The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-05-16
F:om the Picoyuno, Mov ..

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at an early hour yesterday morning from Be
zosSantiago, which pIaceIhe left on ihe2s,I
ult, in the sIeaG schooner Augusta. Sixty
niles west Of the S. " Pass he was trans
feired TO The steamship Galveston. He il
he bearer Of inportan, dispatches from
Gen. Taylor and of a requis'ion upon thu
Governor Ct Louisiana for four regiments
The previous news received tia, the Mex
cans had crossed The Rio Grande, is fully
confirmed, and detacbmen, Of American
troops has been cut off, BuI for the details
we refer 10 the foIlowing account Of opersr
lions kindly furnished US by Col. Doane.
On Thursday evenlng,the 23d inst. Gen.
Taylor received information lha, body of
the Mexican army had crossed to The east
side Of the Rio Grsnde, at point some 20
miles above his encsmpment. Early on
the following morning he despatched CapIs.
Thornton and Hardee, of the 2l Regimen,
Dtag0ons, with detachment Of 20 men 10
Examine tho country above and Capt. Kerr
nl the sane regiment, with company tu
examine the country below the encampmen,
rhe latter returned to camp without having
made any discovery OF Mexcans.
The former, however, fell in with whsl
he considered 10 be scouting party OF the
enemy on, which proved to be the advance
guard of a very strong body Of the enemy,
who were posted in The chaparraI, immedl-
aleIy in ,he rear of Gen. Taylot's camp
Capt. Thornton, contrary to the advice OF
his Mexican Guide, charged upon The guard
who reirealed towards The main body, fol-
lowed by Capt. Thornton, when in an in
slant he found himself and command sur
surrounded by The enemy, who fred upon
him, killing as it is supposed, Cap. Thorn
ton, Lieuls. Kane and Mason, and some
twenty-six Of the men, and taking Capt.
Hardee and the remainder OF The command
prisoners. The Mexican commander sent
into Gen. TayloI's camp cart with sol-
der badly wounded, with message thai
he had no travelling hospital with him and
could not, therefore, render the soldier the
assistance which his situation required.
1t is supposed that the detachment Of the
enemy on the eas, side Of the Rio Grande
consists of al least $500 men, under the
commands of Coils Carusco and Csrrabajal
both old and experienced officers and that,
heir objec, is to Gu, off all communication
between Gen. Taylor and Point Isabel, :,
he depot Of provisions. In the execution
of this object they have fully succeeded
and have thereby placed he A@etjcan army "
lIlerIy impossible for Gen. Tay with the
limited number Of men now under his com
nand, say 1900, to force bis way tMoughI
he dense chsparral in which The enemy are
already strongly posted.
On the 22d, Gen. Taylor received from
Gen. Ampudia, by means of flag of truce
4 communication in very offensive terms ;,
Of his having blockaded .he
Rio Grande, TO which he replied ,ha, Gen
4 impudia had himself been The cause of the
blockade, in having expressly declared MA,
unless Gen. Taylor commenced his retreat
beyond the Nueces within twenly-four
hours after his displaying his Gag upon the
left bank Of the Rio GrsDde, he would con
slider ,Dar as being declared, and would act
accordingly. Gen. Taylor furthermore
stated that he would receive no rnrther com
nunicalions, from the Mexican commander
unless couched in language more respect.
fol towards The GoveInmen. and people of
The United States.
Gen. Taylor's position, in the rear Of
WA'amoras. is sufficiently strong 10 wlh-
stand successfully an attack of me whole
Mexican force, and commands The town,
which with the batteries already mounted,
could be iszed TO The ground iE an hours
me. Gen. Taylor has in camp full rations
for 8 days, which he thinks can be made
10 last 80 days, by which time he is in
hopes TO receive large rsinlorcements from
Texas and louisiana, upon each of which
States he has made requlsilion for ,hs i'm
mediate equipment d. lrSbsmissiou ,oPon,
Isabel OF four full regiments of militia. II is
thought by the superior officers of Gen. Tsy
lnr's Army that 90 600 men will be requir-
I'd within very shon period, as II is