Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-05-09

LQ(e ana important - INC sIfHeseo
hare met.-Mo Collision get ~
Judicious conduct Of Gen. Taylor.
Burning fthe Mexican Custom
House.
We are indebted to the New Orleans
Commercial Times" and the g Plea
yune" for Extras, printed on the after
noon of the Sth inst, announcing the
arrival of the steamship" New York, .
placing them in possession of slip ap-
pended to an extra from the Galvestea
News, dated April 4th, which Pises
two days later intelligence f,om 'he
Army Of Occupation under Gen. lay
lor.
The pilot boat L. NJ. Hitchcock,
Captain Wright. arrived at Galveston
on the 4th, about p. M, having left
Brazos Santiago on the lst inst. On
the arrival OF the A. my of Occupation
in front of Matamoros, the Mexican
forces were drawn out on the opposite
bank Of the river, making great dis
play Of martial music, with trumpe's,
bugles. etc., which mode of salutation
was duly reciprocated in kind by a
similar sounding of trumpets and drums
in the American lines. Thus ended
the first days rencontre between the
two armies on the opposite banks Of
the Rio Grande, and within two or
three hundred yards of each other.
On the next morning (25th,) the
American troops discovered the Next
can Artillery, of Is Founders, lining
the opposite bank, and pointing directly
into their camp, whereupon the Ameri-
can army moved their encampment four
miles below. This step was doubtless
taken by Gen. Taylor in order to avoid
every appearance of any disposition to
commit aggressions upon the west bank
of the river, and to maintain strictly
the defensive character of his opera
tons. The most reliable statements
represent the regular army in Mata-
moros to consist of 1000 soldiers and
500 rancheros. The Mexican citizens
of Rio Grande are said to be quite dis
affected towards their own Government,
and secretly friendly to the American
cause.
The U. S. Revenue Cutter Wood
bury, Capt. Foster, arrived at Calves
ton also on the 4th, having left the
Brazos Santiago on the Both ult.-
Some news, antecedent to the fore
going, will be of interest to keep up
the chain of events from the seat of
war.
"The army of occupation, number
ing in all $500, arrived and encamped
on the 2sth ult. opposite Matamoros.-
Gen. Taylor, with a company of ORA
goons, under the command of Col.
Twigs, having left the main army, ar
rived ut Point Isabel simultaneously
with the fleet of transports from Aran-
sas, on the cath ult., there not being
half an hour difference in the arr Il
nv L.. u srIfu wafer.
On the appearance of the fleet. the
Captain of the Port (Roderiguez) set
fire to the custom house and several
other buildings at Point Isabel, and
made his retreat good to the river, al
though pursued some distance by order
of Gen. Taylor. The buildings de-
stroyed were of little value, being
constructed of logs, matched with
straw.
The thousands and tens Of thousands
of the enemy who have been reported
as in readiness to dispute the march OF
Gen. Taylor's army, seem to have en-
tirely disappeared upon his approach.
The only opposition experienced army
of occupation, was first at the Little
Colorado, where a Mexican officer,
with about $50 mounted men, threat
ened to fire upon Gen. T. if he at
tempted to cross that stream. stating
that such were his positive orders, and
that Mericans ke,o no fear. The Ar
tillery was Immediately ordered UP,
when the troops formed and com
menced fording in perfect order, the
water being nearly to their arm pits,
whereupon the gallant Mexican pru-
IDENTIFY retreated without executing his
positive orders. The only other show
Of opposition had been previously made
BY party of fifty or sixty, who having
met the army in the prairie, informed
Gen. Tay lor that he must proceed nc
further in that direction. By order o.
Ten. t. the army opened and this par
ywere permitted to march through tC
lie rear, and then depart.
When near Point Isabel, with the
Dragons, Gen. t. received deputa
non OF thirty or forty men, bearing {