Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-23

promptly determined upon movement which
should protect Point Isabel, and re-establish bis
communication with his supplies Accordingly
on the evening Of Friday. the Let inst, he left
his camp, opposite Matamoras, with the main
body Of his forces, determined to cut his way
through, leaving behind him for the defence Of
the works opposite Matamoras, between seven
ard eight hundred troops
This movement of Gen. Taylor upon Point
Isabel was effected without encountering sin.
gle Mexican. In place Of molestng him they
concentrated their troops about the camp which
he had just left.
On the morning Of the 81, Gen. Taylor des
patched Capt. Walker back TO the camp for in.
telligencc. The gallant Rangers executed his
commission with SUCCESS, returning to Point
Isabel the afternoon Of the 9th. He reported
that the Mexicans, taking advantage ofthe sup.
posed weakness of the camp, commenced On
attack uponit in front on the morning Of Sun.
day, the Sd, with all their batteries from the
opposite side Of the river. and simultaneously
WIN u't"CutbCut VI totSCo oU tuo r'oc
the Rio Grande, IN the rear was Immediately
repulsed, and in less than thirty minutes the
Mexican batteries were sienced, and the city
Of Matamoras battered down. The loss to the
Mexicons in the action is varously set down.
While no account makes it less than 200, the
latest report in regard to it, which we find in
the Galveston News, carried it es high as 700
The Americans lost but single man, it is said,
who was killed by a she'll None were wound.
ed, so admirably was the state Of the works be.
fore Gen. Taylor left them. The town Of Mat.
smoras is a complete ruin /; there are scarcely
houses enough left standing to serve as hospi
| tails for the wounded.
The attack and repulse, however, is consider
ed but The opening Of the campaign. Cannon
aiding 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 re-
turn TO his camp with ample supplies The
Galveston News states that when he left Poin
Isabel there was not the slightest doubt enter
tanned that he would have TO cut his way &c
his entertainments through vastly superior mum
bers Of the enemy, who were known to be post
ed in large forces among the almost impossible
thickcts Of chapperal on the road, with deter
mination 10 cut him off, If possible, in his at
tempt to regain his other forces. The numbe
Of the Mexicans is entirely vague and uncertain
though all the statements agree in estimating
them al not less than ten thousand, while many
accounts put their numbers st fifteen or twenty
thousand. All accounts agree also in Stain!
that the Mexican forces were rapidly fockins
in from all quartera How many crossed tn
river could not be told, though the News think
it would be reasonable to presume that larg
part oftheir forces would be brough, into requi
si,ion to dispute the march Of Gen. Taylor
They could no, but s"e the importance Of cut
ting him of, and would doubtless employ al
their advantages OF local owledge, skill j
horscmansbip and oil their acknowledged resoul
crs in stratsgem 10 accomplish their objec
Gen. 7. anticipated formidable and desperat
opposition to his march, but he determined I
accomplish il or perish.
Thus reasons the News, and accordingly al
'icipates intelligence OF a decisive general az
tion. We are greatly inclined to doubt whs
ther the Mexicans would venture to attack GeI
Taylor's whole force. although they so outnuu
Der him but should they do so, we are confdeI
that We shall have glorious victory TO recoun
One pccount before us states however IN,
Gen. Taylor had hot left Point Isabel. and pr,
bably would not leave there before the arrv
offur,her rienforcemenis- he having full conf
dence in the ability Of the troops left in camp
maintain their position against any odds.
WAR PROCLAMATION: