Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-03-25

q Great Battle al SaltiIio--Snita -4nysa com
,7aadag IN Four 1tmsand flee hun
drsd If The Enemy. and t,co thousand .4ngeri-
cans reported to hare jatlea-- Gen Tdytoryfd
linz back on .Nonterey-- Of Gen.
Marshall 10 his Relisf--lmpresston al Canrar
90 Of Santa .4nna's defeaf-C Capture by the
.Neriems Of large Escorts Of Procisons, .Nu-
nitior, Of War, S.c.--.4pproaeh Of Gen Ur-
req wiat four thousand men, to .natamoras,
&c.
The schooner James & Samuel, Capt So
,ges. arrived at New Orleans on the l2th inst.
from Brazos Santiago, having sailed on the
Eth inst in ballast. She brought but a single
letter, says the Picayune, and the gentleman
who received that assures Us that it contained
no news whateyer--was mere letter Of bust
ness The schooners Napoleon, Exit and Gin
dereiia were to sail the same day, and the Ma
poeon has the mail on board.
Capt. SoMERs reports that an express arri-
we'd at Brazos on the evening OF the dth inst,
with news that Mexican force had passed
Matamoras on the opposite side Of the river on
the 4th. Although he conversed with the ex-
press rider he was unable TO learn the num-
Der Of the Mexicans, or who commanded them
The Picayune says that since the above was
received the schooner Cinderella Cor Cinderel
Ia g. Soul, as she is caIled) has arrived, and
by her we have multiplicity of most alarm
inc rumors, and IN a shape more definite than
any before received. If we were TO believe
half that is said, the Mexieans have fought
Gen. TAYLOR at Aqua Nueva, and drove him
back through Saltllo and TO the pass Of the
Ripconada But there is no authority given
for such statements; they are founded comics
sedIy upon contradictory flying reports. But
even these reports are favorable 10 the proves
Of Gen. TAYLOR and his troops. Rumor says
he lost 1000 men, but that the Mexcans lost
more than 1000, and the action is claimed as
a victory for the American arms. But IN this
there mus; be gross exagserauon.
Among the passengers who came over in
the Cinderella was an officer OF the army, with
whom we have had some conversation. He
confessed to US that he was entirely unable to
inform us Of what had occurred near Saitilo !;
he hardly knew himself whethefi 10 believe that
any action had taken place or not. The ru-
mors received at Matamoras and the Brazos
were innumerable and conflicting. 1, was said
that dispatches as late as the 26ih February
had been received from Gen. TAYLoR's camp,
bpl this can scarcely be possible.
Communications between Monterey and Ca
MARCO has been completely cut oiT--so all the
tlnofs say--and can only be opened BY a
considerable force. Both Americans and
Mcxicans on the Rio Grande are in a state Of
great excitement and even alarm. The inter
rupton Communications and the consequent
uncertainty Of intelligence. left al. ia state Of
uncertainty the most painful All hands were
al work a, Camargo aud Brazos strengthening
the works and ,hppmlng up new deiences.
Just as the Cinderella was leaving The Bra
2os our informant learned that two Mexican
spies bad been taken there, but what DISPOSE
uou had been made he does not know.
To this gentleman we are indebted for q CO.
py Of the Matamoras Flag of the Sd inst, tina,
paper having been revived after brief suspen
sion. The F,ag says the report Of an action
"a fully credited in Malamoras, but our infor
mani assures US that many officers OF the ar
iai are yet totally incredulous IN regard TO it,
Even the Flag is al loss how far to believe
m the generally accredited accounts. We
deem 1t best to lay the Flags whole article be
fore our readers that they may form their own
Judgment but we cannot do so without ex
pressing the hope and the belief that the ru-
mors IN circulation are greatly exaggerated.
From The Matamoras Flag, Mach Sd.
Our town has been thrown into the most in
tense excitement by the reports constantly
reaching here relative to the perllous situation
Of Gen. TAYLoR's division of the army. They
are so vague and confused that we hardly
know how 10 commence an abstract even.--
That battle has been fought, no one here can
doubt for moment, but how II has resulted,
or what dangers lmpend on the line OF the Rio
Grande, is enveloped IN the most perpleXing
uncertainty. We give, however. what seems
10 be the best authenticated statement received
here from the seat of hostlties
Gen TAYLOR, while at Aqua Nueva, p
miles from Saullo. with 5000 men, was at.
lacked, on the 22d ult, by Mexican force Of
$1,000. Finding that he could not maintain
hs position, he made good his retreat 10 Sal
uIo, covering his wagon train. Here severe
engagement took place in the streets, in which
the MeNcans suffered a heavy loss. After
destroying what Of The public stores he could
notuansport, hecontnued hisretrograde move.
ment on Monterey until he reached the Rim
conada pass. where he was again attacked, but
successfully defended himself Here all the
rumors, reports and letters leave him. Once
IN Monterey, and he would be SAFE, but hi,
ability to accomplish this much was altogeih-
probIematcal, as the Mexcans were swarm
aS IN every direction.
A merchant in Camargo, under date of 18th
Wt, writes to his friend IN this place; Three
expresses to day from Monterey; fighting in
SatlIo Marin in Mexican possession large
ualA Of wagons, l26, and $50 private mules
taken; McCULLooH's company taken 5000
cavalry tins side the mountains, and things in
general turned upside down" From another
source we learn that Col. MORGAN had aban-
doned Cerralvo, destroyed all property he
could not take with hun, thata courier from
Monterey reported at Camargo, 1900 Next
cans between the two places, and 5000 more
were IN the nelghborhood of Victoria.
This much we Gull from the mass Of REPORTS
before us, without vouchlng for its correctness
The destination of several boats have been
changed within the last few days on reaching
this place, and one (the Troy) held in reserve
at Camargo to convey dispatches All the
wagon trains for other places have been stop
ped here and every one is on the q'd rire
We have strong confidence in Old Zach,
and believe it almost impossible 10 whip him;
but should harm beiall his division of the ar
my, the consequences to those who have left
nun with such slender resources will be terri
DIe. We will suffer all the toriures of doubt
iII suspense until we hear something from our
N'le army that can be relied upon.
The steamship New Orleans sailed from the
hiazos on the 4th inst. for her destination
" presume that MIR. KENDALL. must have
WTil'en Us ere his departure on the New Or
ieahS, oul II so his letters have not vet come to
hand There was a r,,il L.,,,.L, - ~, ~