The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-01

- TO THE - ;-s -S
--LATEST MO MENT. ST.
TEL RAPHIC.
HIGHLY INTERESTING
FROM THE
ARMY IN THE SOUTH,
Skirmish between Col. Mays Ora.
goons and the Mexicans.
PERlL0US POSITION OF OUR TROOPS.
Retreat ofthe Enemy from Victoria.
ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT EXPECTED.
Entire Force Of the Mexican Army Estimated
at Fifty Thousand,
IMPORTANT RUMOR
Proposition of Peace had been Ac-
cepted by the
MEXICAN CONGRESS.
&c, &c., &c.
ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT EXPECTED.
Entire Force of the Mexican Army Estimated
at Fifty Thousand.

/
The brig Georgana arrived at New Orleans on the
22d inst with dates from Tampico to the l4th.
Colonel Kinney arrived at Tampico the 10th inst
direct from Victoria with dispatches from Gen. Taylor
to Gene Shields to suspend operations for the present
He entered Victoria with General Quitman the 9th
General Quitman d Owe the Mexicsns before him the
last thirty or forty miles before entering Victoria
The Mexicans very reluctant to give up the
place but went out on side Qutman entered on
the other.
General Quitman having no cavalry could not pursue
them.
Col Kinney parted with Gen. Taylor at Montemorales
and pushed on with General Quitman to Victoria, and
thence alone TO Tampco
There was no reason to suppose that General Butler
and General Worth had moved from Saltillo though it
was so reported
On the LIST January, Gen. Taylor forward Colonel
May to examine the mountain passes between Monemo-
raes and Labradores.
On his return the Colonel took another pass leading to
Lnares and was attacked by large body of the enemy
and his guard cut by rolling into the pass,
which was scarcely wide enough for a single horse
Col May managed to get through with the main body
Of his force and reached spot where he enabled to
dsmount and return to succor the guard.
But was too late, the enemy I'D retreated with
their prisoners.
At one time Mays dragons almost at the mercy
Of the enemy, had the latter discharged their pieces
with accuracy for the position they occupied d.
recty over the heads of our troops.
Col Mays loss had been ascer taned nor whether
he he'd any men killed. There be doubt, how
ever. that some of our men have fallen.
General Shields, with six hundred and fifty men
marched from Tampico the 10th towards Altamira,
with the supposed intention Of opening communication
with General Taylor at Victoria
From two to three thousand Mexican troops be-
tween Tampico and Victoria, with which it sup
posed General Shields might have engagement.
The force Of tho Americans remaining at Tampico
numbered $50 men
The Tsmpico market amply supplied with Ameri.
moi chandise.
Colonel Kinney states that the Mexican force at San
Luis amounts to thirty thousand men, and he estimates
their entire force in the field at fifty thousand
The capture Of Tampco, he says, had created the
greatest excitement throughout the country.
Generals Butler Worth and Wool had at saltillo eight
thousand men, considered the flower Of the army.
Colonel Kinney speaks confidently Of success in
case of an engagement at saltllo Generals Tay
Twiggs Pillow and Patterson with six thousand men,
at Victoria, waiting orders from General Scott.
The Mexican army, it believed was not far from
sstllo.
The Mexican soldiers in the neighborhood of
sao, supposed to have been advanced parties
OF fifteen hundred or two thousand men, kept in
possession this side of the desert between salo and
San Luis, to destroy the water tanks in the Ameri
army should in force in the direction of San
Luis This precludes the idea Of any serious attack
being contemplated upon General Worth or Genera
Wool; the object of the Mexcans being only to keep
watch upon the American forces 10 retreat before any
advance. and cut of supplies of water.
Col. Kinney brought rumor to Tampico that fiji cen
thousand Mexicans were to attack Saltillo the 18th
ut and verbal news brought by the Georgian to
New Orleans to the effect that Santa Anna had pla ced
himself between Taylor and WORTH with thirty. five
thousand men, and general action Immediately
psced This is probably repetition Of
rumors before received by way Of Matamoras
Private letters express very little doubt of large ext
forces, mostly cavalry, being at Tula the last
dates, under Gen. Valentia. Gems Urea, Romero and
Fernandez, were also reported in that vicinity.
II is rumored that the Mexican Congress had
the United States proposition of peace and authorized the
appointment OF peace commissioners to meet similar
mssioners from the United States Government.
1t was not supposed that any movement would be ma de
against San Lus but that the mountain passes would
retained and Vera Cruz be reduced if possible by land
attack, on General SCOTS taking the command.