The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-10
Still Later from the BraZOS.

Still Later from the BraZOS.
| In addition to the details given in our last,
we annex the following items sofinfornation,
(datc Feb. 25,) for which we are indebted
to Mr.. Martin, who arrived OH the Harmo-
nious Walker.
Gen. Wool apprised Gen. Taylor, towards
the end of January, that he anticipated an
attack at Saltillo. In consequence, Gen.
Taylor left Monterey OH the lst of February
with his staff for Saltllo. He took with
him Bragg's battery and Thomas's battery,
the lst Mississippi Rifles and Mays squad.
ron of dragons. Capt. Thos. +. Marshall
was to leave Monterey on the Sd inst, with
his company of mounted men, also for Sal
tillo. Capt. Gordcn, with a detachment of
14O recruits for the different regiments, also
left Monterey for Saltillo with Gen. Taylor.
The American forces at Saltillo would
be between 5 and 5000 mon. In addition
to the two batteries named above, the bate
ries of Capt. Washington and Capt Web
stcr were at Saltillo, and at last accounts the
the troops were throwing up formidable for
tifications. Little apprehension is felt as to
the result of any attack which may be made
upon that point.
The number of troops left at Monterey
does not exceed 500 men, but the citadel or
"blacl1 fort'' is held by them, and there is
no route by which the McXicans can ap-
proach the city with artillery, save by Saltil-
10. Without artillery, any attempt on Mon
tcrcy would be futile. The troops at Mon
tcrcy consist principally OF Ohio and Indiana
volunteers, all under the command of Col.
Rogers. Capt. Arnold, of the I'd Dragons,
has also been ordered to proceed to Monte
rcy from the mouth Of the Rio Grande.
We mentioned in our last the capture of
Capt. Heady by a party of ranchcros. He
was taken, with seventeen men, two days af-
ter the command of Majors Gains and Bor-
land had been surprised.
In regard to the murderers of Lieutenant
Ritchic we learn that Gen. Taylor had in
vestigated the affair as thoroughly as was
possible while on his return to Monterey.
His inquiries led him to release the first al
caldc of Villa Gran and also the Interpreter
of Lieut.. Ritchic, an Englishmans who was
also his guide; but he retained as prisoners
two Mexicans, upon whom circumstancial
evidence fixed suspicion, and carried them
with him to Monterey. The principal man
concerned in the atrocious affair, the one
who threw the lasso, was still at large and
in possession of the dispatches. He pro-
cccdcd on his route to San Luis by the way of
Victoria and lula, having had the despatch
es translated for him at Linares.
We have convcrscd with an intelligent
Spanish gentleman who left Durango on the
18th January; Senor Bcnito Vclez, ne
phew, we learn, OF Peter Harmony, of New
York. Senor Vclcz confirms all that we
have said Of the action near Ell Paso on the
18th of December. The loss of the Mcxi-
cans in that affeir was about $50 men. No
news had reached Durango of the fall of
chihuahua when our informant left there.
On the 10th of January Gen. Hcredia
left Durango for chihuahua at the head Of
700 men, of whom $50 were cavalry. He
took with him 1900 muskets and two pieces
of artillery.
When he reached Cheucamc, in the
north part of the State Of Durango, he heard
the news of the action near Ell Paso, and
leaving there his infantry he pushed OH to-
chihuahua with his cavalry, with view to
assume the command of the government
forces there.
The cavalry of Cuiltz, which was in the
action of the 25th of December, and which
protected as far as possible the retreat of the
Mexicans upon Ell Paso and afterwards Ca
rial, had dwindled down to handful by
desertions which took place at the different
ranches on the route.
L News had reached Durango that about
the 5th or 9Th Of January, two English ships
entered the port of Mazatlan, having evaded
the blockade. They are supposed to have
been ladened with amunitions and other
munitions of war.
We add Gen Minon's report of his sue.
cess. The date is omitted, but the despatch
is addressed to Santa Anna:
E1eellent Sir To-day have captured,
without the loss of man, chiefs of sqad-
ron, officers and 76 men Of the troops of
the United States, who had advanced to this
point all their arms, horses and equipments
have been taken for the nation, and at the
first opportunity will be placed at the dispo.
Esal Of your Excellency, according to the list
herein. The prisoners will be put en- route
for San Luis tomorrow, and shall continue
nv OnerafiOns n hort fhia mint and &c Eor