The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1846-07-04
From the N. Y, Spirit ofthe Times
SCENES IN MATAMOROS.
Camp near FIT Brown, Mexico, May %, 1916.

VIC Ave- oph'h VI WV '''ANS
SCENES IN MATAMOROS.
Camp near FIT Brown, Mexico, May %, 1876.
DEARP: In my last predicted that my mex
would be dated at Matdmords. So it is, al
though our camp Isl on the outskirts OF The city
GA the l7th the general had decided that we
should move TO the pon! Sc elected for crossing
the river aud commence operations against the
city. We struck our tents early that morning.
Our usual stir and activity was seen by the en-
smy, and no doubt attributed to the proper
cause. We were all anxiously wait ing the or,
der to move, when we were inform ed parey
had sounded and a deputaton from Gen, Arts
Ia had crossed to see General Taylor. Gen.
Ricardo was at the head of Aris'a proposed
to enter into an armistice until they could hear
from Mexico not doubling the boundary would
now be settled. Gen. Il. said .'no that he h ad
offered them one, some time since had evinced
The most friendly disposition; that they would
not agree TO It when his army was weak, and
now, that renforcements had arrived, he should
dictate his own terms" Ricardo wished to
know i The General intended taking Matamo
rosl He said "yes." r offsred to surrender
al the public property, ammunition, &c f, If he
would not cross. The General said $40, that he
must have Matamoros, if he had to batter it
down, and said tina, now was he preparedto do
n lis tod htkf re tell i-an~ n r+eea that ihaGp
only were his terms. That the city must capt.
nlaie, alIpubiic property, ammunition provision.
&c must be given up, and that then the army
might march out and retire."
The population then retired 10 get Gen. Arts
ta's answer, which was TO be communicated 1.
3p. NJ IN ,hn meantime the army marched
and encamped 3 miles eff at the points selected
for eros ,irg Gen. 7, told Ricardo that Gen.
Ampudia had written him, that the war should
be conducted agreeab'y to the usage ofc civilized
nations. That in the last battle the enemy had
stripped our dead and mutilated their bodies
Il. replied "that the women who followed the
army and the Rancheros did it, and that they
could no, control them" Our brave General
replied, ~ am coming oper and ILL CONTROL
THEM n YoU.'
During the evening active preparations were
made for crossing The troops No reply was
given to the Generals proposition. The coun-
Try people commenced crossing to uE, and repor.
ted that the army had deserted he city and
retired. On the morning of the is h contirma-
ton was received Of the reported fight of Arls-
ia and his Army. The scare was still working.
Early in the morning the Dragons, the light
companies of the ff.ren, battalIons, Rldgeley's
Gate the lamenled RDggo!d's) Artillery, and
the 9th Infantry, were crossed.
regret to record that in crossing 1t. Ste
vens Of the I'd Dragons was drowned. He
was fine young officer, much beloved by his
Regiment, and his death threw gloom over
the camp. For what singular destnles are we
reserved, and how certainly and lrreslsiby one
has TO advance and fulfil his fate! he was a.
mong those gallant fellows who stared death In
the face, in the late brilliant charge of Capt
MAY, at the battle Of Resca de la Palma. With
balls scattering around him in every direction
his life was spared, only to be delivered up IN
few days, in the waters of the Bravo.
The General decided upon crossing the rest
Of us at the upper ferry Of the city. As we ap-
preached the ferry we saw our boys in possess
sion Of the Fort, and rapidly engaged in prepsr-
bank, Capt. Keer of the second Dragons, run
il up; it ioated gracefully in the breeze, and
proudly waved over Mexico. The men of the
advance sent up three hearty cheers to welcome
the Gag of their country Perhaps, Mr.. "Spirt,"
those cheers were some! There was rope
stretched across the river, and three boats man.
ned by Mexicans, ready to transport US. We
hadthe felicity Of being Jerried across By the en-
emu! As we landed the companies formed and
awaited the arrival Of the others. When the
whole of the Sd Regiment was formed it moved
off to the right to the tune of"Yankee Doode!"
Did you ever hear it Mr.. "Sprit!'' reckon
you never did, in foreign land, just conquered,
by good, honest blows! If you did, you never
heard such an honest cheer as arose from the
gallant fellows on the opposite bank when the
drum and fife gave US the air, which fills, at all
times, an Americans breast with the purest pa
triotsm! All was excitement. and every one
polling over with "amor patri@!" It was aproud
oay !of the American Army. Citizens in any
NUMBER came down to see US. Many OF them,
wno Yen days ago would have cut our throate,
ws.s nov apparently our warmest friends, shook
our az, nsnas heartily and cried Justify. "Amigo"
-.t:ss .sle saw some sghs Of the hurry IN
whicn Arista had left. As we landed near the