The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-02-03

whose opinions ar teaE al perhaps equally enti-
tied TO respect, regard tho movement of
She enemy In q more serious light. The
report brought by Col. KianeY to rampico.
TO the effect that I5, 600 Nj exicans were TO
attack Saltillo on The 9th ult., is but The
same runor which has already reached
here by way Of MI aiamoras.
There is little lioubt,Eas we learn from
private letters that there was large Mexi-
can force e-probably mostly scayalry-at
Tula al last dates, all under command Of
Gen. Valencia. Gems. Urea, Romero.
Fernandez, and others are also reported to
be in the vicinity. II may be recollected
that our last accounts from the city OF
Mexico represented Valencia as OH his,
march to lula.
From q correspondent at Tampico We
learn that on6the lst OF January.Gen. Tay-
lor sent forward Col. May, Of the Dra-
goons, toSexnmine the mountain pass be.
tween Monte Morales and Labradores. s. On
his retYrnfrom Labradores he took another
passs leading to Linures and was attacked
oy large body Of The cmemy and his rear
guard cut off. This was effected by. rolling
stones into the pass, which was scarcely
wide enough for single horscman. May
managed % get.hrough with the main body
and reached spot where he was ennbed
to disnount and return TO the succor of the
rear guard, bulitwnsi too late, us the enemy
had rctreated with their prize. AT one
time during the passage Of the gorge the
tlrngOons would. have been nlmos,5at the
mercy ofthe enemy had the latter dischnr.
ged their pieces with any accuracy; for the
position they occupied was directly over
the heads Of our troops. We cannot as
certain Col. Mays loss, or whether lie had
any men killed or not.
Attic present time J. there can be no doubt,
Generals Taylor. Twiggs, Patterson and
Pillow IRE at Victoria, and with large
force. Had Gen. Taylor but party OF i've
hundred Texan rangers with him, their
services, with the enemy's cavalry hanging
about him in almost every direction, would
be invaluable.
Below We give the letters OF our CORES.
pondent. What we have stated above
qualities, and explains numbcr Of The ru-
mors he has furnished:.
Especial Correspondence of,hc Picayune.1
TAMP1co. Jan. 10, lS47.
GENTLEMEN-We have had, within the
last few days. some extremely cold weather,
unprecedented in The knowledge Of The
oldest inhabitant. About 10, P. NJ, on the
9Th inst, one Of the ''northers," 10 which
this coast is SD frequently subject, burst up
on us with extraordinary viulcnce. The
brig Foam, that had grounded on the bar
The afternoon previous, was broken entire
ly 10 pieces during the night. Al II, p.
NJ, one of the Government steamers {,he
Undine, belieVe,) took off the capiuin
and crew. The next morning but veslige
oi her was TO be seen. This makes the
fourth vessel that has been wrecked on the.
bar since this place was taken by ouH
forces.
An expedition, consisting Of five compa-
nics Of regulars and five Of the Alabuma
regiment, is ordered to report for march
at 3, +. NJ, to day; il has becn in prcpara-
lion for several days, and is destined for
descent upon Tuspan. Gen. Shields will
command in person. We have it repor.
ted that there thousand troops a, I'us-
pan. but presume il will be "peni, uidi
pici" affair. Our General is man ofgrcnl
energy, and since he has been here has in.
s'ltu!ed many projects and reforms that will
be advantageous. 3. A.
TAMPIcn, Jan. II, 1912.
wrote you yesterday that an exped.
ton would leave that day for Tuspan, bu,
was very confidentialIy mislcd. The ru-
NOR Tor The pnst few days was allowed TO
spread that the fnrce was destined for that
place. and the Mexicans despatched couri.
crs carrying the eintelligence. Reinforce
mcnts were called in from the surrounding
md we hear now that there 5000
men there on the qui Diuc for an attack.
no Government steamers commenced Fl.
ring up yesterday al noon, and every pre-.
10 be making To cross
over to Pueblo Vicjn, en- route for Tuspan,
when the commanding officer at the lines
received orders TO march his men towards
Altam'rn. 1t was perfect surprise to
every one, and whether any good results
from it or not, Gen Shields deserves crcdi.
for The ruSc.
l am assured from headquarters ,ha. The
orJcct Is TO open communication with
Gcn. Taylor ut Victoria, anI il is deemed
cxpedicntto send the present force 10 meet
this advance. From 1000 TO 5000 Mexi.
can troops are known TO be between here
and there. and very possibly Gen. Shields
will have an opportunity to cope with
them. But few Of The regulars posted here
have yet been in action in this war, and all
n