the Last side of
The Rio Giondc, nj point some twenty miles
above his cncampncnt Early on The following
morning he despatched Captains Thornton and
/ iiardec, Of The I'd kegt. dragons, with a de-
achmeht o! 20 men, 10 examine the country
abOTc, and Capt. Kerr, Oi ;he same regiment
wrh a company, 10 examine the country below
the cncampment. The later returned 10 The
camp without having made any discovery of
NexicanS.
II The former however. fell in with what he
considered 10 he scouting party, but which
proved 10 he the advance guard OF II very strong
Il body oi the enemy, who were posted in the
Il IchaFaIrai, Immediately IN the lcar Of Gen
|. Taylor'S camp. Captain rhHuton, contrary to
the nd ice Ufhs Mexican guide, charged upon
The g,prd, who reil ed toward The main body
! followed By Capt. Thornton, when in an instant
he found himself and command surrounded by
he enemy, who fred upon him, killing as i Is
supposed Capt Thornton, LieuIs. Kane and
I, Mason, and some twenv-SiX Of the men, and
taking Capt. I!ardec upa the remainder OF the
command prisoners. The Mexican commander
sent into Gen Tayor's camp cart, with n sol
dier badly wounded, and message that he had
no travelling hospital with him and could not,
therefore, render the soldier The assistance which
his situation required.
4 II is supposed Il AT the detachment of the
enemy on The Fast side of the Rio Grande con.
I, siSS uf al least $500 men, under the command
of Co.'s CaruSco and Carrabajal, both old and
experienced officers, and that their object Is TO
cnt of all communication between Gen. Taylor
and Point Isabel, the depot Of provisions. In
the execution of this great object they have fully
succeeded, and have thereby placed the Amerl-
can army in n most dangerous position, rs It
will be utterly impossible iur Gen. Taylor With
The limited number Of men now under his COM
mand, say $500, 10 force his way through The
dense chaparral "a wood consisting chiefly Of
pricky pear, and almost impas>ableD IN which
The enemy are already strongly posted
\ On the 2?d Gen. Taylor received from Gen.
Ampudia, by means ola hag of truce, a commu.
of his having blockaded the Rio Grunde to
which he replied, that Gen. Ampudia had him
self been the cause of the blockade, in having
expressly declared that unless Gen. Taylor com
menced his retreat behind the Nucces within
twenty flour hours after his displaying his flag
upon the leit bank of The Rio Grande, he would
consider ndr as declared, and would act accord
ingly. Gen. Taylor added that he would re.
ceive no farther communications from the
Mexican commander, unless couched in lam
cuage more respectful toward The government
and people Of tie unicd States.
| Gen. TaylorS position, IN the rear OF Malta
moros, is sufficiently strong 10 withstand sue.
ceSsfully an attack Of Tie whole Mexican force.
and commands The town, which, with the bat
ilcries already mounted could be ralcd To the
ground in an hour. zen. Taylor has in camp
Iul. ialions for fifteen days which he thinks can
nc made TO last thirty days by which time he Is
in hopes 10 receive large IeinlorcenleniS from
I Texas and Louisiana, uron each OF which states
he has made Il rcquiSlon for the immediate
l equipment and Transmission to Point Isabel of
\ four iull regiments of militia. II lS thought by
the superior officers Of ten. Taylors army that
700 00O men Will he required within very
sharf period as it is well known that the Mexican
army IS daily receiving large rcintorcenents
from The interior. II wa, supposed BY the
! American officers that Gen. Arsla reached Mat
,amoroS on The evening of The 22d ult with
4 brigade but up to the period of the writer :
leaving camH no communication had been re-
ceved by Gen. Taylor from Gen. hrisla.
\ Subsequently To his leaving the camp on the
81 h ult, Col. Doare learned that Gen. AriSa
addressed polite note TO Gen Taylor, inform
ing him that he, hrisa, had assumeu the com
mand of the Mex lean forces
\ Al Point Isabel grea, fears were entertained of
night attack, which from The present exposed
situation Of that post could not be Otherwise
than successful if conducted with energy The
post is defended by Major Mumoe, with de-
tachment of 30 ariller>iS There are also nj
the post about 200 armed wagoners and 30 la
borerS under he orders of the quarlerma>tcr,
and some 100 citizens furnished with arms by
| the u. :. ordnance officer, organized under The
command Of Capt Perkins and denominalcd the
Fronion Guards. \ company Of 80 exican
cavalry were seen on the night of the 26
within five miles Of Point Isabel They were
supposed TO be n corps of observation.
! The body of Col. Cross was found on The 2is
nit. about three miles from camp frighlfuly
muiilated and entirely destitute of clothing-
The body of Lieut.. Porter, who waskillcd some
! days previous hy party ol handful, under The
command of Ramona falcon, had mol been
found.
, TIE principal officers known to be in com.
nand Of Mexican forces, ale Generals AriSa
Ampudia, Mexia and CanaleS, Coils. Carasco
and Carrahajal all men orlalent.
/ The extra of the Galveston News sry7 that
rcqui>i,ions have been made upon the Governors
of Alabama AMI Mississippi for troops though
our own informant says nothing of this The
News supposes that Gen Taylor would open his
fire upon Maamoros the morning Of the 2Sh
ultimo.
/ We have also received an extra from The
office of the Galveston News where the intcli-
gcnce was received by the steamboat Monmouth,
with Captain Callctt on board. bearer Of de.
Spatchcs from General Taylor TO Gov. Hcndcr-
son, of Texas. calling upon him for aid. We
give the letter to the Galveston committee in
full, as il best shows the urgency of the call
upon us all.
Letter Of Capt. Catlett to the
People Of Galveston.
I Ov BOARD STEAMER NuNMouTH