The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-10

leans In advance shook bis fist at the In camp and
cried out ''caTqjo 4mericano" Hardly had the words
died upon his lips before volley OF musketry bazed
forth from the chaparral and ty stalwsrt fellows
rushed out and the hill with hurra that sent ter
into the hearts Of the who had but
moment before been beating drums. smoking puros,
and cursipg the Amercanos The surprise was perfect
and the enemy scattered In every direction without
even returning the fire portion Of Capt Fsirchilds
company were engaged during the morning clearing the
heights In the such scattering Mexicans might
hang about in that direction
All being clear, advance guard composed of thirty
selected equally from the two infantry companies
placed the command of Lieut. Cheney II SPIT
isies company sud ordered IL march City ahead
OF the esyar and clear the heights Of the enemy who
might lie In ambush. The command within |
three miles OF the National Bridge No ntell genco mad
been received from Major Laliys command and nothing
heard Of Lieut.. henderson aud his party. Cept Wells
ordered come of the baggage to b, destroyed and
ther 1.-THE 2d) wagon to bs eftthe oules being useless
and only interruptDg the march. Nothing was seen OF
the enemy and The little party proceeded q.ily along
until they came in sight of the rt the that com
mands the bridge, we'll the road for half mile or
each side every thing quiet, not Mexican to
be seen In the vicinity Capt Wells ordered Lieut..
Cheney to advance with his guard followed by portion
of mounted volunteers 20 the bridge at the
extending the column sufficiently to prevent the men
from being unnecessarily secridced in of surprise
Every eye upon the owning height containing the
fort and Capt w. with Lieut. Cheney. and the advance
guard Of infantry had reached the bridge
some moments, Che having advanced within
muske range Of the circular fort) when suddenly the
height or rather he fort swarmed with Mexicans who
PETS musketry, aud with two small pieces of cannon
adding, frequently. congreve rockets Captain Wells
ordered those around him to return the fire. and then
directed them to retire Captain Halle had been ordered
to remain and protect the train In less than minutes
after the fire opened nearly three ourths of the mules
were killed Mr. Bady, the wagon master. succeeded in
getting of one ambulance unhsrmed, wagons
ambulance being abandoned Mr. Bady's great per-
severance good judgment and Jealous exerops during
the whole trip spoken Of in the highest terms by the
officers of the command The men the raw recruits
coo:ness veterans; indeed with much steadi.
ness than any one had right to expect Lieutenant
Cheney highly commended by the commanding officer
for his cooness and good conduct in the trying situation
in which he placed In truth all nearly all per-
formed their duty faithfully and CALAMITY but they
entirely the mercy Of the triple force overhead he
fort could not be reached and all they could do
retire die The far end Of the bridge
II may be proper to notice here that the officer com
manding the detachment Cavalry, infantry and wagons
not allowed horse by the proper department and
was consequently obliged to command foot until he
dsmounted dragon to enable him to perform his duty
faithfully.
The command 0be leth) found itself without food
clothing The knapRacks OF the men had been for
the occasion packed in the wagons. No one brought
from the more than ne carried upon his person
The officers who clad In their old clothes for march,
ing, lost everything-clothng, papers, and a-and re-
turned to Vera Cruz like the men under them,
without coats and bereft OF every comfort.
Tho return Of the command was more rapid than its
advance first because they were relieved Of the wild
mule train; aud secondly, because they had food,
and constantly surrounded by Mexicans On the
return the responsible and hazardous duty Of clearing
the road and heights at places necessarily
v0lved upon Captain Halle
TIE commandin officer behaved from the commence
ment to the end with great ooolness and displayed
throughout the characteristics OF true soldier and
somplished officer.
In the command was Mr.. Hayes, formerly one of the
proprietors Of the New Orleans Dehd amateur, who
always ready and willing when danger at hand
His excellent judgment cheerful disposition and brave
ry at the moment OF peril rendered him most useful
near Vera Cruz Capt Sheppard, Of the 9Th infantry,
used every exertion to render the officers and men
ut Vera CRUZ found to contribute to the
well. being Of the officers.
