The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-18

Important from the Rio Grande.-General
Taylor at Point Isabel-Attack on his
camp-Repulse of the Mexicans, and
destruction Of MatamOras!

The steamship New York, Capt. Winde, arrived
n po,t on Sunday evening" having left Brazos SAINT
lgo the afternoon of Wednesday, the 9th instant
Her news is important, and Of the most gratifying
description.
Our last previous accounts came down to Wednes
lay, the 29th ult. Capt Walker, of the Texas
Rangers, having come into Point Isabel on the eve
ling of the 18th ut, from his desperate encounter
With the Mexcans; had volunteered to carry de-
1patches to Gen. Taylor. We now learn by the
New York, that, in that desperate attempt-so des.
perate as to be thought fool-hardy-he fully sue
ceeded. Gen. Taylor learned from him the crtca
situation in which Point Isabel was placed, and the
imminent danger Of its being carried by an overpow
ering force Of the Mexicans. He promptly deter
mined upon a movement which should protec
Point Isabel, and re-establish his communication
with his supplies Accordingly, the evening o.
Friday, the lst instant, he left his camp opposite
Maamoras, with the main body of his forces, de
termined to cut his way through, leaving behint
him, for the defence of the works opposite Matamo
ras, between 700 and 800 troops.
This movement of Gen. Taylor upon Point lsabe
was effected without encountering a single Mexican
In place of molesting him, they concentrated the
troops about the camp which he had just left.
On the morning Of the Sd Gen. Taylor despatched
Capt Walker back to the camp for intelligence
The gallant ranger executed his commission with
success, returning to Point Isabel the afternoon o
advantage of the supposed weakness of the camp
commenced an attack upon it in front the morning
Of Sunday, the Sd, with all their batteries from tn,
opposite side Of the river, and simultaneously will
detachment of their forces this side the Rio
Grande, in the rear. The Americans holly returned
the fire. The attack in the immedatel,
repulsed, and in less than thirty minutes the Mex
lean batteries were siIenced, and the city of Mata
moras battered down. The loss to the Mexicanl
in the action is variously set down. While no &C
count makes it less than 300 the latest report in re
gard to it, which we find in the Galveston News
carries it as high as 700 The Americans lost but
single man, it is said, who was killed by "a shell
None were wounded-so admirable was the state o
the works before Gen. Taylor left them. The towr
of Matamoras is a complete ruin; there are scracel,
houses enough left standing to as hopitals fo
the wounded.
This attack and repulse, however, is considered
but the opening of the campaign. Cannonading
was distinctly heard at times, down to the hour OF
the departure Of the New York. Gen. Taylor set
forth on the 9th instant to return his camp with
ample supplies. The Galveston News states that
when he left Point Isabel there not the slight
est doubt entertained that he would have to cut his
way to his entertainments through vastly superior
numbers Of the enemy, who were known to be
posted in large forces among the almost impossible
thickets of ohaparral the road, with determine
ton to cut him off, if possible, in his attempt to re-
gain his other forces. The number of the Mexi-
cans is entirely vague and uncertain, though all the
statements agree in estimating them at not less than
ten thousand, while many accounts put their num-
bers at Is or 30 thousand. All accounts agree also
in stating that the Mexican forces rapidly
docking in from all quarters How many crossed
the river could not be told, though the News thinks
it would be reasonable to presume that large part
Of their forces would be brought int requsition to
dispute the march of Gen. Taylor. They could
not but see the importance Of cutting him of, and
would doubtless employ MI their advantages Of To-
cal Knowledge, skiIl in horsemanship, and all their
Acknowledged resources in straisgem to accomplish
their object Gen. Taylor anticipated formidable
and desperate opposition to his march, but deter
mined TO accomplish il or perish.