Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-28
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
From ise Ne,c Orleans Pieayune, Extra.

From hc Neu Orleans F'cdy"ne, ETtrd
MoNpAY, May II, 10 o'clock, A. NJ
Important from The Rio Grande- General Ia,-
lor at Point kabei-.4ttack on his Comp
Rspolse Of the .Mericans- Destruction Of Ma
sa,noras-.A General Blockade of the .Merican
Ports ordered
The steamship New York, Capt. Wimlle, ar
rived in port ON Sunday evening" having left BRACES
Santiago the afternoon OF "Wednesday, the 9th inst.
Her news is important, and of the most gratifying
description.
Our last previous accounts came down to We'd
nesday the 29th ult. Capt. Walker, of the Texas
Rangers, having come into Point Isabel on the
evening Of the 18th ult from his desperate enco,a
ter with the Mexicans, had volunteered to carry
dispatches to General Taylor. We now learn by
the New York that in that desperate xuesapt-so
desperate as to be thought fool-hardy-he fully sue
ceeded. Gen. Taylor learned from him the critical
situation in which Point Isabel was placed and the
imminent danger of its being carried by an over
towering force Of the Mexicans. He promptly de-
termined upon movement which should protect
Point Isabel, and re-estabsh his communication
with his supplies. Accordingly the evening of
Friday, the LIST instant, he left his camp opposite
Nlatamoras, with the main body of his forces de-
termined to cut his way through leaving behind
him for the defence of the works opposite Matamo-
Sas between 700 and 800 troops.
This movement of Gen. Taylor upon Point Isa-
bel was effected without encountering a single
Mexican. In place of molesting him they concen-
trated their troops abont the camp which he had
just left.
On the morning of the Sd Gen. Taylor despatch
ed Capt. Walker back to the Camp for intelligence.
The gallant Ranger executed his commission with
success, returning to Point Isabel the afternoon Of
the 9th. He reported that the MeXicans, taking
advantage of the supposed weakness of the camp,
commenced an attack upon it in front the morning
of Sunday, the Sd, with all their batteries from the
oPfh no i've and Gin tn ly
detachment of their forces this side the Rio
Grande, in the rear. The Americans holly return
ed the fire. The attack in the was Immediate
1y repulsed, and in less than thirty minutes the
Mexican batteries were sllenced. and the city of
Nlaamoras battered down. The loss to the MeXi-
cans in the action is variously set down. While
no account makes it less than 200 the latest report
in regard to it, which we find i'm the Galveston
News, carries it as high 700 The Americans
lost but single man, it is said, who killed by
a shell. None were wounded-sO admirable was
the state of the works before Gen. Taylor left Them
The town of Matamoras is complete ruin; there
are scarcely houses enough e standing to serve as
hospitals for the wounded
The New Orleans Tropic says -
"We understand that Major Ringguld of the
Artillery, commanded in the American camp oppo-
site Matamoras during the engagement with the
Mexicans."
The only written information we have had from
the seat of war, comes from Captain Symptom, late
of the Revenue service of TeXas-now in the en-
ploy Of Gen. Taylor. 1t is dated May d. Cap
tain S. says
The news was brought to Point Isabel by our
friend Walker, of Major Hays command The
N1exicans made the attack on our works after Gen
Taylor came down here. The fight continued the
whole day. The United States batteries Knocked
down Matamoras, killing two three hundred
Mexlcans-they killing only one of our men, by
the explosion of shell. The works were so com
Plete the Mexican shot could not injure them.
This attack and repulse, however, is considered
but the opening of the campaign. Cannonading
was distinctly heard at times, down to the hour of
the departure Of the New York. Gen. Taylor set
forth on the 9th inst to return to his camp with
ample supplies.-The Galveston News states that
when he left Point Isabel, there not the slight
est doubt entertained that lie would have to cut his
way to the entertainments through vastly superior
numbers OF the enemy, who were known to be
posted In large forces among the almost impossible
thickets Of chaparral on the road, with determi-
nation to cut him off if possible, in his attempt to
regain his other forces. The number of MexIans
Is entirely vague and uncertain, though all the
statements agree in estimating them at not less than
1en thousand, while many accounts put their num-
bers ID or 20 thousand All accounts agree also in
stating that the Mexican forces were rapidly flock
ing in from all quarters,
How many crossed the river could not be told,
though the News thinks it would be reasonable to
presume that large part Of their forces would be
brought into requstion to dispute the march of Gen
Taylor. They could not but the importance of
cutting him off, and would doubtless employ all
their advantages of local knowledge, skill in horse
manship and all their acknowledged resources in
stratagem to accomplish their object. Gen. Taylor
anticipated formidable and desperate opposition to
his march, but determded to accomplish it or per-
ish.
Thus reasons the Galveston News, and accor-
dinghy anticipates intelligence of decisive general
action. We are greatly inclined to doubt whether
the Nexicans would venture to attack Gen. Tay-
lor's whole force, although they SO out numbered
him; but should they do so, confident that
we shall have glorious victory TO recount. One
account before us states, however, that Gen. Tay-
lor had not left Point Isabel, and probably would
not leave there before the arrival of further re-
inforcements-heh having full confidence in the abili-
ty OF the troops left in camp maintain their posi-
ton against any odds.
In the slirmish which Capt WALKER had with
the Mexicans previous to the departure of the Ellen
Clara, it is now known that not even the remain
der have returned into camp safe
The bodies of five of them have been found but
owing to the shocking manner in which the Mexi-
cans had mutilated them, Captain Walker recog-
Missed but two, McClister and Radcliff.
The u. >. schooner Flirt to leave the Bra
los in day or two with dispatches for New Or
leans. The u S. brig Lawrence was still at the
mouth OF the Rio Grande, enforcing the blockade
All well on both vessels. Steamer Monmouth left
on the 5th bound to Aranzas, for the purpose of
bringing every man capable of doing military DUTY
TO the camp at st. iago.
The arrival of the New York at Point Isabel was
most opportune. 1t will be recollected that she
had nearly 200 regular troops on board under Lieut.
McPhail, as well as several field pieces. These
were all safely landed. Even without the arrival
Of further reinOrcementS, the post at Point Isabel