Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-05-14

Ampndia, has been equally Industrious
in forhfying the town de!ensively,
keeping his soldiers employed night
and day. Gen. Ampudia's house is in
the middle of:he city, 1T a distance of
300 yards. Thus the two armies have
been situated for upwards of two weeks
up to our present dates, neither having
committed any positive act of hostility
upon the other. On the 10Th instant
Col. Cross, commissiary general of
the army, rode out by himself about ten
O'Clock in the morning, to the house
ola German, about two miles from
The army, where las was afterwards
ascertained) he was taken prisoner by
a party of Mexican rancheros. AS
soon as he was missing, Gen. Taylor
sent detachment ofmen, who ,scour-
ed the country in search of him, but to
no purpose.
Two or three days after Capt. May,
of the End draggoon, took runaway
negro in the .neighborhood ofthe same
place where Col. Cross was captured;
and from this negro the above informa-
ton Of the taking of Col. Cross was
obtained. Immediately after Gen.
Taylor sent messenger to the Mexi-
cen general, requesting information
whether Col. Cross was prisoner
with him or not. The next day Gen.
Ampudia sent several officers to the
American camp with the answer that
they knew nothing of Col. Cross, but
they had made Lieut.. Deas prisoner.
The officer, it appears, had previously
crossed the river (but withou: orders)
in search of Col Cross, (who was his
particular friend, and had fallen into
the hands of the Mexicans. Much
uncertainty and many surmises pre-.
walls in regard TO the fate of Col.
Cross. But the more probable opinion
appears to be that his capture was un-
authorized by, and unknown to Am
pudia, and it is to be feared that he has
been murdered by the party by.
whom he was taken, and his horse,
money, and clothing, divided among
them.
On the l4th, Gen. Ampudia sent
formal notice to Gen. Taylor, ordering
him to leave his present position with
in "a hours, and to evacuate the
whole territory west of the Nueces, or
that has refusal would be considered
declaration Of war. Gen. T.. imme-
diately returned for answer, that his
orders were to maintain his position on
the east bank ofthe river; ane that he
should do SO, especially as the roads
were muddy, and it was unpleasant
retreating at this season. Shortly af-
Ter the reception of this answer, the
Mexican army partially withdraw from
the town, and portion ofthe troops
disappeared from the west back of the
river. Thus closes the last act of the
drama as far as reported, that has yet
been performed. This movement of
the enemy is quite as inexplicable to
Gen. Taylor as to everybody else
Col. March informs us that a report
has been put in circulation, that the
threatened hostilities are only suspend
ed till the first of Jure, then to
be renewed, we suppose, with redou-
bled energy aud still more slaugh-
ter,
Gen. Taylor is prosecuting the FORTH
fcations at Point Isabel, with steady
perseverance.
Before he returned the above answer
to Ampudia, he ordered the blockade
of Matamoras, and directed the COM
manders of the First and Lawrence
to enforce it strictly, which was accor-
dinghy done. A vessel, with cargo
Of flour, having been waiting some
time for fair wind to enter the port,
was the first to suffer by this measure,
and was compelled toleave the market,
where -four is now worth $40 per bar
rel. 13fa
From the Galveston News Of the oath
The Telegraph, Capt. Aud, arriv-
ed last night from the Brasos St. Jago,
and four days later from the army of
occupation. This steamship left Bra
SOS ST.. Jago at 10 o'clock, a. M, day
before yesterday, being only twenty
eight hours out. The captain has
kindly furnished US with some memo
randa, stating that on the 18th instant,
Lieutenant Porter, ofthe 4th regiment,
(son of the late Commodore Porter,
being with fatigue party often men,
(some Of them wearing uniform, were
fred upon when within few miles of
the camp.
Lieutenant Porter and three of his
men were killed in the attack; the rest
of the party escaping, returned to the
camp next day. IT is stated that the
guns of the Americans were wet aud
would not fire.. Wesee no explana-
f,nn U;ven whv This Marty Of soldiers