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

whose opinions are perhaps equally enti-
tied 10 respect, regard the movement OF
the enemy In q more serious light. The
report brought BY Col, KiRney to Tampico,
TO The effect that Is, 600 Mexicans were TO
attack Saltill 10 ont The 18th ult., is but the
same ruinor Which has already reached
here y$way Of Malamoras.
There is little doubt. as we learn from
private letters that there was large Mexi-
can force probably mostly scayuIry--al
II'ula at last dates, oil under command Of
Gen. Valencia. Gems. Urea, Romero,
Fernnndez, and others arc also repor,edto
be in .hesvicinisy. II may be recollecied
that our las, nccounts from the city OF
Mexico represented Valencia as on his
march to Tnla.
From correspondent at Tampico we
learn that on the lst Of January Gen. Tay.
lor sent forward Col. May. Of the Dra-
gonns, toteXuminc the mountain pass be-
tween Monte Morales and Labradores. On
his retnrnfrom Labrndores he took another
pnss leading to Linarcs and was attacked
by q large body Of Inc enemy and his rear
guard cut off. This was effected BY, rolling
stones into the pass, which was scarcely
wide enough for single horscmnn. May
managed 10 get through with the main body
and reached q spot where he was enabled
to dismount and return 10 tho succor Of the
rcar guard, but was too late, us the enemy
had rctrea,ed with their prize. AT one
time during the passage Of the gorge ..he
tlragoons would have been almost3al the
mercy ofthe enemy had the latter dischar.
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 he had
any men killed or not
Attlle present time, there can be 10 oubt,
Generals Taylor, Twiggs. Patterson and
Pillow nre at Victoria, and with large
force. Had Gen. TsyIor but a party or i've
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 expluins number OF The ru-
mors he has furnished:
Especial Correspondence ofthe Picayune.1
s. TAMPIco, Jan. 10. lS47.
GENTLEMEN-W have had, within the
last few days. some extremely cold weather,
unprecedented in the knowledge Of The
oldest inhabitant. Abnut 10, P. NJ, on The
9Th inst, one Of the ''northers,"t 10 which
this coast is SO frequently subject, burst up
on us with extraordinary violence. The
brig Foam, that had grounded on tho bar
The afternoon previous, was broken entire.
" to pieces during the night. Al II. P.
NJ, one of the Government steamers (the
Undine, beliepe,) took of the captain
ami crew. The next morning but vesiige
Of her was 10 be seen. This makes The
fourth vessel thut Inns 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 Alabama
regiment, is ordered to report for march
al 8, +. M.. TO day; il has been in prepara-
lion for several days, and is destined for u
descent upon ruspan. Gen. Shields will
command in person. We have il repor-
ted that there thousand troops at Tus-
pan, but presume il will be a "peni. uidi
pici" affair Our General is man of fgrcat
energy, and since he has been here has in
slitu.ed many projects and reforms thu, will
be advantageous. B. A.
TAMpIco. jan. II, lS47.
wrote you yesterday that an expe.ii.
tion would leave that day for Tuspan, bu,
was very coniiden.nIly mislcd. The ru-
NOR Tor the pms; few days was allowed to
spread that Tie f"rce was destined for that
place, and the Mexicnns despatched cnuri-
crs carrying The Intelligence. Reinforce.
mcnls were called in from the surrounding
country, and we hear now that there 1000
men there on the qui piuc for an attack
The Government steamers commenced f.
ring up yesterday at moon, and every pre-.
paratInn.aprearcd TO be making to cross
over To Pueblo Viejo, en- route for Tuspan,
when The commanding officer at the lines
received orders TO march bis men towards
Aitamira. 1t was n perfec, surprise To
every one. and whether any good results
from it or not, Gen Shields deserves credi,
for The rusc.
| am assured from headquarters tha, Tho
OBJECT is TO open u communication with
Gen. Taylor at Victoria. and il is deemed
cxpedicntto send the presen. force 10 NEE,
this advance. From 1000 to 5000 Mexi.
can troops are known TO be between here
and there, and very possibly Gen. Shields
VIII have an opportunity to cope with
them. But few Of the regulars posted here
have yet been in action in this war, and all
IL. y