Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-06-18
From the Washington Union.
Official Correspondence.
HEADauARrERs Army OF OCCUPATION,
City Of MaIamoros. May Is. 1916

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OccurAr1oN,
City of Matamoros, May Is, 1916
Sir have the honor to report that my very lin
tied means for crossing rivers prevented complete
prosecution Of the victory Of the 9th instant.
ponton train, the necessity Of which exhibited 10
the Department last year, would have enabled the
army to cross on the evening Of the battle take this
city, with all the artillery and stores Of the enemy
and great number Of prsoners-n short, TO des.
troy entirely the Mexican army. But was com
PEELED to await the arrival Of heavy mortars, with
which to menace the town from the lelt bank. aud
also the accumulation Of small boats In the mean
time the enemy had somewhat recovered from the
confusion of his fight aud ought still, with the
5000 men left him, to have made a respectable de-
fence. made every preparation to cross the river
above the town, while Lieut. Col. Wilson made a
diversion the side of Barita, and the order of
march was given out for o'clock yesterday, from
the camp near Fort Brown, when was waited up.
on by General Reguena, empowered by General
Arista, commanding in.chief the Mexican forces TO
treat for an armistice until the governments should
finally settle the question replied to this that an
armistice was out Of the question that a month
since | had proposed one TO General Ampuda,
which declined that circumstances were now
changed that was receiving large reinforcemcnts
and could not now suspend operations which had
not initiated or provoked that the possession Of
Maamoros was sine qua non ; that our troops
wonld occupy the town, but that General Arista
might withdraw his forces, leaving the public prop
erty Of every description
An answer 10 the above was promised in the az
ternoon, but none came, and repaired at shutdown
to join the Army, already in position at crossing
some two miles above the town Very early this
morning the bank was occupied by two Is pound
ers and three batteries of field artery--and the
crossing commemorative light companies Of all
the ba,tallions were first thrown over followed by
the volunteer and regular cavalry No resistance
was made, and was soon informed from various
quarters that Arista had abandoned the town with
all his troops the evening before, leaving only the
sick and wounded. Immediately despatched a staff
officer to the project TO demand surrender and in
the mean time a commission was sent by the pre-
feet to confer with me on the same point gave
assurances that the civil rights Of the citizens would
be respected, and our troops al once dropped down
opposite the town and crossed atthe Upper Ferry"
the American flag being displayed at Fort Pare
des," Mexican redoubt near the crossing. The
different corps are now encamped in the outskirts
Of the city. To morrow shall make suitable az
rangements for the occupation Of the town, and for
taking possession of the public property. More
than three hundred of the enemy's wounded have
been left in the hospital Arista is in full retreat
towards Monterey, with the fragments of his army
deeply regret to report that Lieut.. George Ste
yenson, very promising young officer Of the Sec
ond dragons, was accidentally drowned this NOR
ming while attempting to swim the river with his
squadron.
am, sir very respectfully, your obedient servant
H. TAYLOR,
Brevet Brig Gen. u. S. A. comd'g
To the ADJUTANT GENERAL of The Amy