The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-05-20

o'clock in the afternoon of that day. His
original force, known as Texan Ran
gers, amounted to about IS men.
ihc Mexicans pursued Capt. Walker
IN ms retreat till they came within
range of the guns of the post, when they
IN turn immediately retreated.
The post is very strongly defended
thanks to the exertions Of Majors Mon
roe and Saunders. With 500 men to
defend the post, it is believed it can be
made good against 5000 Mexicans
The next day Capt. Walker volun-
teered with four men to carry an express
through to Gen. Taylor. The attempt
was thought almost foolhardy, but he
persisted. The result was not known
when the Ellen and Clara left.
There arc now about 5000 Mexicans
on the American side of the Rio Grande
One half above and one half below
Gen. Taylor's camp.
Ihe greatest apprehension now felt
ior the American position is, that the
Mexlcans may erect Notifications which
will command Brazos Santiago. The
natural formation of the ground is most
favorable for such purpose. The men
would be efectually protected from any
naval force by natural embankment
OF sand, and the position could only be
carried by actual storm of the works.
These works would perfectly command
all vessels entering the Brazos Santiago,
as they have to follow the channel with
in few feet only of the position which
would be occupied by the enemy's guns.
The schooner Aurora left Brazos
Santiago the evening Of the 28th ult,
with dispatches for this port, but it is
feared she has been lost, in a violent
gale, with all hands on board.
We are indebted for the above parti-
cnlars, so hurriedly thrown together, to
Dr. N. Il. Briggs, surgeon in the
army, who came passenger on the Ell.
len and Clara.
The report of the above action, as
brought by the Captain Of the Ellen and
Clara, is. that there were seventy-five
men under Captain Walker, VINO were
,rly all killed or taken prisoners.
L. Briggs stated to us that but six men
were fighting bravely by their comman-
der. We have another version of this
affair, furnished by passenger, which
agrees essentially with that of Captain
Griffin. Both appear to have derived
their reports from the pilot who took the
Ellen and Clara over the bar. The
actionis said by them to have taken place
Is or ! 8 miles from Point Isabel.
Capt. Walker distinguished himself
in the famous Mier expedition by his
extreme gallantry. Col. Fisher, who
commanded in the expedition and is now
in town, informs us that Walker is as
brave man as ever breathed-that if
any man on earth can carry through a
message, from Point Isabel to Gen. Tay-
lor, Walker is the man who can do it.
We hope yet to hear that he has succee-
ded in his design, though it was regar-
ded at Point Isabel as utterly desperate.
When the Ellen and Clara sailed
Maj. Monroe had under his command at
Point Isabel 500 men, composed of SOL
diers, teamsters, laborers, SC. The
works were then very strong and every
day he was adding to them. He had
two ls Founders and several field pieces.
He is an officer of great energy and
skill, and was confident OF his ability to
maintain a post against two or three
thousand of the enemy.
For several days an attack on the
post had been apprehended, and the
men slept every night on their arms.
The weather at the Point had been
very agreeable and the. men were
healthy, although the water was very
bad. The distance from Brazos Santi-
ago is about five miles. On the bar
there are about nine feet of water in the
South Channel.
LATER.