Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-21
War News.

We have papers from New Orleans to the 9TH inst,
and the Louisville Daily Democrat to the 18th, from
which condense the following items of news.
Galveston dates to the I'd have been received The
Ciriian of that date says:
We understand that the U. S. schooner Firt was
endeayoing to get the bar into the Brazos San
tiago In order TO cooperate efecually in the
defence of the depot and position at the mouth of the
river. Capt. Symptom of the Alert, assisting in
the object, having taken off of the Flrts guns,
in order to reduce her draugh of The steamer
Monmouth left Friday, the lst inst, for Brazos San
tiago, with number of volunteers for the army under
Gen. Taylor. The short time Of her stay was not
sufficient for many who desire TO get ready but
others VIII doubtless soon follow. Gen. Johnson has
just reached town. He is soldier in whom our cit-
zens have confidence as leader, and can doubtless
raise company or two in Galveston. We doubt not
general and immediate turnout of the hardy and
experienced citizen soldiers of Western Texas be
followed by the whole State as rapidly as the occa-
sion which demands their services shall become
known. Gen. Taylor has not cried ''WolfI" until
he has seen the animal, and those who 90 need not
fear disappointment in finding the willy beast, as
ample opportunity viii doubtless present itself to
those who desire to do So on the other side of the
Rio Grande, if not on this.
Gen. Taylor's camp extends about four miles along
the river balk-twO miles above, and two miles be-
low Matamoras. The entrenchment to erect it re-
Il
is made of sand, and covered over with twigs woven
together like basket work, surrounded by very wide
and deep ditch. The walls of the magazine in the
interior Of the ratification are formed of pork barrels
filed with sand, tier thick, four tier high,
cred with timber, in which sand is piled ten twelve
feet. Twelve heavy pieces of ordnance are placed
as to command the town of Matamoras. Five hun
dred men could defend the fertilization against any
force the Mexicans could bring against it at present
The accounts confirm the melancholy news given
as to the fate of Col. Cross. He was found Dead
entirely stripped and wounded as before stated.
New Orleans is at all times military city; but
at the present it would seem to be an encampment.
Every square has its tents-every public building is
decked with flags. The drum and fife are play
ing merriy in the Streets and the whole population
is as bustling swarm of bees without queen.
Procamations orders, head quarters, bounties and
muskets the order of the day.
The New Orleans Delta of the 7th, says:
| Yesterday the business of volunteering assumed a
tangible form in the way of business and enables us
TO give something like the actual number which may
be considered ready. Lieut.. Beauregard, u S. A. and
Gen. Rowley, Adjutant and Inspector General of the
State, have now mustered into the service" of the
United States, companies which, including off,
GERS, amount to about 500 These companies re-
moved to the Barracks after being mustered
and are commanded by Captains Head, Tobin, Breed
love, c. s. Hunt, Stockton, trawbridge, and Glynn.
The roll not having been furnished to Head Quarters
in proper form, prevents from entering into detail
at this time.
Other companies are nearly ready, and will pro-
badly be mustered this morning but from all can
learn the whole number of names now obtained does
not exceed 800. A draft, unless volunteering is
more spirited, must be resorted TO, to make up the
requisiton.
| Tents pitched at an early hour in Lafayette
Square yesterday. in which the officers of several OF
our volunteer companies were busily employed taking
down the names of brave, honest, but humble fellows
who at the first call joined their countrys standard
All, the poor mans right to deposite his vote the
ballot box may be by disputed, but the privilege
of fighting the battles of his country is seldom de-
MED him by his more wealthy townsmen.
Gen. Persifor Smith has been appointed to the CHIEF
command in Louisiana. About $50 regulars probably
reached Point Isabel the 3D. If tie place were
not attacked before that time, it is probably safe
The Notifications at that place were completed on the
18th ut. that they in readiness for enemy
| so far as Notifications are concerned
The Picayune publishes the subjoined letter from
an authentic and credible source. 1t furnishes the
most accurate and reliable information we have vet
seen in regard to the brush between Captain Harden
and the Mexicans:
CAMP OPPOSITE MArAMoRAs, April 26, 1916.
GENTLEMEN: Knowing that in the present excited
state of the public mind regards our Mexican
affairs and the welfare of our little armv that mos
exaggerated reports creep into the public prints
thereby carrying with them sorrow and anxiety into
the bosoms of the friends and relations of many off
GERS deem it my duty to give you a hasty but cor
rect account of the capture Of Capt Thornton and
squadron of the Second Dragons, by force of 2OGC
! Mexicans, under the command of Gen. Terrejon
Gen. Taylor, the Oath, had received report tia
the enemy were crossing the river above his camp
| Capt Thornton, with his command, was sent out or
! the evening OF the oath, to examine the country
all -losbo Al
! report. His command composed of Capt. Har
den. Lieut.. Kane, Lieut. Mason, five scrgeants fou
corporas, one bugler, and forty-nine privates His
Mexican guide returned this morning. stating that hi
had been attacked at O'Clock the morning of tn.
18th by a large number of the enemy, and that the
| whole command captured or DESTROYED. The
guide warned him that he In the vicinity of the
enemy, and refused to proceed. He waited unit
night and none of the party coming in, he returned
home. About III O'Clock this morning a private o
the party was brought in in a cart He was wounded
IN two places. The man who brought him was thu
bearer of a note from Gen. Terreon to Gen. Taylor
the amount of which was, that on the score of hu
mainly, he claimed the privilege of sending in to hin
two Dragons who were wounded in an engagement
brought on by charge from an American cavalr,
officer against his command of 200 men, as he had M
flying hospital He then spoke of the rest being
prisoners, and said they would be treated with thu
consideration due prisoners Of war, agreeably 10 thu
custom of civilized nations From the wounded dra
COON obtain the following facts:
That the Charge was made in open ground; an,
that when the command charge was given, but ,
few of the enemy were seen, but they dashed owe
bill the whole command presented themselves
they were fired upon, and Immediately surrounded an,
taken prisoners. He does not know what became o
Capt. Thornton. Capt. Harden and Lieut.. Mason ar
prisoners, and all well. He reports Lieut. Kan
as shot, and it is feared he is killed. Ten men wer
killed. Before the cart left, one of the two me,