American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-25


The sloop-oEwar st. Mary's arrived from
Pensacola On the 10th; the steamer Mississippi
on the 18th, from Vera Cruz. The Bainbridge
is off the Rio Grande, enforcing the blockade.
The schooner Flirt sailed for New Orleans on
the 7th
1t is stated that an expedition is to be sent
by boats ofthe squadron to take the town of
Barita, l6 miles from the mouth of the river,
where there is a military force.
Gen. Vega is the COL Vega that was cap
tured by the Texan forces at the slaughter of
San Jacinto. He was also at the fall of the
Alamo, and is brave and accomplished officer.
In postscript of the Picayune, we find the
following:
The Mexican army was so confident Civic
tory that every preparation had been made to
celebrate it; but all their preparations fell into
the hands of the Americans. In their fight
many of the Mexicans took to the river, and
were drowned in their attempts to swim it.
General Taylor reached his camp the after
noon of the action. Leaving there his whole
force, he started the next morning for Point
Isabel, and arrived there the evening of the
10th without molestation. The morning of
It'll he started back for his camp opposite
Matamoras. We need not say that he and his
army are in the highest spirits.
Correspondence New Orleans Tropc.)
BRAZos SANTIAGO, May 1S.
At the receipt of the news of the first battle,
wrote you a short account; the result of the
second is now on hand, and it is most decisive
1t now appears that the Mexicans had only
five thousand men in the field at the first bat
tie, and four thousand slowed away in the
chapparel near the battle ground. 1t was their
intention to have made but slight attack the
first day, but being SO closely pressed they
were obliged to fight IN order to make good
their retreat to where the four thousand were
in the ehapparel. In the first fight a general
officer had his head shot off. 1t Is not vet as
certained who he was, as his body was recog-
missed by his dress as he lay upon the field.
Gen. Taylor advanced the morning OF the
first battle into the chappareI, then sent 500
picked men under the charge of Capt. Mccall,
to recennotre; he advanced unmolested until
near 8 p. M, (the army following at a distance
when Capt. Mccall sent word to Gen. Taylor
that he had received charge of grape from the
enemy, and lost two men.
The army was then deployed, and Capt.
May, I'd dragons ordered to charge the bate
ry that had thrown the grape, and to take it if
he lost every man; he obeyed orders, took the
battery of four guns, and lost but one man.
The battery was commanded by Gen, DE la
Vega, who was taken prisoner.
Our little army then rent the air with their
huzzas, and rushing shouting upon the enemy,
committed the most dreadful havoc among
them, taking eight pieces of artillery, l55, 900
rounds of cartridge, and 500 packed mules
Gen. Arista S camp bedstead contained all his
tn md lio hann oh Iott
will be of great value,as we now not only have
the key to the whole campaign, which will en-
able Gen. T. to form his plans so as to entirely
defeat their designs.
We took all and every thing they had, four
hundred prisoners, and the army baggage
The enemy had between 5000 and 8 900 troops
in the two battles, but we with 800 troops
completely routed them.
We exchanged prisoners, got Captains
Thornton, Hardee, and his little band. Our
officers while prisoners were we'll treated, hav-
ing lived with Ampudia ever since they were
taken. Gen. Taylor would not exchange for
Lieut.. Deas as prisoner of war, as it would
be sanctionng his crossing the river, which he
did not, having reprobated his crossing in the
severest manner.
In this second and glorious battle, we lost
about the same number of men as in the first,
but had more officers wounded. Capt. Wal
ker and his heroic band of rangers, was the
last that fired at the Mexicans. The army
left him and his comrades on the bank ofthe
river, shooting them as they attempted to Gloss.
Tomorrow General Taylor leaves here to
make an attack on Matamoras, in connection
with Com. Conner, who has sent boat expe-
dition up the river.
forgot to mention that General Taylor ar
rived here yesterday, with all our wounded, be-
tween so and 60, with General de la Vega,
one Mexican captain, land two lieutenants, who
60 with this letter in the Colonel Harvey.
The Augusta, from New Orleans, arrived
last evening, The mules from Matamoras,
some 500, were sent in to-day, as we'll as the
Mexican wounded.
should not forget to mention that all the
shell, ball, and grape shot of the Mexicans are
made OF brass or copper, this letter l must
close, with details of glory enough for one day
From the Montgomery Journal Extra, May 10.
BY EXPRESS FROM MOBILE.
By the Daily Picayune, and an extra from
the Mobile Advertiser of the 18th, we have
news, the substance of which is contained in
the following:
There have been two engagements between
Gen. Taylsr and the Mexican troops, the first
occurring on the 9Th instant, when General
Taylor was returning from Point Isabel to his
camp opposite Matamoras. In this the Mex
leans, from 5000 to 1000, were repulsed, our
army sleeping on the field of battle; on which
next day were found 200 Mexicans dead, sew
eral pieces of artillery, stores, &c. Major
Ringgold died subsequently from wounds in
this action.
Of the second battle, we can only give the
following particulars from the Picayune:
The United States steamer Colonel Harvey
arrived this morning, Just as our paper was go
ing to press, from Brazos Santiago, having left
on the 18th instant. Her news is glorious to
our arms.
She brings official accounts of second bat
tie between the Mexican and American forces,
which took Mace IN the 9th commanding Mt