The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-25
Arrest Of Almonts's Secretary.
THE MEXICAN GENERAL, VEGA, CAPTURED
AND HIS ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS.
THE DEFEAT OF THE MEXIUANS
POINT OF THE BAYoNET.
Military and Naval Preparations In
s the United States.

We are indebted to Mr.. Enoch E. Camp, of
the National Police Gazette, for the following
highly important intelligence.
Il was conveyed from Mobile to Montgomery
by express, ahead of the m,ail, and from WASH
ineton TO Philadelphia by Mr.. c., and then tele-
graphed to this city over the lightning line.
It appears by the Now Orleans Picayune of the
18th, and the Mobile advertiser. Of the 18th inst,
mat there has been fco tremendous engagements be-
tsoss~ the American and Msrieam troops, in schich
fhe latter lost, Il Is said, tscelye hundred me.
The first occurred on the 7th inst when Gen.
Taylor was returning to his camp, off Natamo-
ras from Point Isabel with force of sixteen hun
dred men. Opposed to him were from five to
scven thousand Mexicans
The Msries~s scers repul.ed at the point of the
bayomst.
Inc American Army slept on the field Of battle
ono night, and on the next, two hundred Mexicnns
were found dead, and several pieces of Mexican
artillery and quantity of stores were captured by
our forces.
1he most melancholy part of this. battle is the
reported death Of the brave Major Ringgold.
Tho Mexican General Vega, tho one that had
the interview with General Worth, on the West
bank OF the Rio Grande, has been taken prisoner.
The second battle took place IN the 9th instant,
commencing at 81 PM, within three miles Of
Taylor's camp.
The steamer Col. Harvey has arrived from Bra.
EOS Santiago; she brings official accounts Of this
second conflict.
The action was on the edge OF n ravine. The
Mexicans Commenced the action with their nrtil-
lery, which was posted rs to sweep a narrow
passage through which Gen. Taylor was advanc-
ing, there being swamp on the other hand, Gen.
Taylor immediately ordered charge in the teeth
of the enemies destructive fire, and the troops,
promptly responding carried the enemy's guns at
the point of the bayonet. So sudden and impetw-
scas the attack, that Gen. 4risfa had no time to
sarv his papers. whieh, scith all his correspondence
fell into the hossds of Gen. Taylor.
The action lasted one and a half hours, in which
time six hundred Mexicans were killed and
wounded, and the Americans took three hundred
prisoners and eight pieces Of artillery. The Anne
ricans lost in the action sixty-two killed and
wounded; among the killed were Col. Mcintosh,
Lieut. Cochran by the bursting of a shell, Lieut..
lingo and one or two others whose names are not
given. Col. Gatos, Lcuts. verbanks, Hooe, Luther,
and others were among the wounded. We regret
70 say that Major Ringgold, who was won nded on
the 7th inst, died on the 10Th, and was buried
with military honors. The total loss Of bfsricams,
IN both acsioss, sSds at least 100.
Tho Mexican forces amounted to at least
600, while that Of tho Americans did not exceed
l,0UO men. An exchange Of pri soners took place
subsequent 70 the battle, by which Cap,s. Thorn
ton and Hardes were released Lieut.. Dea.
was not demanded.
ApAong the prisoners taken by Gen. Taylor,
was Gen. Vega, for whom two American officers
wore offered in exchange, but was declined to.
give him in, save in exchange for one of equal
rank, whenever one should be taken.
The Mexican army was 50 confident Of victory
that every preparation nd been made to celebrate
it. but all their preparations fell into the hands Of
the Americans.
In their flight, many fthe Msxicans took to the
rivsE, and were drowned in their attempt to swim
. il.
Gen. Taylor reached his camp the afternoon al.
ter the action, leaving there his whole force lie
started the next morning for Point Isabel, and ar
rived there on the evening Of the 10th, without
lestnton. On the morning of the llth, he start
ed back TO his camp opposite Matamoras
We need not say that ho and his army are all in
fne spirits
Further information has been received that
the American Consul and all the American resi-
dents Mt Matamoras have been arrested, and sent
to Sautto, q small town about 30 miles from Ma
tamoTas.
Additional Particulars OF the Two Brilliant
BATTLES.
From tho New Orleans Bulletin May ISL
The United States schooner Flirt, A. Sinclair Lieut.
Commanding has just arrived from the Braxos a. Jago
which place she lett the 9Th inst two DAYS after he
New ork) bringing important, though not definite in
tcllgence from the seat Of We learn from her Of
Acers Gen. Taylor marched from Point Isabel on the
7th at or o'clock in the afternoon for his camp Al
the head Of about two thousand sn carrying with him
Q large supply Of provisions.
The Flrt sailed on the day At about O'Clock for
New Oresns and during the whole siternvon the firing