The Ottawa free trader., 1847-04-02

"Near Saltillo," in this caption,
must be taken liberally, as " Camp
Taylor" is att!e Aqua Nucva, some
20 miles south of Saltillo. Here are
assembled all the force this side ol
Monterey, except four Illinois COM
panies and a battery, which are post
cd in town. The whole number, on
a tolerably careful count, reaches
about 5,l00, with 20 cannon. This
would be a small force TO march into
the heart of Mexico, against Zacate-
cas- or San Luis, either of which are
cities that Of themselves could turn
out an army Of double that number
and presume there is no intention
to march in that direction until q
considerable reinforcement arrives
here, of the prospect of which
know nothing.
Indeed, the expedition to Zacate-
cas- may be considered as abandoned,
if fourth the rumorS are true that
have reached here within the last
three or four days. News has come
from three different sources, all a.
greeing in this, that about the 25th
ult. Santa Anna left San Luis Potosi
with his whole army and took up
his line of march for this place. But
as to the force with him, the ac-
counts vary from ID to $4,000. One
source is young Mexican, who
left San Luis the same day Santa
Anna did, and arrived at Saltillo last
evening. Another is, a letter re-
ceivcd from San Luis by a Mexican
in Monterey, which fell into the
hands Of an American officer there
and the same news is brought by a
Mexican from Monclova, who states
that letters stating the fact had been
received there. Supposing these
rumors to be true, it is calculated
that Santa Anna must be within 3
days march Of this place, backed
by a force with which Taylor would
undertake to overrun all Mexico
but which, even with his slender
800, he will not hesitate to meet
in open field.
In the way Of camp news, there i,
an occurrence, which, for the honor
Of the American name, | regret tc
have occasion to mention. On Tues
day last, man belonging to Colone,
YelPs regiment, who had gone from
Camp to hunt his horse, or as anoth.
er version says, as a picket guard
was found not to have returned
within six or eight hours Of the time
in which he was expected, and hi!
comrades becoming alarmed on hi.
account, went in search of him. II
a few hours they found him, tie,
about the neck in a sitting posture
at the foot of a tree, dead, with hi
neck broken, robbed of his horse
carbinc, belt, and iackct--an.
there were signs indicating that Ia
had been dragged some 90 yards
1t was evening, and he was takel
home, He was n young man belong
ing to Capt, Danley's company, yer
popular in the company, and es
teemcd by all who knew him. Iii
comrades Of course were greatly eX
asperated, and by daylight the mex
. day, needed no hint from their su
periors to 90 in search Of the mur
: dcrcrs. About 20 dartcd of in dil
fercnt directions, and hy ten som
j fifteen stoppcdat ranoh6m miles rroi
+, camp, at which there were about 3
+ Mcxicans all, except very oil
}. man and woman, young, hale, stol
;; = men, apparently Pei0ns, or dischare
d ed soldiers, who with equal prob,
bility made their living by robbin
for nearly all of this class make the
living in this way. The house WI
entered, and after a short searcl
~ the murdered mans carbine belt W;
d found, with his name on it, and