Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-01-15
LATEST NEWS FROM THE ARMY.

daily TedCnlnS tnIS point HUH ou4 "iily al
Mexico The first was thatGen. Worth, who
is in command at Saltillo with a force of about
1900 men, had sent an express to Gen. lay
lor, communicating the startling intelligence
that Santa Anna was advancing upon Saltillo
with an army of 25, 900 men, and that he was
within three days march of that place, and re-
guessing reinforcements to be pushed forward
as speedily as possible, for that he (Worth)
was determined to hold his ground at Saltillo.
The express arrived at Monterey the day al
ter Gen. Taylor had left that place, on his way
to Victoria; that Gen. Taylor Immediately
retraced his steps, and had ordered all the
troops that could possibly be raised along the
banks of the Rio Grande to proceed by forced
marches to the threatened point. 1t was also
rumored that Gen. Wool with has division,
then at Parras, was cut Of from any eommu-
nication with either Generals Taylor or Worth.
Indeed, the whole story wore quite probable
appearance For if Santa Anna had the large
number of troops under his command which
it was generally supposed he had, and if he
was anything Of the military leader which the
world generally gives him credit for, it was
very probable that he would fall, with over
whelming numbers, upon Gen. Worth, who
occupied, with comparatively small force,
the advance post of Saltif1o There is no doubt
but that Gen Worth was convinced that San
ia Anna was advancing upon him, and that,
consequently, he had dispatched an express to
Gen. Taylor for succor. The New Orleans
Picayune, of the 18th inst, gives us the latest
intelligence upon the subject. The steamship
Alabama had Just arrived from the Brazos San
tago, bringing dates from that port up to the
Sd inst, and from Matamoras up to the list
inst From this arrival and the intelligence
which it brings, we are led to believe that the
rumors were entirely unfounded of Santa An
mas advancing upon Saltllo, or that that Graf
ty chieftain has only made feint for the pur-
pose of making descent, if we may use the
expression, upon some other point At any
rate, from the information now before US, we
cannot believe that he has actually advanced
upon Gen Worth, and that, ere this, deci-
sive action has been fought. The New Or
leans Picayune, of the 7th inst, contains the
arrival of the Alabama and two letters from
its correspondents, one dated December 26th,
and the other Matamoras, LIST January, 1917.
Commenting upon the contents of these letters,
the Picayune holds the following language:
No news of especial interest had arrived
from Saltllo, from which we infer that the
danger of an attack upon that place was not
as imminent as was supposed when Genera!
Worth's express was despatched. Too much
vigilance. however, is good fault in a SOL
der Rumors of battles were still circulated
at the Brazos-some to the effect that General
Wool had been cut off, that Gen. Worth had
been driven upon Monterey, &c, but little
confidence was placed in them.'
We have read the letters published in the
Picayune, and we give that one written from
Matamoras, because it is the latest, and con-
veys the most important intelligence. On the
whole, we think that Santa Anna has not at
tempted an attack upon Saltillo-that if he
has, Gen. Taylor was there with sufficient
force to make him pay dearly for his temerity
We, for one, have no apprehensions for the
fate of the gallant Worth. We feel confident
he is safe. The following is the letter allu-
| ded to -
MATAMoRos, Jan. LIST, 1917.
Your friend Halle popped in upon us few
days ago, and ] had hardly time to ask a
question before he was off for Camargo and
Monterey. Since that time we have had ma
ny reports of battles, and marches, and coun-
ter marches-Gen. WOODS. column cut off,
Gen. Worth driven back upon Monterey from
Saltillo, and he and Gen. Taylor surrounded
and shut up in Monterey. Gen. Scott and
staff left here two days ago, in haste for Ca
MARCO, by the river They met the &c Rough
and Ready" steamer with the mail, which
brings intelligence that some part of corps
of observation belonging to Santa Annals ar
my has been seen near Parras, where General
WooIs army was, and he joined Gen. Worth
at Saltilo. Gen. Taylor, with the division of
Gen. Twiggs, had gone back to Monterey, and
Gen. Qutman had gone on to Victoria, and
was at Linarres when last heard from. Gen'l
Patterson's division crossedthe river San Fer
nando five days ago, and would soon reach
his destination. A company of Tennessee
cavalry came back two days ago, to escort a
train of wagons with subsistence for the COM
mand of Gen. Patterson, who will no doubt
soon Join with the command Of Gen. Qutman.
Gen. Scott will go to Camargo, and it is tho't
will soon return here. | have very little doubt
but that Gen. Taylor wilEgo home as soon as
Gen. Scott takes command When Gen. Pat
terson gets to Victoria all the passes to San
Luis Potosi will be shut up; and if Urea, with
his 5000 or 5000 lancers, does not clear out
across the mountains, our cavalry will chase
them about like rabbits pursued by pack of
hounds. ] wish that Jack Hays, Walker,
Chevallier and the rest of our old Texas boys
were here now: Canales and Seguin want
looking after badly. | have learned that the
former has been elected to the new Mexican
Congress, but do not vouch for the report
His old men are prowling about at all events.
Adios, CoMpANERo
P. S.-Since writing the above, we have
received the Washington Union of Monday
night last, containing the following, which
would go to confirm the opinion which we
have expressed above, that the rumors about
Gen. Worth's being attacked, &C., are more
startling than dangerous:-
Extract Of letter from zGen :,Jesap, to the
| Qu0rtermaster'S Department, an this city,
dated
BRAzos, SAN JAGo, Dec. IS, 1916.
6 We have report that Santa Anna is adj
vancing on Gen. Worth, and that he is falling