The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-07-04
THE ARMY.
OFFICIAL DESPATCH OF GEN. TAY
LOR.
HEAD QUARTERs ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Matamoras, June 3, 1916.


SIR: respectfully enclose herewith field
return ofthc forces in and near Matamoras,
both regular and volunteer. The corps
known to have arrived at Point Isabel, of
which no returns have yet been received, will
carry the entire force under my orders 10 near
ly 5000 men. lam necessarily detained at
this point for want of suitable transportation
to carry on offensive operations. There Is
not Il steamboat at my command proper for
the navigation ofthe Rio Grandc; and without
water transportation, | consider it useless to
attempt any extensive movement. Measures
have been taken TO secure boats of suitable
draft and description, and one or two may be
now expected. In the meantime, propose
to push battalion of infantry as far as Rey
noso, and occupy that town. For any ope-
rations in the direction ofMonterey, it will be
necessary to establish a large depot Camar-
go, which shall lose no Time in doing as soon
as proper transports arrive, unless | receive
counter instructions from the Department.
trust the Department will sec that could
not possibly have anticipated the arrival of
such heavy reinforcements from Louisiana
as are now here, and on their way hither.
Without large means of transportation, this
force will embarrass rather than facilitate our
operations.I cannot doubt that the Department
has already given instructions based upon the
change in our position since my first call for
volunteers.
Our last accounts of Arista, represent his
force to he halted ut Coma, an extensive hac-
ienda on the Monterey road, about one hum
dred miles from this point. He has pickets
covering the roads leading to Matamoras,
with view to cut offall communication with
the interior. The departmental authorities
have issued a decree denouncing as traitors
all who hold intercourse with us, or with
do Ion hole niSnnS-
ed to believe that in some quarters, at leust,
our presence is not unfaVorably received. We
have no intelligence from the city of Mexico.
Ordnance stores, and other munitions ofwar,
are continually discovered in the town. Five
pieces of cannon, and a very large amount
of balls, shells, and ammunition generally,
have been brought to light.
/ am, sir very respectfully, your ob't serv't
Y. TAYLOR,
Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. comd'g.
To the Adlt General of the Army, Wash
ington, ID. G.
LATER.
From THE ARMY. BY the steamboat Fash
ion and the bark William Joy, the New Or
leans papers have received intelligence from
the Brazos Santiago to the 18th, and from
Matamoras to the 18th of June. The COM
mittee deputed by the Legislature of Louis
lana to convey to Gen. Taylor the compli
mentary resolutions passed by that body,
were highly gratified by their reception. and
by the courtesy ofthe General and the Off
GERS under his command. The detachment
of volunteers under Col. Wilson occupied
Reynosa, and ifthe Rio Grande was naviga-
BILE to Camargo, of which some doubt was
entertained, that town was next to be taken,
Capt Ker of the Sd Dragons, and Lieut..
Scott of the 9TH infantry, had reached New
Orleans. Mr. Schatzell, ex-consul at Matamo
ras, with several other Americans, had reach
ed the Brazos from Tampico. A rumor was
current at Matamoras, said to have been
brought by express on the 9th, that the Mexi-
cans had received a reinforcement of
5000 troops un6er Arista.
A correspondent of the Picayune writes
from Point Isabel, June Stb, that Gen. Alva-
rez had declared in favor of Herrera, accor-
ding to rumor; that Gen. Garcia was dead; that
fever was rapidly thinning Arista's army; and
that Gov Henderson with his Texan force,
accompanied by G. w. Kendall, Esq, was
soon to march for Monterey. OfGen. Feath-
erston's regiment ofvolunteers, 70 were sick,
Col. Baile Peyton was also sick at Barita, but
not dangerously.
Capt Page is doing well, and will be in
New Orleans in few days. Maj. Arm
strong and Col. Mcintosh are slowly recover
| ing.
Correspondence ofthe New Orleans Bee.
| CAMP orPo SITE MATAMoRAs,
June 18th.
Uniformed you ofthe departure ofCol. Will
son from this place to occupy some post on
the river above. This morning an express
reached here from Reynosa, the bearer of
whichinformed me that before Col. W. reach
ed the town he was informed that no resis-
tance would be made to his entree, and he
took, as was done at Matamoras, an undls-
puted possession of the place, the citizens of
which expressed the most friendly feeling
toward our troops. Reynosa, as you are
doubtless aware, is 60 miles from here, and
within day and half's march of Camargo,
where tits proposed to establish depot for
provisions.