The commsnd arrived on the 18th at Santa Fe, End
Mr. Badly volunteered to 60 forward to Vera Cruz and
| ask for ambulances for the sick and wounded At 10
o'clock the night he returned with ambuances
and four wagons Capt Fairchld left the infantry at
Santa Fee, and went to the camp Vera Cruz. On
| reaching the encampment Vera Cruz the worm
down troops found no shelter from the peltnx rain
had just began to fall They without coats or
blankets ana at 10 o'clock the next day twenty -four
hours after their arrival they still without tents
ambition being well known by the commanding officer
the city, aud acquisitions having been made by those
In the attack at the National Bridge, Capt Wellslos
one man killed and wounded Capt. Halle lost two
killed, Beguar OF St. Louis and sojourner OF shreve-
port, Lay One teamster killed. Those who have
died in consequence Of the heat and fatigue, and
bracng the detachment Of mounted men lost will swell
Of this badly planned expedition to forty
men out Of two hundred
| NEWS FROM THE RIO aRANDE
From the N. o. Picayune Aug. a.
The propeller Secretary Buchanan, CAPTAIN Corser,
arrived from Brazos Santiago having sailed
on the oath inst BY her we have copy of the Mats-
Flag OF the LIST inst. 1t contains what.
the army above There to be question
Of jurisdiction Col Davenport and tine Texans
which has given occasion to the following notice by Col
Davenport which may be Important to those engaged
| In trade on tho Rio Grande:--
| HEADQUARTERS, MArAMoRAs, August 10, lS47.
sRIt reported to yesterday that the steamers
porting goods from the mouth OF tho river to points
above this place. the Texas side Of the river If this
be So you must Ia the multiplicity Of business have
overlooked instructions to you the 9Th of July
last There being few Of goods above this
the Texas side Of the river, the object is almost
certain In to emugge them into Mexico, and 1t Is the
duty of all cusomhouse agents to prevent this by all
lawful Being required to collect Mexican duties,
in with the late tariff Il becomes my duty
determine the boundary between Mexico and Texas
This understand to be the left bank OF the river
consequently all goods brought into the river are in
Mexico, and subject Mexican duty In the execution
Of your duty deputy collector wish you to act
cordng to this construction Should any departure from
be necessary, the may be- referred to the col
lector for decision.
Respectfully, your ood't servt
WIN DAVENPORT
Colonel LIST Infantry, Commanding.
| Lieut.. THos. B. J. WELD,
Cd Artillery, Mouth of the Rio Grands.
The following the instructions of the 5th Of July,
| referred to above
| HEApQUARrEs, LOWER RIO GRANDE DIsTRIor,}
MArAMoRAs, MEXICO, July o, Isl7. (
SrR-The Hon. Secretary Of War having decided that
Mexican duties not colectabs the east OF the
Rio Grande hereby appoint you deputy collector, for
the collection OF duties under the Mexican tariff on all
coming into the Rio Grande. Tonnage duty, II not col
ected there, will but seldom DO collected any where;
have therefore to desire that you give your attention
particularly to this braach Of that service You must
decide what vessels are to pay this duty My opinion
that Texas only claims to the river and conss
all vessels frsghtsd for the pubic, entering its
| mouth, aSe liable to this duty.
| When the importer desires to pay duty on his mer
chandse at this post you msy after satisfying yourel
that the packages parcels with the bill OF adnp
allow him to bring it up when he shows you the auhori
ty of the collector OF this post, his az for it, II
| every such give immediate notice here, that tn
business may receive timely attention II the goods
to go higher up the river than this post, have
collector above the duties should be paid ut the mouth
OF the river for 1t may not be convenient to stop here
for that purpose.
Respectfully, your obd't serv't
| WIN, DAVENPORT,
| Colonel LIST Infantry, Commanding
| Lieut. Tuos b. J. WELD,
| I'd Artillery, Mouth Of the Rio Grande