The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-19
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
From the Pic.yuns Extra. Ma,
AMERICAN ARMS VICTORIOUS.


AMERICAN ARMS VICTORIOUS.
Important from the Rio Grande- Gen. Taylor
at Point Isabel-Attack on his Camp-R,,-
pulse Of the Mexicans- Destruction Of Mat
amoras
The steamship New York, Capt. Winds.
arrived in port on Sunday evening, having
left Brasos Santiago on the afternoon of Wei
nesday, the 9th inst
Our last previous accounts came down on
Wednesday, the 29th ultimo. Capt. Walker.
Of the Texas Rangers, having come into Point
Isabel on the evening Of the 28lh, from his des
perate encounter with the Mexicans. had vel
unteered to carry dispatches TO Gen. Taylor.
We learn by the New York that he fully
succeeded in his desperate misunderstanding
to Gen. Taylor information of the critical stu
alton in which Point Isabel was placed. and
the imminent danger of its being carried by an
overpowering force Of the Mexicans. lie
promptly determined upon movement which
should protect Point Isabel, and re-establish
his communication with his supplies. Ac-
Icordingly, on the evening OF Friday, the st
INST, ne left his camp, opposite Matamoras,
with the main body of his forces, determined
to cut his way through, leaving behind him
for the defence Of his works opposite Mati-
moras between 700 and 300 troops.
! This movement was effected without en-
counterng single Mexican. In place Of mo-
testing him they concentrated their troous
about the camp which he had Just left.
On the morning of the Sd Gen. Taylor de-
spatched Capt. Walker back to the camp tor
Intelligence. The gallant Ranger executed lis
commission with success, returning to Point
Isabel on the afternoon of the 9th. He re-
ported that the Mexicans, taking advantage Of
the supposed weakness of the camp, conf
menced an attack upon it in front, on the morn
ing Of Sunday the Sd, with all their batteries,
from the opposite side Of the river, and simuL
taneously with detachment Of their forces on
this side the Rio Grande.
The Americans holly returned the GIe. Tie
attack in the rear was Immediately repused,
and in less than thirty minutes the Mexican
batteries were silenced, and the city Of Maa-
maras battered down. The loss to the Mexi-
cans in the action is variously set down.
While nU account makes it less than 200, tie
latest report in regard 10 it. which we find in
the Galveston News, carries it as high as 7C0.
The Americans lost but single man, it is
said, who was killed by shell. None wee
wounded-so admirable was the state of tie
works before Gen. Taylor left them. TIE
town Of Matamoras is complete run there
are scarcely houses enough left standing 10
serve as hospitals for the wounded.
/ This affair is considered but the opening Of
the campaign. Gen. Taylor set forth on tie
9th instant to return to his camp with ample
supplies. The Galveston News states that
Then he left Point lsafel, there was not the
slightest doubt entertained that he would have
TO cut his way to his entertainments through
vastly superior numbers of the enemy, vile
were known 10 be posted in large forces among
the almost impossible thickets of chaparral ca
the road, with determination to cut him off,
II possible, IN his attempt to regain his other
forces.
The Mexican force is variously estimated at
ten, fifteen and twenty thousand, The pre-
sumption is that large portion of their for e
will be brought into requsition to oppose the
march of Gen. Taylor, who anticipated fer
mldable and desperate opposition to his march,
but determined to accomplish it or perish.
We are inclined TO doubt whether the Mex
leans would venture 10 attack Gen. Taylor's
whole force, although they SO outnumber hini;
but should they do SO, we are confident IL II
we shall have glorious victory to recount.
Martial law has been proclaimed at Point
Isabel and al Santiago, and every man pressed
into the service. The arrival of the New
York has, however, placed its security beyond
a doubt, although ere this support has reached
them from New Orleans and Pensacola.
The accounts from Texas m regard to voI-
unteers, are by no means satisfactory. TIE
greatest apathy seems 10 prevail throughout
the. country. Only fifteen men went from
Galveston, instead of two hundred, as reported.
While Gen. Taylor was at Point Isabel, he
despatched schooner to Vera Cruz with in-
teigence OF the proceedings upon the Rio
Grande, We presume that Commodore Con-
nner will at once formally blockade every Mex
ican port on the Gulf
"A party OF Mexcans, who had encamped
on the island at the mouth of the Brasos San
tago, have been dispersed BY the commander
of the U. S. schooner Flrt. Ii was feared th II
the enemy would fortify position here which
would command the approach TO Point Isabel.