The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-02
A MEXICAN ACCOUNT OF THE BON
RARDMENT OF FORT TAYLOR.

The Matamoras Eagle contains long account OF
the bombardment Of the American fortress opposite
that place, by the Mexican troops. 1t is fair
specimen of Mexican bombast. The editor in no.
ticing the departure Of General Taylor to open a
communication with Point Isabel, calls it the retreat
of the enemy, and after stating that the Mexican
troops failed to overtake him by forced march al
night, he proceeds thus:
"Great was the disappointment of our vaiants that
they could not meet the enemy face to face; their
rout would have been certain, and the greatest part
of the American army who thought to cast down
the Mexicans, would have persisted in the first bat
tie Of importance But we want to fight, and the
Americans do not know how to use any arms ex-
cept deceit and per6dy. Why did they not remain
firm at the foot of their flag Why did they leave
the land they nquitousy pretend to usurp' Is this
the way the general fulhls his word of honor? Has
not Mr.. Taylor said in all his communications that
he was prepared TO repe those that offered to attack
himi why then did he run away cowardly, and
shut himself up in the fronton' The chief of the
American army has covered himself with disgrace and
gnominy; sacrificing, to save himself, part OF ms
forces that he left in the fortfcaons for It Is GER
tain he would return to succor them. He is not
ignorant of the danger they run, but he calculates
that this would be greater if he had the temerity to
attempt to resist on the plain the bayonets and
lanccs Of the Mexicans."
eve pass on to relate the glorious Of yes.
tcrday Sunday, May 3D. At day-break our bat
eries opened fire the Notifications of the enemy,
and the laundering of the Mexican cannon was sa-
luted by tho 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 Matamoras. In a
moment the streets were filled and all were happy
that the hour had arrived to give terrible lesson to
the American camp, whose odious presence ought
no longer to be tolerated. The enemy answered
but were soon convinced that their artillery, al
though Of superior calibrc, could not compete with
that of this place. After FIVE hours fire, our bull
warks remained immovable from their sodity, and
the knowledge displayed in the rules Of the art OF
their constructions but il did not happen with the
Notifications of our opponents,--for their parapets
were completely demolished, in such manner that,
by III O'Clock M, they ceased to play their artil
lery, and silenced their fire. For our part we con-
tinued actively the rest of the day without the enc
my daring to answer for the parapets under which
they sheltered themselves, being destroyed, they
had not the courage to load their cannons, that re-
manned entirely uncovered The result demonstrates
what is in reality the exaggerated skill OF the Amer
lean artillery.
They have Ie.pounders, and those Of our line do
not exceed the calbre Of pounds; nevertheless the
skill practice Of the Mexicans sufhced to vanqush
those that handled superior Unfading glory and
eternal honor to our valiant artillery! The enemy
in their impotent rage and previous TO hiding their
shame behind the most distant parapets, had the
barbarty to direct their the city TO destroy
the edihces since 1t was not easy to destroy the for
ti6cation from whence they received so much injury
This mean vengeance that can only be in the souls
Of miserable towards, fortunately did not succeed
as they intended. They who 80 unworthily adon
themselves with the title Of illustrated (lusrious
philanthropists But their awkwardness was equal
TO their malice for nearly all the balls went over,
and those that struck the houses, although they
were 16.pounders, did no other damage than make
one or two holes in the walls. II those who con-
ceived the Infamous idea Of destroying Mata-
moras had seen the smile Of contempt that the own
ers Of the houses displayed, and their indifference
for the losses they might sustain, they would have