Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-18

Lieut.. lnge, I'd Dragons, Lieut.. Cochrane, 4tl,
Inf, and Lieut.. Chadbourne, 9Th Inf. The wound
ed officers are Colonel Payne, of the Artillery. act
ing Inspector General, Col. Mcintosh, 9th Inf
Capt. Montgomery, Lieuts. Selden, Maclay, Nor
ris, Gates, Burbank and Jordan, 9Th Inf and Lieut.
Dobbins, sd Inf. Maj. Ringgold has since died.
His last request was that david Branch" might
be permitted to live as long possible. You have
Iost In nm, MIR. r., great admirer and supporter.
The gallant souls who departed had the consolation
of knowing that they Were dying in the arms of vic
tory, and that their names and deeds are engraven
| I'm the hearts OF their brother officers and men
There is no hope of the recovery of Capt Page.
| Our capture was quite valuable and must swell
our brave Generals bulletin. Eight pieces OF ariil-
lery, 2OO0S stand of arms, 600 mules, any number
of packs, and the necessary ppurtenacesall their
baggage and camp equipgc, 10000 rounds of
musket cartridges, all Gen. Arsias private Luggage
and papers fell into our hands. From his papers
much valuable information was obtained. 1t was
most important victory for the army. The Hon.
Mr.. Blacks 'drll Sergeants and men of mere roll-
tine, encountered with large fames,'' have shown
that they had some spu'tk in them. 1t was victory
achieved by the army proper, and rs such, doubly
dear. The many acts OF individual daring and gal-
lantry are almost too numerous TO mention. Lieut.
Dobblns killed great many of the enemy. Lieut.
Smith OF the 9th, charged a battery aciM fire men,
and carried it, jun.ped upon the piece with one of
their lances in his hand, and his men dragged him
in-all this in shower of balls.
zen. Taylor was sitting on his horse in the thick
est of the fight, which his sword drawn, while the
balls were rafting around him. Col. c.. the
amiable Sutler OF the 4th, and formerly MAYOR of
Augusta, and well known for his courage and kind
ness of disposition remarked 10 him that it was get
ting rather hot and proposed TO him to retire lit
tie .'Lcts ride title nearer, the balls ici fall be
hind us!' was the Generals reply. Lieut.. Jor-
dan of the Sth, bayonetted by one of the enemy
when Lieut. Lincoln of the 9Th, with one blow of
nj limo off nd
him. 1t would fill pages Were to go on You
must, though, at your leisure. We had i'm
our power the means of getting back Capt. Thorn
ton and his squadron. They Were returned on the
llth. The enemy in selecting their men were
careful to exclude the Rdnchcros
Ii is great pity that we Were unable to follow
up our success Had we crossed The night of the
battle Matamoras would have been ours without
blow; as 1t is we may yet have to fight for it.
Capt Il. describes a.periect panic existing among
the troops. Gen. La Vega, with some other pri-
soners, have been sent to New Orleans. He refts-
ed his parole, offered him by the General. All the
wounded of the enemy have been sent TO NIatamoras
taking receipt for the number turned over. They
have promised to return an equal number il the
chances of war should throw any of our men into
| their hands,
When arrived we heard of the death of Major
Brown, the gallant defender of the Fort, which now
bears his name. lie was struck in the leg with
smell three days before we arrived amputation be-
came necessary, but from confinement in bomb
proof burrow, and debility arising from excessive
laiigue and watching, his system could not rally.
lie died few hours before the cry of victory reach
ed them. The defenders OF the Fort suffered every
| thing. They have been haraSsed night and day
and all looked haggard from the want OF sleep.
| The enemy completely invested them, and they
were exposed to cross fires from every direction
Nothing but special interposition of Divine Prov-
dence saved them.
Two days before we arrived Gen. Arista sent a
communication to them, to the effect that it was
impossible for Gen. Taylor to come to their assist
ance, and he begged them for the sake of humanity
to surrender. They positively declined. The en-
envy have fired at them some 200 shells and shot,
and only killed one officer sergeant, and wound
ed ten. Ihis has been at the cost of some S75 600
Rather expensive work at that rate the Mexican
Government will be much surer to hurst a,p than
their shells The whole interior of the Fort is
hiled up with bomb-proos, i'll which the men took
shelter. | would rather have fought fifty battles
| than have been confined in it during the lombard
ment.
| We have just heard of some horrible murders
committed on the first of May, by a party of Ram
cheros, on party of sixteen citizens coming across
the country from Corpus Christi to this place
Two OF the party were women. They were sur.
prised and captured near the Colorado. The Ran
cheros stripped them, tied them together by twos
took them across the river, deliberately cut then
Threats with a large knife and threw them into the
rlver Two OF them escaped by swimming. One
OF them, VIM Rodgers, wandered for five DAYS
without any thing to eat in the chapparal, and was
finally taken prisoner the Rio Grade and carried
to Maamoras. He was sent over by Gen. Arsta
and is now under the treatment of one of our med
cal officers. Did You ever hear of anything more
barharous-more perfectly shocking. 1t is with
such set we have TO deal. Don't you envy us2
Gen. Taylor left for Point Isabel on the fifth and
has not yet returned. We look for him hourly
Ny neat letter ,cW be datcd at .oIatan,o,us The
Mexicans wN hare to PGy.t for Hroeoug these shells
Yours, truly, Gs* de Ls*