Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-11
ARMY INTELLIGENCE.


OFFICE OF THE PrcAYusr,3
Thursday, May %, 1916, half psst IL A. NJ E
MATAMORAS TAKEN.
The Telegraph has a, last arrived. and bring.
news that Gen. Taylor has taken Matamoras. 2.
we all anticipated. Not gun was fred in defence
OF the town. Tho following is from the Galveston
News of the 22nd instant:
The steamship Telegraph has Just arrived from
Point Isabel. Through the politeness Of her obi
ging clerk, we have been furnished with the FOL.
lowing information:
REPoRTs-That on the afternoon Of the 18th
instant, detachment of 800 regulars and $50 vo-
unteers proceeded to Burta and took possession Of
it. and established military depot On the night
OF the 18TH an express arrived from Gen. Taylor,
stating that he had crossed the Rio Grande and IA
ken the city of Matamoras without opposition, the
Mexicans having fled the city.
The MeXicans from last accounts were desertinr
their ranks in battalions.
Two American regiments, with the exception of
about $50, having marched few days previous,
were stationed at Bazos Point awaiting the orders Of
Ten; and It was thought, they would leave ON
the ZUth Tor Nlatamoras, Uia the old Burita road
Col. Mcintosh, Capt Page, and all the others who
were wounded in the action Of the 9Th and 9th ara
at Point Isabel, and recovering.
The Telegraph is just twenty-six hours from
Point Isabel, and has on board seven deck and two
cabin passengers
The Telegraph left Brasos on the afternoon Of
the 18th, and reached Galveston on the Goth. She
was detained there by heavy Easterly gale,
which commenced there on the evening of the 22d
instant, and continued until the 23d, and which
caused an overflow of water up high as the Ire
mont House.
On the 23d the Bremen bark Carlos Williams.
with $50 emgants, ran ashore and soon bilged
She was boarded the next day by pilot boat, and
one woman and two children taken off, but the boat
capslzed and they were drowned.
The rest Of the crew and passengers were got Off
SIZE me vessel was total loss The schooner
Margaret, which left the preceding day, drifted
ashore on the west side of Galveston and all hands
were lost
A ship ZOO tons was thrown on her beam ends.
The steamers James l.. Cage and Home left Gal
weston six hours previous to the gale.
From the Extra Tropic, May %.
We have numerous letters, but have only time
to state items of news.
The wounded at Point Isabel were all doing very
well.
The company containing the Printers from this
city had left for Gen. Iaylor's camp. They told
the General to thrust them upon the mustangs as
quick as possible, for they were wanted back here
as soon possible.
All the vessels which left here for the govern
ment had arrived safe.
There was a fleet Of American men-of-war living
OIL Beca Chca, watering the ships in the river and
assisting the army.
The mouth of the Rio Grande is now in our DOS
session. 1t is to be fortified
Captain Underhill says that report reached
Victoria last Friday, that one hundred Germans.
escorting one hundred wagons from New Braunfels
to the new settlement the San Saba, seventy
miles above, were suddenly attacked by large BODY
of Camanches, supposed to number several thou
sand, whereupon the emigrants abandoned their
wagons, to seek security, leaving their property in
the hands of the savages. There appears to be
some uncertainty to numbers, etc., but the main
facts are substantially correct.
Capt. u also informs us that report came over
land to port Lavacco last Sunday, to the effect that
large body Of Indians, consisting Of the warriors of
several tribes, comprising the Conance nation were
lowering about in the vicinity OF the American in
trenchments opposite Matamoras, with view doubt
less to join the victorious party and share the plan
der of the defeated.
Capt Aud, of the Telegraph, who has had OPP
portunltieS Tor correct information has piyen us
some interesting particulars in relation to our army
operations TO which we have now scarcely time
to alude.
The escape of Capt Thornton, at the time his
company was so badly cut up, is almost incredible.
Alter carrying him safely over the high hedge en-
closure into which he had been decoyed, his horse
bore him swiftly several other fences and deem
ravines. swimming the Rio Grande above Matamo-
ras, then passing down below the town on the OBJ
poste side, in attempting to leap broad ditch he
missed his footing, when both horse and rider were
thrown. BY the fall Capt. Il. was so stunned that
ne was soon after taken up by the Mexicans per
fectly unconscious of what had happened. After
the battle of the 9th he was exchanged and restored
to our army.
Capt. A. thinks the whole number of our killed
and wounded must amount to more than 300 Be-
sides the wounded taken to St. Josephs, there arc
now about 40 at Point Isabel, too badly wounded to
be remoyed-all but three, it is thought will reco-
yer. There are three Mexican prisoners having
but one leg between them all After being shot in
the arm, Col. Mcintosh received bayonet wound
In the mouth, which passed through one side OF his
head There are no hopes OF his recovery
The condition of the brave and esteemed CAPTAIN
rage IS melancholy indeed. The whole of his
lower jaw, with part of his tongue and palate, ia
shot away by grape shot. He however survives.
though entirely incapable of speech. He commune
Gates his thoughts by writing on slate, and re-
celves the necessary nuiriment for the support of
lite with much difficulty. He does not desire to
1--we, but converses with cheerfulness and exulta-
ton upon the success of our arms, and concluded an
answer to some queries concerning the battle of the
9TH, by writing eve gave the Mexicans HIP
ALI our accounts represent the MeXicans as hay
ing fought on the Sth and 9th with courage and
desperation that would have reflected credit upon
the troops OF any nation They were nearly in
state OF starvation and had been promised the ample
supplies of the American camp in case they would
secure the victory. They met the charges of our
troops manfuy, and stood the destructive fire that
was poured In upon them without giving way until =
the works were encountered with the dead and
Capt Symptom found Mexican few days