Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-20
STssa the ss~ osi-.ns risayaae. Asyls.
FURTHER FROM THE ARMY,


day the New York they contain fuller and more n,
thcnc details Of events the Rio Grsnde and put OUT
new aspect affairs.
The reader will be delighted to hear that neither Can
Thornton nor Lieut. Kane killed in the affair Of Ii
surprise OF Capt Thorn,ons Dragons. We give below
minute account OF the surprise and action aeeurac
OF which we have no doubt. Il will be read with univer
sal interest.
The Florida brought official dispatches from Ger
Taylor Tor the Government. Col Whistler came passer
ger on the Fonda gentleman who also came pas.er
ger on the schooner has furnished with the following
alive OF Gen. Tayor's march from his camp Point is.b,
and OF the subsequent attack upon the camp Il differ
from the accounts received by the New York. ria Calves
ton LOT which have given the details CONNIE ncin. O.
the hts' page The reader may rcPose entire con6denc
IN the following as It may be considered almost official:
Attack upon Gen. Taylor. Camp.
| On the LIST OF Nav the main body Of the Army Of DC
euPaon marched from the camp the Rio Grsnde eav
ing as garrison m the edworks opposite Mstamoas th
9Th Regiment OF Infantry and two companies OF Artillery
commanded by Capt Lowd and Lieut. Brsgg-ihe Who'll,
| commanded by Major Brown. eth Infantry.
On the I'd the army encamped Point Isabel Early in
the morning ct the I'D heavy cannonade heard IN,
direction OF Matsmotas, which was continued during the
day. aud at intervals through the night and during the n,
OF the 9Th. Owing the difficulty OF mi
the tort, intelligence received at head re
speeung the result of the until tho morning OF
the 9th, when party sent forward communicate
despatch from Major Brown announcing the particular.
a brief statement of which follows:
At9 o'clock on the morning OF the Sd FIRE opened
upon the fort from ct the Mexican batteries and
continued with seven guns. The fire was Immediately r,-
turned and the battery senced by guns in thirty MIN
utes-two OF the guns supposed TO be
The enemy then commenced firing from the lower fort
and mortar battery brisk fire OF shot shells was kent
| up but without damage to the fort garrison.
deliberate hre kept up BY our eighteen
psundes upon the enemy guns and city of Matsmo
ras. the consulate Dag, being respected.
he hire OF the enemy kept up without cessation
until halt past !. At 10 1t temporarily suspended
recommended inter
night Although is believed that some - or 1870 shot
were hred by the during this period bu, one cas
atty oecurred-a sergeant ct Company 81 Inanry being
killed Not one OF our guns was dismuun'ed, though the
enemys hte concentrated Tor some time on the Is
FOUNDER battery and the shot frequently struck the emba
sures AT O'Clock on the morning OF the 4th the fire
resumed by the enemy continued for IL or Is shots
and Kept up long intervals during the day, but without
ell CT.
The amount OF damage done to the enemy beyond ST.
iencng their batteries, cannot be correctly known
Our informant assures that IL understood 70 he
Gen Tay'rs intention to remain Point Isabel until that
post should De perfectly fortified, and largo OF
troops should arye but he fur Their gives every reason 10
encourage those enrolling who may desire TO enrol
themselves, to believe that Gen Taylor will lead them at
once into active servee-that is his firm intention TO
"cauy the into Africa"
We proceed lay before the reader an account Of
the surprise and subsequent surrender OF Capt ThornOns
command Though not official, we have It from gen
ueman familiar with the circumstances OF the case and
upon whom all reliance may be placed. We do not
kno~ when have published any thing which has Of
toided Us such sincere pleasure IL will cheer hearts
that have been wrung with all the bitterness of grief
and make the nation glad:
Surprise and Surrender Of Ctpi ThOraton's Command.
On the evening of the 23i ult General Tayors spies
brought IN intelligence TO the effect that about Two thou.and
1--WE hundred Me1icans had crossed the Rio ranie ~ The
Texas side above tie American Fort that about cen
hundred Of same hid crossed below. Gen. T immediate
dispatched squadron # dragons each place of eros
sung the purpose Of reconoering them and asee.np
their position. The squadron ordered below was in COM
mand OF Capt her, the above was commanded by
Capt Thornton and composed OF Capt. Hafdee Lieuts
Lane and Mason with sixty Priva,es and cummis
stoned officers The former commander Capt Ker on ar
'ns at the point where II supposed they had crossed
found that the report false that they had not cross
ed there but had all crossed above which wa, si,-t
wares proved by Capt. Thornton's command being
surprised, m which Lieut.. Geo. M4son with nine men
were Killed and Two wounded. The wounded were sent
TO Gen Tayors camp the army having no hospital in the
hed C5Pt's. ThO'non Hardee and Lieut. Kane miracu-
"usy escaped together with balance Of the non COM
miSsioned officers and but captured and are now
prisoners Of Mexico.
