Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-18
Important from the Seat of War!

The schooner Della, Capt. Ham, from Tampi.
co, 10th ult, and steam propeller Washington,
Capt. Smith, from Brazos Santiago, Odd uit.,
rived at New Orleans on the 2Sth ult
| Gen. Scott arrived 1T Tampco on the 18TH
He Immediately issued orders announcing seve-
raj staff appointments, and declaring martial
law to exist in every port in Mexico occupied by
American troops; that every person guilty of as
sassnation, murder, rape, malicious stabblng or
manning, malicious assault and battery, robbery,
theft, the wanton dissertation of churches, Gem
eteries, or other religious edlfces and fixtures
and the destruction, except by order of superb
or officer, OF public or private property, NAV be
Immediately tried by military commission.
All the vessels at Tampco were under char
ter to carry the troops to their final destination,
Vera Cruz, as is believed and the troops were
preparing to embark.
The Vera Cruz mail arrived at Tampico on
the 18th, and brought letters from several FOREIGN
merchants residing at the former city, which sta
ted that orders had been received there from
Santa Anna for the troops to evacuate it and re-
tire into the interior, leaving it to be taken pos
session of by our troops without onnosition.-
The New Orleans Mercury, in regard to this in.
formation says -" We do not believe the report
for the capture of the city would involve the fall
OF the castle Of San Juan de Ulloa, and that will
not be given up until every effort to save it is
exhausted. 1t may be, however, that Santa An
ma has ordered the evacuation of the city, with
the view OF bringing on the main body of his
army and beseigng 1t, and by shutting up our
troops, force them to surrender.
letter has been received in New Orleans,
dated the morning of the 18th ult, from Tam
pco, which declares that Gen. Urea had re-
ceived positive orders to move against Matamo-
ras and the Brazos.
The accounts received at the Brazos from Sal
tillo, lead to the supposion that the advance of
the enemy in that quarter was feint.
The New Orleans Bulletin says" 1t has been
ascertained that Santa Anna had at San Luis
10000 men, of which 1000 were cavalry. From
the present advices, it is thought he MAJ be able
to reach Vera Cruz as soou as Gen. Scott, and if
he arrives before the latter, will be able to pre-
vent the Decentralization of the troops, or attack
them IT he finds only a portion landed The
whole OF Gen. SCOTS force will amount TO about
$4,000 men, and an Impression exists that Santa
Anna will risk fight at any rate even if he has
to encounter the whole body. Gen. Taylor has
about 5000 men at Saltlllo and 1000 at Monte
rev. and we learn has collected provisions there
which, with what he received at Camargo, was
sufficient for eight or ten months supply for The
force he had with him. The posts on the Rio
Grande are ve-y weakly defended, and could be
carried without difficulty, if the enemy only had
the enterprise 10 undertake it. The Mexlcans
are constantly and most correctly informed of al!
our movements, strength of our different garri-
sons, supplies, etc. etc.
If the castle of Vera Cruz is not speedily cap
tured, we learn it is the intention Of Gen. Scott
TO remove his troops from the range of the pom-
ito, and to blockade the city and castle BY sea
and land.
A rumor prevailed that Gen. Taylor intended
to advance from Saltillo in case it was ascertain
ed Santa Anna had withdraw his force from San
Luis"
At Matamoras an attack was apprehended, as
on the night of the lth a considerable body of
Mexican cavalry approached the outskirts OF the
city, and dismounilng from their horses thought
TO pass the guard unperceved. They were dis
covered as they passed in deile over the old
Mexican ent'enchment and were fired upon by
the guard stationed al the upper end Of the town.
The alarm was soon given in the city, and our
troops were under arms and at their stations
without the loss of time and in excellent order.
The MeXicans made good their retreat.
There were some cases Of small poX at Mata-
moras, but they were OF mild nature, and Yield
ed easily to medical treatment.
In addition to the capture of Mai Gaines and
Capt Clay Of the Kentucky volunteers, with so
men, and Major Borland and Capt Pike, of the
Arkansas volunteers, with 80 men, another cap
ture OF Capt. Heady, with IL men of the Ken
lucky cavalry, has been made by the enemy
BATTLE OF BRAzlTo, New MExIco-GLoRI-
Gus VIcroRY On the 25th of December, the
Mexicans met the forces under the command Of
Col Doniphan, also one hundred men, comprs-
ing part of Maj. Clark's Battalion, under the
command of Lieut. Col Mitchell, of the ID reg
iment, twenty five miles this side of Ell Paso-
Col Doniphan's command was only six hundred,
while that of the Mexlcans was twelve hundred.
The following is the substance of letter from
Col. Doniphan;
Col. D.. states that he has met the enemy AMI
conquered, and is going on to take FL Paso. He
further states that the enemy attacked him when
his men were in great confusion, but they wer,