Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-01-26
Official DeSDatCheS.

REPORT OF THE LAST ACTION IN THE
ARMY-ATTACK ON MATAMORAS-
RELEASE OF AMERICAN PRISONERS
PARTICULARS OF THE DEATH OF
LIEUT.. RIDGELY, OF BALTIMORE.
The Union publishes the following off,
cial dispatch from Gen. Lane, detailing the
last action Of the army, resulting in the
death of Lieut.. Ridgely, Of Baltimore.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT PUEBLA,
Puebla, Dec. l, l647.
SIR: Having been credibiy informed
that the enemy were in force at Matamo-
ras, with some artillery, and that militia.
ry depot was there established, at which a
large quantity of munitions of war and 9TH
er public property had been collected, and
also that several American soldiers were
confined there in close prison, moved
from Puebla towards that place at Z o'clk.
on the evening of the 22d instant, with one
piece Of artillery and twenty-five men, un-
der the command of Lieut.. B. Field, of the
Sd artillery, and one hundred and thirty
five men, consisting of Colonel Hays Tex
as mounted riffemen, and OF the Louisiana
dragons, under Captain Lewis. Although
retarded by the rain, which fell necessarily
from 10 o'clock until 5, we arrived at Mat
amoras at o'clock on the morning of the
23d--accomplishing march of itty-four
miles in IL hours. Coming upon the ad-
vance guard of the enemy as we approach.
ed the town, they were charged, and driv-
en- in upon the main body, when the whole
fled along the streets towards forest ly.
ing in the rear Of the place. The force of
the charge, the suddenness of their flight,
and the various avenues by which they re-.
tired, render it difficult to form satisfacto-
ry estimate oftheir numbers, which is va
riously computed at from four to six hun
dred.
In this short and sanguinary action. from
sixty to eighty of the enemy were killed
and wounded, without the loss, on our part,
of a single man. Among the killed was
Col. Predras, commanding at Matamoras.
two captains of artillery, and other officers
Of various grades. Twenty-one American
soldiers were set free and restored to the
service, armed with muskets, and mounted
upon horses, taken from the enemy
Three pieces of artillery--a small one, a
long six, and long twelve-pounder-all
of bronze, and in good firing condition, IL
tons of shot of all calibres, twelve boxes
fixed ammunition, twenty bales esco-
pet and musket b Ills, seven bales slow and
quick matches, five hundred sabres, one
hundred horses, large quantity of medical
stores, and other public property, fell into
our hands; and, with the exception of the
artillery, the fixed ammunition, the musk
cts and sabres, all were destroyed, in con-
sequence of my inability to procure addi-
tional means Of transportation The re-
mainder of the day was employed in re-
freshing the troops, and in destroying mill
tary stores, in which last three artillery
men-privates German, Foss, and Fried
man-were considerably injured, but, it is
hoped, not disabled, by an accidental ex-
plosiop.
In this engagement, Col. Hays display
ed great GOODNESS and bravery. as did also
Capts. Lewis and Roberts, of the Texas
Rangers. Lieuts Waters and Lilly, OF
the Louisiana volunteers, and the Lieuts.
of The Texas corps behaved most gallantly.
Lieut.. Ridgely, of the 4th infantry. acting
assistant adjuant General, and Lieutenant
-Whlpple Of the 9th infantry, (volunteer
aid1 behaved, as ever before, with distin.
guishsd gallantry, rendering me prompt