Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-04-25
The Army OF Occupation.

The Army OF Occupation.
The Penn'a Inquirer Of Philadelphia, has re.
ceved the following letter, describing the
march from Corpus Christi TO Matamoras, and
the incidents on :he way. more minutely than
the published accounts. We copy the follow.
ing from it.:
Dragoon Camp, Rio Grande, March %.
1e46-Desr Sir-I annex few lines. written
in hurry, to apprse you of the actual state of
affairs in this region. Individually, l think
there is scarcely any doubt but that we shall
come to blows and that speedily; the capture
and detention of our men and horses, is an open
act OF hostility, and would have been resented
before this, but for the delay in the arrival of
our seige train of heavy gus and mortars, with.
out which. we can Go nothing against the town
OF Matamoras most of the buildings being built
Of stone, and with few offecnc and defence
They are constantly at work on the opposite
side of the river, and new batteries are in pro.
gress of erection in addition to the three already
constructed and armed.
"A,my Of Occupation" Camp, Rio Grande
River, opposite hatamoras March 20, ls4G.
Dear Sir: After a march Of 10 days from
Corpus Christi, &c days we lay making recon.
nossances Of the country in advance the car
my Of Occupation" arrived at this point about
, O'Clock yesterday evening. A temporary
Flag Staff was immediately erected, and the
''stars and stripes" unfolded to the breeze within
stones throw almost Of the Mexican batteries.
Our troops defed along the bank of the river
to the airs Of "Yankee Doodle" and "lIai Co.
lumbia" from the different bands and encamp.
ed Immediately at the ferry crossing to the
town.
We had no adventure OF particular interest
in our march until we arrived at the Colorado
River. We there found the right bank of the
river in the possession oe party OF Mexican
Lancers, who informed us through the medium
Of white flag, that we should be resisted in
our attempts TO cross. Not knowing their actual
force and being informed by them most solemn
ly that their main army was close at hand, every
preparation was made tor aciion the artillery
was placed in battery at convenient points
bearing on the ford, and loaded with grape and
shells. A message was sent over BY Gen. Tay
lor-"That ifsny one should appear on the on
poste bank after we commenced the crossing
it would be considered an &C, Of hostility, and
he would fire at once"
Every thing being in readiness,4 compane.
lof1 ,,bt Inro Lad hu
Artillery. entered the river, Hankec by sqna
dron of the I'd Dragons the ford was ovel
five feet deep and one hundred yards wide
We soon reached the opposite bank, and being
Immediately supported by the Is; Brigade un
der General Worth, and three squadrons o
Dragons advanced some half mile TO the oper
woods without meeting any Of the enemy. Al
we have since discovered, their entire force al
| thpt time did not number 300 men.
| Since then we have received several deputa
tions bearing protests from the Mexican author
tiles against our advancing to this point; eact
one has threatened us with total annihilation
On our approach 10 Point Isabel the iahabitant.
deserted the town and fired it to prevent its fal
/ ling into our hands; fortunately only six or sever
houses were destroyed, leaving about twenty o'
more untouched.
But that which is mos, likely to involve u!
in actual hos,ilties (and in a few hours time
possibly is their capture and detention Of tive
! drapnon soldier and three horses these mer
were the videttes thrown out by the advanced
guard Of dragons, when arrived within few
miles Of The river yesterday morning.; il is un
derstood that they have been demanded iron
Gen. Mejia, and that he had declined givin,
them up Yesterday evening Gen. Worth Dor,
a white flag to the waters edge. which was soo'
answered by two Mexican officers, who crosse,
to receive his communications; they declined
however. to carry any propositions 10 their com
mander, until we should withdraw from ou
present position. This, Of course, we canno
do. {.
Every thing betokens the greatest activity o
the opposite side of the river; two redcubt
were thrown up by them during the night, an
two or more are being constructed to-day. on
GERS in splendid uniforms are promenading o
the bank, and gay streamers of the I.ancers ar
waying in all directions. Our information