Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-06-11
Ncxicrn Account Of Events ON the Rio
Grande from May Isl 10 3rd, both in

Mexicln Account Of Events ON The Rio
Grande from May LIST 10 3rd, both in
elusive.
We have been favored with the following transla-
tiun of an article in the Matamoras " Eagle of the
North of May 4th, giving an account of what it
calls the retreat Of Gen. Taylor" to Point Isabel on
the LIST nst ard the subsequent cannonadng between
the Forts Of Matamoras and the American encamp-
ment opposite. Read in connexion with the events
which have since occurred, and with the well known
fact that only one "a sergeant was killed in the
AM Fort OIL the Bird and 4th. and only three up to the
date of the last accounts 18th inst nothing be
more rdculous-unless il be the reports Of the
affair which first reached this country, representing
that 100 Mexcans killed, their batteries ST.
fenced, town burnt, &c. The Eagle admits the death
Of one sergeant and two artillerymen the Mexican
side during the cannonadng of the Bird, which is two
more than were killed in the American Fort On the
whole the firing on both sides appears to have been
nearly harmless. We should like to see what the
Eagle will say of the actions of the Sth and 9th Per-
hap BY this time it has found out that Gen. Taylor is
not so great a coward as it supposed him to be-
Jour Of Com.
From the Matamords Eagle, May An.
The first day Of this month at IL a. NJ, his Excellen
CIV the General nChie left this place to join the army,
Which had marched few hours previous, for the pur-
nose of passng The rver at no great distance from
enemy's camp In consequence Of the orders gwen tor
the accomplishment Of this dangerous operation, with
and conformabe 10 the rules OF the MILL
ary art on the arrival Of our troops nj the point desgna
ted all the troops under the command Of Gen. Torreon
had already occupied the left bank The enthusiasm Of
our soldiers the obstacle that separated them
from the enemy gre1t that they appeared sorrow
full At the delay by the injuries received by the fiat
boats that had necessarily been conveyed by land on carts
and were so damaged that they Immediately filled
with water on being put into the river Nevertheless
snb was the activity OF the works. such the ardor and
activity of the Chief whose orders were u
filled with the greatest celebrity and exacness that few
hours suced to transport TO The opposite margin OF the
Bravo strong Division with all their artillery and tram
of war. This rapid and well combined movement
ought 20 have demonstrated 20 the INVADERS that the
Mexicans have not only instruction and aptitude Tor war;
but that these qualities appear realized the present
casion by the most pure and refined patriotism. The
Division of the North, encounerng atgues and over
coming difficulties ran in search OF an enemy, who,
covered by parapes and defended by cannons OF heavy
calbre can with indsputabe advantage await the at
tack With deep fosses, with multitude of orti6ca-
TONS defence against those who present TO
Them their bare breasts But General Taylor dared not
resist the vaor and enthusiasm of the sons OF Mexico
Well he orsaw the lntrepidty with which soldiers
would have rushed upon the usuPers OF our national ter
tory well he knew that those who have so many injuries
to avenge those who have grasped their not to aug
their property by despoing Others butn favor
of the independence Of the country; well he knew, we
again repeat that Mexicans have no dread either OF
forces or fori6catiOns heavy artillery Thus IS,
the chief of American forces inundated the moment
he knew by the proximity Of the situation Of his camp,
that army prepared to the river sailed out
y a of his troops and pieces Of artillery and some wag
ons The march WINS observed from this place, during
which his Exceency ST. General d. Francisco Mejia,
express to communicate the noce 10 the Uener
aim Chief Here we must render to our heroes the
honor they The verbally informed some SOL
ders who had yet reached the river of the retreat Of
the enemy they Immediately set off at spontane
ousy the rest OF the distance Sucn was the ardor and
the anxious desire TO come up with the enemy The
complete fight and that these set off with, from
the frontier to shut themselves in and evade the
counter frustrated the active OF Sr Gen Asta,
given with the object of advancing the cavalry the
plain TO cut off the of the fugItives But
not possible even by forced march, in the night Gen.
Taylor left his camp at T. NJ, and as lear has WINGS
succeeded in getting into the Fronton for when the
cavalry got the point where they ought to have cut
them off, they already past and some leagues ahead
Great the disappointment OF our vaiants that they
could not meet the enemy face to face their route
would have been ceran and the greatest part oil the
Amencan army, who thought to cast down the Mexcans
would have persisted in the first battle OF Importance
But we want TO fight and the Americans do not know
how to use any arms except deceit and perhdy- Why
did they not remain firm al the foot ct the flag! Why
did they leave the land they inqnitously pretend to
usurp? Is this the way the General fu6s his word Of
honor? Has not Mr.. Taylor said in all his communi-
cations that he prepared repe those that offered
to attack him? Why then did he run away cowardly,
and shut himself up in the Fronton The Chief OF the
American Army has coverd himself with disgrace and
gnomny; sacrificing, HIMSELF part OF his forces
that left in the ortI6caons for II Is certain that be
would not return them. He is not ignorant of
the danger they rum he calculates that his would be
greater he had the emery to attempt to resist on the
plain the bayonets and ances Of the mexicaus.
We pass relate the glorious success ut yesterday
Sunday May 3D. At daybreak our batteries opened
fire on the ort6catons of the enemy, and the thunder
ing the Mexican salued by the drums OF all the
barracks and points OF the line, by the bells OF the parish
church. and by the cheers Of the inhabitants OF Matamo
ras In a moment the filled, and all were
happy that the hour bad arrived to give terrible lesson
to the American camp, whose odous presence ought no
longer be tolerated The enemy answered, but were
cabre could not compete with that OF this place. Alter
FIVE hours fire. bulwarks remained immoyable from
their sodity and the knowledge displayed in the rules
of their construction but it did not happen
with the Qualifications of their paraPes
completely demolished, in such a manner that by Ill
o'clock A. NJ. they ceased to play their ariery ana 81
fenced their fire. For part we continued acuveiy the
rest the day without the enemy daring TO answer-for
parapets which they sheltered themselves under be-
ing destroyed they bad not the courage to load Their can
Mons that remained entirely uncovered The result de-
what in reality the exaggerated skill of the
American artillery. They have lo-Pounders, and those
of our line do exceed the callbre OF pounds never
teless the skill and practice of the Mexicans suced 10
vanquish those that handled superior arms Unadng
glory and eternal honor to our valiant artillery! The
enemy their impotent rage, and previous to hiding
their shame behind the most distant paraPets had the bar
barify direct their the city, to destroy the ed
i6cies it easy destroy the fortlhcaons
from whence they received so much INJURY rms mean
vengeance that only be IN the souls oil miserable
cowards fortunately did not succeed as they intended
They who unworhly adorn themselves with the IT,
tie of illustrated GusrousO philanthropists! But
their awkwardness equal TO their malice for nearly
all the balls over and those that struck the houses
although they 16-pounders, did no other damage
than mark two holes in the walls. Ii those who
conceived the infamous idea Of destroying Matamoras had
the smile contempt that the of the houses
displayed and their indifference for the losses they might
sustain they would have admired the patriotism and I'M
Of the Mexicans, who always ready to make
the greatest sacrifices maintain their country and
dependence The brilliant Sd Of May is another tesiimo-
ny of this truth In the hottest Of the FIRE noticed