The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-24

Nothing will satisfy them but the advance They insist
that the country expects of them, and urge that
Taylor does not accord to the noble patriot
&c volunteers the post OF danger and Of honor he will
brnve storm OF Indignation throughout the land
Whether moved by the fear Of this frshtful conse-
quence by of Justice to these brave men he
may grant their request and may have to inform you
how they sormed breach. The mercenaries, did re
specially at Palo Alto is but just that patriotic
iuntees shall have their share of glory at Monterey
And the kind hearted veteran commanding may take
them at their word and place these citizen soldiers where
brave men wish to be
doubt many unforeseen difficulties will be encoun.
tered after the march begins We make Of the
animals and packs kindly brought to by isa ear.
ly IN May In penetrating foreign country 1t is wise to
adopt az lar as possible its manners and customs the ex
perence OF ages having generally demonstrated their
utility and necessity Thus might ndit moro comforts
BILE, certainly, and perhaps ncaithfu to adopt the
primitive dress of the native-a broad sombrero. and
mounted Mexicans arr, ws out Of doors, pair
Of spurs So their indolent habits invarable repose
during the heat of the day. must be initiated. If one
would live under 26 degrees South ct tins orrd season
There mode Of transportation is likewise necessarily
followed. The roads not often passed by wheels,
and many these have travelled Our artlle
ry must 60, as well wagons for the sick. But
transportation is principally by pack mules Thousands
will be required for the army, and the spectacle Of
many OF these ugly carriers, will be odd enough Indeed
am not sure, it not for white faces, but the
enemy might hail us on our approach as reinforcement
horse, spurs and burnt faces Ia erieano ina
CINE ourselv party Of rancheros in search Of those
Yankee vagabonds who never stay at home.
Attention will now again be turned towards Mexico
Pao Alto and Resaca have lived their day. The news
papers have passed other subjects scarcely an al
fusion is made to our gallant little army" Before we
did expect wish 10 fght-now we seek battles BY
invading hostile country. suppose the Moxi.
cans will ever fight better than they did in May. Whe-
Their do as wel must depend upon the volunteers
In regulars several hundred stronger than before
If we were victorious over 5000 them
drive 20 OO0 larger force than be concentrated We
may be defeated, but such is not the expectation Of
XY.z.
FoRr Polk, Point Isabel, Aug. 80, 1916.
The Position and Importance Of Point
and Hems.
BY mistake Point Isabel is situated the extremity of
an alluvial marty ridge which commences in the ad-
joining prairie and running nearly north and south ter
inmates in bluff about forty feet high on the Laguna
Madre" This ridge is about three hundred yards in
length rising up from the prairie equally on both sides
building The fort is constructed both sides of the
ridge which runs nearly through its CENTRE and consists
redoubts each extremity of the summit of the
ridge, where it is nterseced by the lines Of the work
hence they have commanding view, and the strong
Previous the battles of the 9Th and 9th May the gar.
rison, consisting OF variable number of men, amount
ing at one time to several hundred had been for many
but notwithstanding the great of labor
upon it. priacpay by Company q. of the 4th Artillery,
twas still the time mentioned far from being com
pete and has since suffered much from the heavy rains
On the 9th July its present garrison consisting of
Major Jno l.. Gardner, Captain VIM P. Bainbrdge I'd
Lieut. Geo. w Rains, and Brevet I'd Lieut. F. l. Porter
of the 4th Artillery, and 80 non-commissOned officers
and privates Company F. relieved g. and H.
then under the command of Brevet MAJOR Harvey
work AFTER it found that from its incomplete
state joined to the damage produced by rains and the
great extent Of its il mpractcable
attempt the defence of the entire fort with such small
garrison without the certain loss of the position being
the result Under these circumstances plan of defence
was drawn up by Lieut.. Geo w. Rains formerly
member of the Corps of Engineers but transferred by
request to the 18th Artillery, and is actively being
carried out by modifying and strengthening the selected
portions of the work when comn al ohahlv
be OF sufficient strength to be maintained against great
ly superior force The fort position, has been and
still is Of the rst importance its loss would in all pro-
liability result in the loss of the Brasos Island well as
the mouth Of the river and the army would thus be cut
pied in force by the enemy would necessarily puts stop
TO Its ADVANCE and cause retrograde movement for
their recapture As this result will evidently suggest
itself to the Mexicans is not improbable that Point
Isabel may in short time. again become place of
thrilling interest as involving in its destiny that Of the
The country surrounding Fort Polk is for severa
miles mostly prairie. skrted by chsparral intersperl
sed with enormou. pcky pear and nersected here and
appearance to the landscape 1t border of
these, about half mile in the southwest direction from
square Of Mexican muskets seen as prominent OBJ
iect in the prairie his remains many who,
the glory OF their country by the sacrifice Of their lives
in defence of its honor.
When the army under Gen. Taylor arrived in the vi
cinity Of Point Isabel its march from Corpus Christi
last March, there several houses in the place.
Of which-used as a custom house-was of considerable
size, but on approach most of the buildings
left and which still remain in the interior of the fort
mere huts made Of pieces Of old wrecks covered in
with canes rushes: they more comfortable how
ever than tents and ienty preferred by those
who can get them On the departure of the army for
left at Point Isabel with his company with orders to
throw up eldwork for the protection of the position
no os OF f
was selected for its commander officer who, long
experience unites every quality Of mind which
due to his excellent arrangements that he enabled
preserve his post with but feeble garrison for its de-
fence nevertheless he his heroic little band have
received comparatively, hut small share o the glory
acquired by the American arms. to compensate them for
the days and weeks which they spent night and day. in
few nights since news received at Point Isabel
which proved incorrect that Matamoras was TAKEN the
express rider from that place killed captured and the
fort about TO be attacked by the rancheros garrison
was Immediately under arms and prepared for defence
within the fort aware until next morning
Of an alarm having been given It is now considered
in the night small bands Of rancheros have been late
ly providing about the chaparral The express RI
ders are required to 30 through by daylight, and
well armed with colts revolving cabnes and pistols
CALIFORNIA, June, ls4o
Travelling in California.
in your paper which sometimes winds ts from
city to Vera Cruz thence through the City Of Palaces
and anarchy to Mazstlan, thence to this the farthcst
west often see notices OF tho speed and mode OF ira
Yelling from Maine TO Texas. In return, will give
Californian journey Of four hundred miles left the Pus.
bio de los Angeles town of the AngelS Monday
morning; party besides the writer, officer Of
the Civil Department Of California captain and the
geon Of the army the latter fresh from Mexico where
according to has story he had rode horses Of all
classes for years, still we advised him to continue on
shipboard until he reached Monterey With twoi hague
ros Tor horsemen and six eight horses started
leaving the captain to complete the requisite number Of
animals from the cavallado of his AMIGOS" Qrends)
The first four five miles brought sad complaints from
the Doctor Of bad horse, when one Of the baqueros
and another change Two or three hours ride brought
US to large farm house. built of adobes, (mud brcks)
with lew doors and no windows; the family host in
number had therefore spread dry hides carpet
IN 'front.' OIL tho house to sun themseves and say quien
sabe (who knows)o passing travellers Hero the