The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-30
SCENES IN MATAMORAS.

the following
SCENES IN MATAMORAS.
Camp near Fnur BRowx. MkxIco May 80.
DEAR r.: In my last predicted that
nv next would be dated at .NaiamorGs.
So it is, although our cemp is on the out
skirts of the city. On the 18th the Cen
eral had decided that we should move to
the point selected for crossing the river
and commence operations against the
city. We struck our tents early that
morning. Our unusual stir and activity
was seen by the enemy, and no doubt at
tribnied to the proper cause. We were
all anxiously waiting the order to move.
when we were informed parley had
been sounded, and that deputatIon from
Gen. Arista had crosscdTto see General
Taylor. General Ricardo was at the
headsof it; Arista proposed to enter into
an armisiicc, until they could hear from
Mexico, not doubling the boundary
would NOW be settled. Gen. I. said
's no. thathe had offered them one, some
time since; had evinced the most friendly
disposition; that they would not agree to
it when his army was weak, and now,
that reinforcements had arrived, he should
dictate his own terms.' Ricardo wished
10 know if the General intended TO take
Mafamoras He said yes" Ricardo
offered to surrender all the public proper
ty, ammunition. &c, if he would notcross.
The General said ''no, that he must have
Matamoras if he had to batter it down,
and that now ne was prepared to do it.
He told him to tell Gen. Aarista that
these and .these only were his TERMS
That The city must capitulate all public
property, ammunition, provision, &C.,
must be given up, and that then the army
might march on, and retire.
The ,leputation then retired to get
Gen. Arista's answer, which was TO be
communicated at r. NJ In the mean
time the army marched, and eucamped
miles of, at the point selected for cross
ing. Gen. II. told Ricardo that Gen.
Ampudia had written to him, that the war
should be conducted agreeably to the
usages of civilized nations. That in the
last battle the enemy had stripped our
dead and mutilaled their bodies. r. re-
piled I" that the women WHO followed the
army and the Rancheros didit, and that
they could not control them." Our brave
old General replied, /" an coming oUer
and TIL CONTROL THEM FOR yoU."
During the evening active preparations
were made for crossing the troops. No
reply was given to the Generals propo-
, sition. The country people commenced
crossing to us, and reported that the army
had deserted the city and retired. On the
morning of the 18th confirmation was re-
ceivcd eff the reported flight Of Afista and
his army. The scare was still working.
Early In the morning the Dragons, the
light companies of the different hattaIions,
Ridgeley's (late the Iamented Ringgold's)
Artillery, and the the infantry, were
crossed.
regret to record that in the crossing
Lieut.. Stevens. OF the2d Dragons drown
ed. He was aine young officer, much
beloved by his regimenf, and his death
threw gloom over the army. For what
singular destintes are we reserved, and
how certainly and irresistably one has to
advance to fulfil his FATEi He was a.
mong those gallant fellows who stared
death in the face, in the late brilliant
charge Of Capt. May, at the battle Of
Resaca de la Palma. With balls scatter