Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-28
The Mexican War.


The Mexican War.
The following crcumstanial account of the moves
mens and operations the Mexican frontier, are
from an official and authentic source:
On the LIST of May, the main body of the Army Of
Occupation marched from Its camp the Rio rande
leaving as a garrison in the field yfofk opposite Mat
amoras, the 7ih regiment of Infantry and twS coin.
Panies of Artillery, commanded by Capt Lowd and
Lieut.. Bragg. the whole commanded by Maj Brown
of the 7th Infantry.
! On the I'd, the army encamped at Point Isabel.
Early on the morning of the 81. heavy cannonade
was heard IN the direction of Matafioras which was
continued through the day, and at intervals Though
the night and during the day Of the 4ih inst Owing
10 the difficulty of communicating with the fort, no
intelligence received at head quarters respecting
the result of the cannonade until the morning Of the
9TH, when u party forward to communicates
brought a despatch from Maj Brown, announcing
particulars. brief statement of which follows:
AT O'Clock in the morning of the Sd, fire was
opened upon the fort from one of the Mexicah bait
terics, and was continued with seven guns. The fire
was Immediately returned and the battery was sien:
ced by guns in thirty minutes Two Of the enc
my's guns supposed to be dismonnted.
| The enemy then commented firing from the lower
fort and mortar battery; brisk fire of shot and shells
was kept up, but without damage to the fort gar
rison.
A deliberate fire was row kept up by our eighteen
Founders, upon the enemy's guns and town of Mata-
moras, the Consulate flags being respected.
! The fire of the enemy kept up without cessa-
ton until halfpast At was temporarily
suspended but recommended and continued at inter-
walls until twelve o'clock night.
Although it is believed that 1000 to 800 shot
were Tired by the enemy during this period, but
casualty occurred sergeant of b. company, 9TH in
fanry, being killed. Not one Of ouf guns was dis
mounted, though the enemys fire was Tor time
concentrated ON the lSpounders battery and the shot
] lv he NH 6vao ~ Loeb
the morning of the 4th, the fire was returned by tho
enemy-contnued for twelve fifteen shots. and
kept up at long intervals during the day, but without
effect
The amount of damage done to the enemy beyond
the sllcncing of his batteries, cannot be correctly
Capt. Walker and six others, brought in the dis
patches from Major Brown to Gen. Taylor, with much
difficulty and danger: The whole chaperal country is
filled with Mexcans 1t is supposed, not less than
FIVE thousand Mexcans attacked our fort Our "boys"
blew Of the enemy's eighteen Founders about fifty
feet in the air the third shot,
Gen. Taylor. officers and soldiers are in fine spirits
and good health.
News FROM THE Army The accounts thus far
are contradictory to the events the Rio
Grande that it is impossible TO tell what has hap
pened. We learn from gentleman just from New
Orleans, who had his nforma ton from passenger
board the New York, from Point Isabel, that it was
uncertain whether there bad been any fighting at
lIatamoras. The report that Walker had made his
way from the encahpment into Point Isabel with the
news of a fight was not true. No cannonading had
been heard until the sixth. when Taylor determined
to return to his camp. He had left orders to batter
down Matamoras, if his camp were attacked, and
tile superstition that his orders we're being exc
cuted from the cannonading heard on the sixth The
informant was man of undOubted intelligence, and
was positive in his statements and he undoubtedly
had The best means of information he left Point
Isabel at the latest dates If this be true we only
know that Gen Taylor had left his camp had relieved
Point Isabel, and had not been moested on his route
He had returned in consequence of the firing heard
at Matamoras He left reinforcement at Point
Isabel and considered that place safe. Ii contained,
when Taylor left, about 800 regular troops. There
are probably Others long ere this Taylor took back
with him between two and three thousand men.
The accounts of the feat of Walker contains more
poetry than truth. 1t thought there not
more than two three thousand Mexicans this
side the Rio Grande. 1t incredible that
previous accounts should be so incorrect when the
details are given Enthusiastically.
About 900 troops had left New Orleans when our
informant left The city was still in great excitement
The hotels and coffee houses open 20 volunteers
A purse had been raised for the purpose of giving
S25 additional bounty; il hopes of avoiding draft,
which it was hoped would succeed The draft was
include all that had been ten days New Orleans.
OF those who had fancy for the service
counting the days carefully. In the mean time troops
were descending the Mississippi. most belligerent
company Of sixfooters armed with rifles and double
revolvcrs, came down Red River; each one looking,
and no doubt feeling, like he could eat up dozen
MexicaDs at a meal We shall soon have troops
enough in camp to end the fight and compel Mexico
to for peace, and purchase it as she best can.
! This does not diminish the interest to hear the
sequel. Gen. Taylor had marched in the face Of
superior force, and the work going on before him.
The result we have yet to learn-LOuSrHe Democrat,
May 20.
EXPLOIT OF GALLANT You've JERsEYMAN.-A let
ter from person in the army to the Newark Adver-
tiser, relates incident which will be read with in
terest:
young Newarker attached to the army young
son of Gilbert Dudley, of the constables of New
ark, ~ j., row only about 10 years of age-return-
ing two days ago from of our most advanced
pickets, whittier he had been sent convey orders,
came unexpectedly upon two Mexican soldiers. who
had apparently Just rowed across the river and