Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-19

Capt, 9TH Infantry commanding fos''
Cap,ain w. w. S. Bliss, 1,.
ASST Adj Gen., Army Of Occupation LEXIS
(A1 FysRclro MESIcANo, DIvIsieN DEL. NohI.'
General en- Geie Sc hala " 5. istiau POI Iu'
elzas sulicienes rendirla y ad'nias Sc eu.u.n'
ira a su espalda una numerosa DIVISION cuean'.
pada que libre de toda alencIoh, Vdlli h;, e"""0
auxilios teupa w. S. esperanZas dc reclDi.
III snor a. Ia bumanidad recouucidu en- ell
siolo uresen,e por iodas las nacionss cu'ds' 'u',
none sin duda cl dcber de hacer mehcs cfueie' 10
lesas!resde la guerra. ,,, .on
ESQ principle cue los Mejicanos prolezdn ' con
preferential cualquiera ORA nacioh' ihh oo"s -
ndcare que sendo inu,ies sus eziuei"os' -
rinda para que por una capulacion evile Id 'o'a'
ruina lie los sodados que la obedecen.
As uue pTopofcionara v. .. e. placer We - :,
plir con los sentimienlos indicados nc ponuuu
dulzura que forman el caracler de ms con'pa
tiiues Ia vez que dare eno al mas 'n' el..s
que ha recibido. r,r
cues del Ramireno. Mayo G, de 1916
4'sS WI nj. ARISTA.
(pA uranouaRrsas UNITED SITES FoRcEs,
Near Matamoras, May q, lSl6-5 I. III.
SiR: Your humane communication has JUST
been received, and after The consideration due 10
lis Importance, | must respectfully decline 10 sur
render my forces 10 you.
The exact pufpor Of your despatch cannon
feel confident III | understand, as my interpreter
is not skilled in your language; but, II haye
understood you correctly, you have my reply
above.
am, Sir, respectfully, your o6edenI se Nsa
A,mu,nj;no TT G forces onnoste MatamOras.
Commanding Division OF the North.
REPORT OF CAPT. MANSFIELD.
FoRT OPPOSITE MATAMoRAs,
Texas, May II, 1916
Sir-I have HE honor 10 report The proceeu-
incs of myself The en.y engineer officer oi your
command al ibis place during your ABSENCE WIN
the army, from the Isl 10 lhr l0'h ihs' va l,'e
afternoon Of The Isl, after your departure; 'he
carpenters were continued al WORK on ihc ara"
and bridge OF The fort ill dark. NO WORK was
done by The soldiers This afternoon in consequence
ri The removal Of their camp and tents, &c, into
the fort. On The morning of The I'd the laoor OF
completing the dilchipg and enhancing OF me
un6ni.h he'd front was resumed and continued oil
day with much success On The morning Of lhe
Sd. (Supday) at break OF day, The command
were reused b. The fire OF The enemy on our od'-
leries. But the labor Of dllching ana eihoahh-
inc was resumed and continued all aayi not
outstanding Inc fire from the enemy's oalefieS'
without interruption. On the 1th ana ON 'hc
rampas;s were completed, although Tue hFe o.
the enemy was continued, and progress mace III
the construction ot homb-pTooi ana traverse ~
rear Of pusleln. On the oh other bomp-pfools,
&c. were commenced and continued uninienupi-
ed!y. except by the falling and bursting OF shells
- -
been nsulled at night by musketry, il was deemed
hes, 10 level the traverse on the bank oil The nver
10 prevent the use Of il by the enemy 10 ilre into
the lori; and one hundred men, with three oihceIs
besides myself, accomplished The work by MD
night. On the 9Th, The men were encouraged al
their excessive ab Dor BY The sound oil distant rihs
your first battle on the prairie. On Inc afternoon
a / The . h, being apprehe nsive, and hearing DO
sounds oil battle, and receiving no courier rom
you, and having ascerlained that The enemy had
sent OF his troops from our rear 10 reinforce Nun
self in Your front, parry was sem OUT 10 puih
ard destroy every thing That might be cover or
If service 10 the enemy III case he returned 10 ms
operations against the tori; and we continued at
il tin The sound OF battle and The retreat Of the ene
my indicated their defeat in The afternoon.
In the course Of the duties il has fallen 10 nv
lot 10 perform in this short period, have 10 stale
that have been most truly and faithfully second
ed in my operations BY the late Major Brown, The
commanding officer, till the Glib, when he lost his
leg by bomb-shel, while standing six or eight
feet from me- and which caused his death on the
OH The same aid was extended, cheeTiully, by
MS successor, Capt. Hawkins, TO the command.
And all he officers and soldiers worked cheeriully
to The full extent Of their strength al The various
works which, IN con, ul,ation with The comman-
ding officer, il was deemed necessary for rs 10 IN
derlake for the defence Of the fort and safety OF the
men.
The official repcr, Of the commanding officer
will give you all other particulars that do mol iali
strictly under ny department.
cannot close this official report without eS,,
pressing my regret for the loss OF the lamen,ed
Major Brown, who indicated, by The manner ne
exercised his commad, and his GOODNESS and self
possession under trying circumstances. The True
characteristics OF the soldier and the gentleman.
All which is respectfully suhmiued.
JOS. K. F. MANSFIELD,
Captain Corps Engineers.
Brig. Gen. Zacuasy TAYLOR,
Commanding u. S. Army in Texas.