The circumstances which led to the surprise are these
Alter Capt Us command had up Rio Grande
about "eniy-iour miles, and supposed to within
about three miles OF the Mexican camp the guide refused
to go any further and stated for his the whole
country was infested with Mexicans Capt T. however
proceeded on with his land about miles when he
came to farm house which was enclosed entirely BY
chaparral fence with the exception Of that portion OF il
wheh hordeTed on the rver and this boggy
impossible. Capt J. entered this enclosure through pair
OF bars and approached the house for the purpose Of max
ing some enquiry, his command following him. So soon
as his command had oil entered the enclosure the en-
envy, having been cOncea'd IN the chaBarra about two
thousand i've hundred IN number COMPLETELY surrounded
him aad commenced firing upon his command. He then
wheeled ms command thinking that he could charge through
the enemy and pass out where he had entered not however
without considerable loss This he ATTEMPTED hut did
not succeed, the enemy being strong.
Al this instant C0p Hariee approached him for the pur-
pose o. advising him how eGifcae Themselves The f.
rrg Of the sill continuing Can't Thornton. bors,
doubtless having received a snU ran away with him and
leap.d he ehsPaTaL fence and plunged into precipce
where he tell with Capt T. under him. where the latter
remained .nsensble for 1--WE six hour. This casualty
placed Capt hsrdee command, gho attempted with the
residue To make his escape by the ver intending on ur
wing at us margin swim In this he failed find No
II 90 b'Rsy that he could not get to IT, lie then returned
taxing the precauuOn 10 OF distance Of musketfy
disnounied aud examined the Of his men, determine
ing 20 sell their lives dearly prs lille. Before he had
succeeded however, IN the inspection Of his arms Mex
Ican OHIO ERODE up aGd asked hun surrender. CEpt H.
replied that he would surrender one condition which
was, that II the Mexican General would receive them NJ
prisoners OF war and treat them the civilized ma
tons do, he would surrender, but other conditions
The Mexican officer bore this metsage 10 the Genera COM
msrding, sd eiurned with the assurance that he
Capt h. then surrendered Caps. Thornton and Hlrdee
with Lieut. Kane aud the dc of tho commissioned
officers and prvaes OF Capt rs command are now prs
on'r' OF wsr IN Mexico The enemy them remSfks-
bly, well.
Lieut.. Geo. Mason was fine young officer. and his
death IS much regretted. lis sabre he!t was recognized
sm ng some articles that were subsequently captured
iron tie enemy.
So lively the curiosiiy 10 learn every particular Of
the actions Of the 80 aud 4h nss tina, We annex here
to letter from en- ocof Point lsnbsl written mere for
our private eye thln Tor the p1bc which cannot but
inicres oil our readers;
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PICAYuNE.J
PoiSr babel, May s. 1876 (
Gentemen-Whsn the express GENE IN this morning
huredy peuced down the gratifying intelligence which
1t brought u, expecting the boat would leave in few
IN nues. IL now only waits for Gen. Tayor's official
despaich' which being PREPARED for Washington. Ha-
wing heard the official report from Major Brown read and
having letter before me from there will give you fur
ther particulars rdingy.
On the morning Of the 81, reveiIle. the Me1ioans
opened Their batteries upon work. throwing balls md
smells without inofmisOn until sunset finishing with half
dozen extra ones at tattoo for a lullaby.
Al rcYo.i'-, the lib, they opened sgain sending
lew shots and s1oi =, which compliment repeated at
noon Our artillery fenced the fort opposite outs IN half
an hour alter tue hiring the 4t and knock
I'd three cmbrasufcs into This cau,ed ihsm o st,p
hrng there for considerable ume 10 repair damages
Ouf arlIey also dsmpuutsi several u their guns and
from appearances must have killed many men. On our
paT but ono setg"ant NJ the ih infsny kled-bsirg
shot 90 the head wh Bib bail. He was earned 10 tho
10 A oil nd