American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-20

concealed in the chapparel, about two thou
sand hive hundred in number, completely sur
| rounded him and commenced firing upon his
command. He then wheeled his command
thinking he could charge through the enemy
and pass out where he had entered, not how
ever without considerable loss. This he at
tempted but did not succeed, the enemy being
too strong.
AT this instant, Capt. Hardee approached
him for the purpose of advising him how to
extricate themselves. The firing of the
enc my still continuing, Captain Thornton's
horse, doubtless, received a shot ran away with
him and leaped the chapparsl fence and plunged
into precipice, where he fell, with Capt. T.
under him, where the latter remained insens-
BILE for five or six hours. This casualty placed
Capt. Hardee in command, who attempted
with the residue to make his escape by the rv-
err intending to swim it. In this he failed, fin
ding it so DOGGY that he could not get to it. He
then returned, taking the precaution toget out
OF distance OF musketry, dismounted and exam
ined the arms of his men, determined to sell
their lives as dearly as possible.
Before he had succeeded, however, in the in
spection of his arms, a Mexican officer rode up
and asked him to surrender. Capt. Fl. replied
that he would surrender on one condition,
which was, that if the Mexican General would
receive them as prisoners of war, and treat
them as the most civilized nations do, he would
surrender, but --on no other conditions. The
Mexican officer bore this message to the Gene
raj commanding, and returned with the assu-
rance that he would. Capt. II. then surrend-
cred. Capts. Thornton and Hardee, with
Lieut.. Kane and residue of the non-commis-
stoned officers and privates of Capt. IS COM
mand, are now prisoners of war in Mexico
The enemy treat them remarkably we'll.
Lieut.. G. Mason was fine young officer land
his death is much regretted. His sabre belt
was recognized among some articles that were
subsequently captured from the enemy.
From the New Orleans Delta, ofMay 18th.
FROM THE ARMY.
The steam schooner Florida, Capt Gift,
fIom Brasos Santiago the 5th inst, arrived at
this port last evening. Although she sailed pre-
vious to the departure of the New York, she
brings more full report than we received by
the New York. Col. Whistler, U. S. Army,
bearer of dispatches, arrived in the Florida
Messrs Thomas II. Jenkins, N. Boilvin, B.
Wheeler, T. R. Wansley, also came passen-
gers. We are indebted to passenger for the
lOlloWluS setll-OlHCldl report
On the LIST inst. the main body of the army
of occupation marched from its camp on the
Rio Grande, leaving as a garrison in the field
work opposite Matamoras, the 7th Regiment
of Infantry, and two companies Of Artillery
commanded by Captain Loud and Lit. Bragg;
the whole commanded by Major Brown of the
Infantry. On the I'd inst. the army encamped
at Point Isabel Early on the morning of the
Sd a heavy cannonading was heard in the d.
recton of Matamoras, which continued during
the day and at long intervals through the
night, and during the day of the fourth.
Owing to the difficulty of communicating
with the fort, no intelligence was received at
Head Quarters respecting the result of the
cannonading until the morning of the fifth,
when party was sent forward TO communicate
and brought despatch from Major Brown,
announcing the particulars, a brief statement
of which follows:
At 5 o'clock on the morning ofthe Sd, a fire
was opened upon the fort from one ofthe Mex
lean batteries, and was continued with seven
guns The fire was Immediately returned and
the battery silenced by our guns in thirty min
utes; two of the enemies guns were supposed
to be dismounted. The enemy then commen-
ced firing from The lower fort and mortar bat
terry; brisk fire of shot and shell was kept up,
but without damage to the fort or garrison
A deliberate fire was now kept up by our s
noupAorc unoY, tho nuno nd . he nj al,
of Matamoras; the Consulates flags being re-
spected. The fire of the enemy was kept up
without cessation until half past o'clock. At
10 O'Clock it was temporarily suspended, but
IL O'Clock at night.
Although it is believed that some 1900 to
1900 shot wereshred by the enemy during the
period, but one casualty occurred-a sergeant
of CO. B. 18th Infantry, being killed.
Not one of our guns was dismounted, tho
the enemies fire was for some time concentra-
ted on the Is FOUNDER battery, and the shot
frequently struck the embrazures. At 5 o.
clock on the morning Of the 4th, firing was
commenced by the enemy, and continued for
twelve or fifteen shots, and kept up at long in
tervals during the day, but without effect.
The amount of damage done to the enemy
beyond the silencng of their batteries, cannot
yet be correctly known. Captain Walker
and six others of the Texan Volunteers,
brought the dispatches to Point Isabel
1t is supposed that 5000 to 5000 Mexicans
attacked the fort, and the chapparel is full Of
them Our boys dsmounted one of their Is
Founders, and threw it fifty feet in the air
General Taylor's troops are in fine spirits,
and in good health.