The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-28
WAR WITH MEXICO!
More murders MatamorOs in ru'
ms Several hundred killed ;
Point Isabel relieved ; Mexican
ports blockaded.

The steamer New York, arrived at
New Orleans from Galveston the 9th inst.
reports that an engagement had taken
place between Gen. Taylor's forces and
the Mexican army. On the evning of the
Sd il st. the Amerian General made a
sor,ie with a detachment OF the United
States troops tor the purpose Of opening a
com manication between Point Isabel and
the entrenchment.
Ga the morning Of the All, the Mex
leans taking advantage OF his absence al
daybreak opened a heavy cauonade on the
entertainments, which was CALAMITY re.
turned by The United States troops, and in
thirty minutes siIenced the enemy's bat
teries. reducing the city Of Malamoras to
ruins.
The slaughter among the Mexicans is
said to have been very dreadful-upwards
of seven hundred dead on the field of
battle, and the number of houses left in
Matamoros not sufficien TO accommodate
the wounded Mexicans.
Major Ring6eld commanded during the
engagement.
On the morning oflhe 5th., previous 10
the departure of the New York, a heavy
cannonading was heard, supposed to be
another attack OF the Mexicans on the Uni.
ted States troops opposite Matamoros.
According to accounts received at Point
Isabel, the number of Mexicans in and
about Matamoros, were estimated at ten
thousand men, and reinforcements~ were
daily expected.
Santiago and lsab bel are now under mar.
tial law-every citizen being compelled
to do military duty.
The subjoined account is from the Gal
weston Civilian:
Gen. Taylor proceeded with the main
body Of the army in order 10 secure Point
Isabel. which was menaced, q opened the
communication, leaving only 700 or 500
mon ia the camp opposite Matamoros.--
The army proceeded without interruption,
but the Mexicans, thought the diminish
ed force in camp offered a favorable OPP
por.unitv for its capture-attacked it and
were repulsed with severe loss-some say
several hundred.
The loss on our side not stated, but very
insignificant. Oar batteries were opened
on Matamoros, and reduced the place to
ruins, or nearly so.
This was on the Sd, and the fighting
continued unfit night. Walker, the well
known Texan soldier and spy, then took
forty men TO carry the news TO Gen, Tay>
Tor a! Point Isabel, during the night. He
lost six men on his way and had his
borse shot under him. bat got in.
The only written Information we have
had from the seat OF war, comes from Cap
tain Symptom, late Of the revenue service
of Texas-now in the employ Of General
Taylor. 1t is dated May 4. Captain S.
says
1.-The news was brough. TO Poiat Isa-
bel by our friend Walker, of Major Hays
commend. The Mexicans made the at.
tack on our works after Gen. Taylor
came down here. The United States bat
tories knocked down Matamoros, killed
two or three hundred Mexicans-they
killed only one Of our men, by the expIo-
sion OF a shell. The works were so well
completed the Mexican sho. could not
injure them"
Ger. Taylor had ordered the schr. Alert
10 repair 10 Vera Cruz with dispatches to
the Gulf squadron, requiring them to en-,
force an Immediate and rigid blockade of
the whole coast of the Gulf.