Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-05-16


to discharge and take in PROVISIONS be sent into Corpus
Christi for the volunteers fast they arrive. These
left at St. Josephs where the Waitecing is taking
them to their destination.
Gen. MEaUcAs HUNr will leave this city late this
ing, by way Of velasco and Victoria rendezvous Cor
pus Christi, preparatory to marching for the relief of General
TAYLOR.
conREsroSDEScE OF THE NEW ORLEANS TRoPIc.
BnAsos SANTIAGO, APRIL 81.
BY the Augusta send you of the items transp
ring around this interesting spot The opinion is fast gaining
ground here that the imbecty Of the Mexicans has been
greatly oyenated This the theatre Of real paper
squabbcs but the Of the commencement sangunay
conflict and one it feared Of Importance and longer
duration than has been anticipated But the farce is at
end The curtain has risen upon blood and carnage and,
by the opening Of drama almost unexpected, country
already the loss Of of her finest and braves
officers
On Thursday, the 23d Gen. Taylor received information
that body Of the Mexican army had crossed the Rio Gande
distance above the encampment Early the following
morning, Captains Thornton and Haree of the Light Dra
goons with company Of seventy men, dispatched by
Gen. Taylor econnoe above and Capt Kerr Of the
regiment with company to reconnore below the encamp
ment The latter returned without having made any discovery
The former division feln with what he considered be
vanced guard Of strong body of the enemy, who held sit
uaton in the chappaal Immediately in the Of Gen. Tay
lors camp Capt Thornton charged upon the party,
rary the advice Of his Mexican guide and following
the guard Capt Thornton found his command surrounded
by the enemy who fired him, killing supposed, Capt
Thornton Lens Kane and Mason and twenty-six of
the and taking Capt Hardee and the remainder Of the
command prisoners The Mexican commander sent in
Gen Taylos camp with soldier badly wounded with
message that he had travelling hospital with him and could
not give him the assistance his situation required
There doubt the detachment of the enemy of the
Rio Grande consists of fully $500 men, commanded by COL
Cairasco and Caraaba bold and intrepid officers Of cxpe
rence and abty and the whole army oficered by
such Carrasco, know him personally, should
be upon unequal footing There doubt their OBJ
ect cut off all communication with Point Isabel this be-
ing the general depot of provisions for the American army
They have succeeded and consequently placed the American
army in precaous situation 1t will be utterly impossible
for Gen. Taylor force his way along the dreay chappaa
in which the enemy strongly posted His command
not exceed 2, 300 men.
General Taylor has excellent position in the Of
Matamoras and hold his position against the whole Mex
ican army combined and his batteries the city in
hour Most Of the citizens have left Matamoras and General
Taylor has said that when the regular soldiers of Mexico
the side Of the river, he would destroy the
city, His batteries be ready the 2sth, complete.
General Taylor has in camp full atons for fifteen days,
which he thinks be made last thirty days. by which time
he in hopes receive large renrcements from the States
Texas and Louisiana upon each Of which States he has made
equson for the equipment and transmission Point Isabel
of four full regiments of militia.
1t is thought by the superior officers Of Gen. Tayors army
that twenty thousand will be required within very short
PERIOD is well known that the Mexican army daily
cevng large reinorcements from the interior II sup
posed by the American officers that Gen. Arsta reached Ma
tamoras the evening of the 22d with large brigade, but
up the period of my informant leaving the camp
ncaton had been received by Gen. Taylor from Gen. Aa
On the 22d Gen. Taylor received from Gen. Ampuda by
means Of flag of truce communication in very often
TERMS complaining Of having bockaded the Rio Grande
To which he replied that he (Gen Ampuda) had been the
Of the blockade, he having expressly declared that
less Gen. Taylor his beyond the Nueccs
within hours after his displaying his flag upon the
banks Of the Rio Grande, he would consider being de-
cared and should accordingly Gen. Taylor furthermore
stated that he would receive further communication from
the Mexican Government unless couched in language
respectful towards the Government and People Of the United
| States
AT Point Isabel great fears entertained Of night at
tack which, from the exposed situation of that Point could
not be otherwise than successful If conducted with energy
This post defended by Major Munroe, with detachment
Of eighty artllerisis There also the post about
two hundred armed wagones and fifty aborers under the
orders of the Quaermaster, and hundred citizens, fur
nshed with by the United States ordnance officer
ganzed under the command of Capt Perkins, and denomnat
ed the Sumpter Guards. company of fifty Mexican cavalry
the night Of the 26th within five miles of Point
Isabel They supposed to be corps Of observation
The principal officers known TO be in command Of the
Mexican forces Generals Arista Ampudia Meia, and
Canacs and Colones Carrasco and Caraabal Of
talent indebted for the above information to the polite
ness Of Col Doane who his way New Orleans in the
Augusta
much danger owing the proximity Of the troops and the
state Of the prairie From him learn that Arsta communi
Gated politely Gen. Taylor that he had assumed command
Of the Mexican army.
The government paper (the " Union of Satur-
day night publishes the foregoing news, or substan-
tally the same with the following comments:
rnom "THE UNION" OF SATURDAY NIGHT.
Faom rmE CAMp--We lay before readers some very
interesting accounts which have reached this evening by the
Southern mail They WILL Of course, deeply interest
American We understand that official dispatches have been
also received this evening, which confirm many Of the state
put forth in the slips from the New Orleans press. But
those dispatches will probably very be made public
deem Il respectful to refrain from statement Of any
Of the official details.
II said that Gen. Taylor has least fifteen days atons
Of provisions and f his troops he put upon short allowance
they may extend to twenty-five days longer is hoped that