Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-05-29
FROM THE ARMY
~-7por Steamer Col. Harvey at New Orleans.
,I,arresnondence of the New Orleans Tropic.
O'' BRAZoS SANTIAGO, Maya13.


SPY =, the field at the first battle and four thou
nanJ slowed away in the chapparal near the battle
ornd It was their intention to have made but
sI;obt attack the first day, but being SO closely
essed thew were obliged to fight IN order to make
f ,d tLor retreat to where the four thousand were
IN the chappareI In the first fight general Off
70, had his head shot off, it is not yet asceralned
who ne was, as his body was recognised 10y his
dress as he lay upon the field.
Gen. Taylor advanced the morning of the first
battle into the chapparel, then sent 800 picked
men under the charge of Capt. McCal' 70 reco1l'
,,oi1rc. he advanced unmoIested until near r W.,
(the armv following at a distance.) when capt
McColI sent word to General Taylor that ne had
received a charge Of grape from the enemy anu
lost two men. NJ
The armv was then deployed, and Capt May,
OIL nraooons ordered % charge the battery that
had thrown the grape, and to take 1t II he lost ev-
er man; he obeyed orders, took Il battery OF Tour
guns. and lost but one man. The battery was
commanded by Gen. De la Vega, who was taken
prisoner. =,
Oar little army then rent the air with their
buzzas. and rushing shouting upon the enc
INV committing the most dreadful havoc a.
monq them, taking eight pieces of artillery,
$4,000 rounds of cartridge, and 500 packed
mufes. Gen. Arista's camp-bedstead contain
ed all his private and public baggage papers,
which latter will be of great value, as we now
not onIy have the key to the whole campaign,
which will enable Gen. T. to form his plans
so as to entirely defeat their designs.
We took all and every thing they had, tour
hundred prisoners and the army baggage.-
TThe enemy had between 8 and 5000 troops
in the battles, but we with 800 troops COM
p!etelV routed them.
We exchanged prisoners, got Capt. Thornton,
Hardee and his little band. Our officers while
prisoners were we'll treated. having lived with Am
0udia ever since they were taken. Gen. L ayIor
tvouId not exchange for Lieut.. Deas as prisoner
of war, as it would be sanctionlng his crossing
the river, which he did not, having feprobated his
crossing in the severeSt manner
In This second and glorious battle we lost about
the same number of men III the first. but had
more officers wounded. Capt. Walker with his
heroic band of Rangers was the last that hred at
the Mexicans, the army efthim and his comrades
on the nank of The river shooting them as they at
tempted to cross.
To-morfow General Taylor leaves here to
make an attack on Matamoras, In connection
with Com. Common, who has sent boat ex-
petition up the river.
forgot 10 mention that General Taylor ar
rived here Yesterday with all our wounded,
between so and 60, with Gen. RomuIus DE
Ia VEGA, one Mexican Capt and two LleutS.
who 90 with this letter in the Col. Harvey.
The Auousta from New Orleans arrived
East evening. The mnes from Mdtamoras,
some 500. were sent in to-day, as we'll as the
Mexican wounded.
should not forget to mention, that all the
she'll, ball and grape shot of the Mexlcans are
made of brass or copper. This letter must
close, with details Of glory enough for one
day.
Correspondence Of the Tropic. -
announcement oft1e coming Of Pol"n-
teers--Unerpected arrival Of Conn.,
Common at Brazos SanhugO-GencrdI
Taylor starts for Natamoros-Com
Conner reinforcrs Point Isdbet-Er-
cittment-Ne.Us from the battlefield
Retreat -Capture Of .4rtiHery-Meri
can officer shot by his o,0n naen-Capt
PAGE wo,ueded-Louisiana Volunteer!
-Uncle SANS Sailors on shore.
BRAzos SANTIAGO, May 10.
Since my fast mot received) we have haC
two arrivals, the New York and brig MILAN
don. The last brought the news that ST.
steamboats, with four thousand volunteers wer
about starting when she left. This news mad
us most cheerful, as we could not have thel
expected the result that has since taken place
with our troops.
Dispatches had been sent to Vera Cruz by
Gen. T., contents to US snbs unknown, bu
rumor would have it, aforesaid Vera Cruz
was TO have been bombarded. Judge of on
surprise then when at daylight on the NOR
ming of the 8th, after the whole squadron (Fal
mouth excepted) appeared Of our harbor.-
The Commodore had not received his DIES
matches from her Int was informed at Vor
Cruz, that the Mexicans had marched or 7
900 troops across by land to assist Gen. Ari<
ia in whipping Gen. Taylor.
Commodore G.. therefore, thought yer
wisely that his presence here would do som
good in the way of reinforcementS. Gladl
was he welcomed, as General Taylor ha
marched out the evening previous to meet ar
conquer the enemy, taking with him twent,
two hundred men, teamsters included wit
two hundred and fifty teams loaded with an
munitions. provisions, &C., which the Mex
cans were no doubt apprzed of as the team
slad been loaded ever since Monday last
waiting the orders for march at moment
warning.
Gen. T. lett Point Isabel with little ov
400 men to defend it. Major Monroe, cor
dnanding here, sent requisiton to Com. Co
nor for as many men as he could spare, as
heard filing about p. M. of the 9Th, whi
continued with but little ntermission un
dark. Com. G. sent ashore ESQ men, and
thc9th, or 500 more which makes this pla
strong enough TO Withstand an attack aGain
10000 men.
Believe me when say there was the gre
Ps: excitement here all the afternoon of t
9Th, as we could plainly hear the cannonadi
from the field Of battle.
On the evening of the 9Th, Mr.. Murray a
Mr.. Bacon volunteered to 60 and find out t
gesult.
On the morning of the 9th, black b
can,e ;nto camn gave history of the &c