The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-16


FOUND. TWO THOUSAND MEXI-
CAN SOLDIERS REPORTED TO BE
ON THIS SIDE THE RIO GRANDE.
The brig Apalachicola, Capt. Smith, and
the schooner Cornelia, Capt Stark, both ar
rived at New Orleans on the Both ult the for
mer from BraZos Bay, whence she sailed on
the Oath ult, and the latter from Brozos Santi-
ago, with dates from that place to the evening
ofthe Oath ult The news brought by these
two arrivals, from our Army, and in relation
TO the movements fthe MeXicans, is Inter
and very important. The Apalachicola left
Point Isabel on the 22d uIt, where Major
Thomas, the acting Quarter Master inform
ed Capt. Smith that the body of Col. Cross
had been found about four miles from Gen.
Taylor's camp or the Rio Grande. From the
wounds upon the body il seems evident that
he was killed by lance. II was further re-
ported that person at Matamoras had nc
knowledged that he was the murderer, and
had the watch and clothing of Col. Cross in
his possession. Gen. Taylor, it is reported,
had made formal demand for the murderer.
The Cornelia reports that about three hours
before she sailed, an. express arrived from
Gen. Taylor, stating that the commander of
the Mexican forces had made formal dec
laration to Gen. Taylor, that if he did not
move his army from the position he then oc-
cuped, within thrty-six hours, that the Mex
lean batteries would be opened upon them.
The same express also stated that at that
time body Of 1000 MeXicaus had crossed
the Rio Grande near Boretta-a small town
about eight miles below Matamoras, on the
west bank ofthe river--and taken up posi-
ton between point Isabel and Gen. Taylor's
camp. The Picayune says: "Hhe design of
this movement is evidently to cut off the A.
merican troops from their supplies. A private
letter was also received last evening, from an
officer in Gen. Taylor's camp, confirming in
part the above report of the McXicans having
crossed the river, but stating the number at
j 1000 only. There had previously been so
many rumors to the same effect in the camp,
that little reliance was placed upon this one,
which was first communicated by n Mexican,
who was Prudenty detained by order of Gen
Taylor"
The following items we copy from the
Picayune:
While upon the subject of the army, we
may state that the steamer Colonel Harvey,
which left here on Wednesday for BraZos
Santiago took with her battery of ten long
II Founders, and a quantity of munitions Of
war, and that she was to take in more at
Galveston, for the same destination. The
n. York, which sailed yesterday for the same
point, had detachment OflS0 men on board
for the army, under command of Lieut.. Nc
Phail. Four companies of infantry are OK
pected here in two or three days, who will he
despatched Immediately for the same destin-
alton.
STILL LATER NEWS FROM THE AR.
MY AT THE RIO GRANDE-THE
CROSSING OF THE RIO GRANDE BY
TWO THOUSAND MEXICANS CON
EIPlTEn ITrIINS rnMMIINTTN
ED-GENERAL TAYLOR SURROUN-
DED BY MEXICAN TROOPS, AND
HIS REQUISTTIONS UPON TEXAS.
AND THE ADJOINING STATES, FOR
AID-GREAT EXCITEMENT IN NEW
ORLEANS-ONE HUNDRED THOU
SAND DOLLARS APPROPRIATED BY
a LOUISIANA FOR THE SERVICE.
Extras from the New Orleans papers, dat
ed o'clock, A. Nj. ID inst,put us i'll posses
sion of most important, serious and exciting
news, from the Rio Grande, brought to that
city that morning by the steamship Galveston
Capt. Wright from Galveston, aud the steam
schooner Augusta, Capt Gllett, from Brnzos
Santiago, the 2Sth ut. The intelligence is
that the United States army under Gen. Tay-
lor, is completely surrounded by the MeXi-
cans, and his communication with point isa-
n bel, the depository of stores for the army, en-
tirely cut off. A accommodating company of
American cavalry, of seventy men, under
Captains Hardee and Thornton, was attack
ed, on the Gath ult. and one account says that
$Captain Thornton and Ieuts Kane and Me
son, and some twenty-six of the men, were
Killed, and Captain Hardee, and the remain
der, were taken prisoners. Another account
sates that Lieut.. Kane and thirteen men
tWerC killed. Cant ThOrton missing and CnDt
liardee, and forty-siX men taken prisoners.
The news received from the army, by Col.
Doane, who had arrived at New Orleans di-
fect, with acquisitions on the Governor of
Louisiana for troops is that Gen. Taylor had
8ln camp full ratons for fifteen days, which
he thought could be made to last thirty days.
\ The advices from the Army received via Gal
WESTON, on the other hand, say that he had
not over ten days provisions. Gen. Arista
has assumed the command of the Mexican
" 9rmy. Gen. Hunt was to leave Galveston, by
8 the way of Valasco and Victoria, to rendez-
IA yous at Corpus Christi,preparatory to march
n ing on to the relief ofGen. Taylor. The works
" othe American army,in front of Matamoras,
n would be completed on the morning of the
9oih, at which time it was expected that the
&N hre would be opened on the CITY,
& The Bulletin extra, dated ! o'clock, A. NJ,
x ssays: "Letters from authentic American
sources Ill Matamoras state that the Mexican
forces are at least 5000 men, well euuipped.
N with an excellent park ofartillery. The Gov.
ernor ofths state has issued his requisition
v FOR $500 volunteers, and the soldiers are al
n feady in the street, and making the most ac-
N Five preparations for departure. They will
" Reave in the course of twenty -four hours. The
y Legislature the State, with premptitude
worthy of all praise, have already passed a
. Ionr o.