The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-12-10
Mexican Revolution.

his Matamoras Fight, having witnessed it fro
the window of his sanctum:
Gen. Avalos has kept strictly within Ills g
s.hed postion, i'll the center Of the CITY, whic
is defended with good deal Of skill by min
guns Gen. Carvaial has removed his head
quarters from Fort Paredcs into the mark
place, ant. within the rear portion of the town
He has only one SIX FOUNDER, and with this in
adequate battery, has been forced to fight undo
every disadvantage against A Avalos forces ant
heavy guns Daily skirmishes, have taker
place, and on some d1ys and nights, three o
ionr happened Of fierce and determined chsr
acter Besides innumerahle shots of rifles musk
cts anu pistols. Avalos has fred between fnur
and hve hundred cannon shots of canister
grape and ball--and Carvaja about one hun-
dred. The exact number of killed ard wound
ed on the Mexican side is not known to us, bn.
two days 90 there was 1a4 wounded men in
their hospital, a number have been wounded
and killed since, and it is fair to presume tina.
: nearly half as many have been killed as are
wounded. This would m7kc the killed and
wounded on the side of Avalos. about 10 or
iS0 men. Carvaial has had three or four kill
cd and about dozen wounded. Lieut.. Culver
and Surgeon Finley two of the killed, and
Col Ford, Capt. Norton and F. r. Gracesqui
. the latter by an accidental discharge of o
gun-wounded
~ h'ii tiie circumstances tlHS
disparity of loss is almost miraculous. The
fighting has been often hand to hand both sides
firing through the same hole i'm brick walls Mt
each other. The siege has lasted six or seven,
| days, and with constant hostile action the mcn
are worn down. but do not complain They
arc resolved to take the place, and this reseln
tion they will probably make good If Carvaial
| had twelve or eighteen FOUNDER he would
/ apturc Avalos' whole force in two hours. As
nd
have reason to think decided movement is at
hand. Ft
Yesterday Major Gonzales, Of Gen, Caraya-
ial's staff, while entering Mniamoras with flag
of truce, was fired on and shot through the lint
by one of Avalns' National Guards The pol
troon was ordered under arrest by Col. Portillo,
who was i'll command
The n. o. Picayune has the following:
We learn verbally that Mr.. Longstroth, one
of the principal merchants of Matamoras
shot dead while standing on the roof of his
store or house Watching The operations The
American Consul, Mr.. Waddel, had also been
slightly wounded in the head, and other nom
combaans had been injured by the fire Of the
revolntonsts, which was close and continuous
from the first.
At the outsct of hostilities, Gen. Avalos call-
ed upon the National Guard and all the citizens
to turn out for the common defense This
order was refused He next issued decree or
proclamation, reducing the duties on man!as
three cents per yard, which SO aroused The
patriotism of those who had previously held
back, that they turned out in great numbers
Had it not been for this adroit movement, it is
SAID that scarcely man would have joined
him.
We have before US letter from merchant
in Brownsville, TO gentleman in this CITY,,
which describes the excitemen in the former
place as being intense Business was compile
tey suspended. and every thing was in confu-
sion The letter is dated October 90, according
to the writer the 10th of the seigc of Mata
moras. On that day the assault was renewed
with redoubed vigor
The same letter asserts that the affair is
entirely specuaton that the people, of Tam
aupas were at first disposed to engage in it;
but as soon Carvalal commenced to enlist
Americans, the National Guard Joined Avalos,
and thus enabled him TO make stout resist
ance. The letter also affirms that most Of the
persons who go over from this side of the Rio
Grande to take part in the movement are actua-
ted solely by desire to plunder.
The following correspondence has taken
place between Captain Phelps of the United
States Army, and Carvajal. The letter
protested to Capt. Phelps against United States
steamers transporting reiniorccmen's Of Mexico
from Texas TO Avalos. Captain P replies to the
protest, as follows:
Since the receipt OF vour note / have come into
possession of authentic information that renders
it imperative upon me, for the proper execution
of the instructions with which am charged
emanatng from the government Of the United
States to ascertain whct position it is you deem
yourself now occupying before the civilized
world, have learned sir, that the forces which
are said to be under your command, are not only
atf 1ns Ero< Of
peaceful American citizens, but that they des--
Grated the flag. and fred Up and wounded the
Consul of the United Stacs-against the fatal
consequences of which now solcmnly warn
you in the name Of my Government.
Carvajal replies in the following tcrms
To you and all other persons not practically
acquainted with the operations of the National
Government of Mexico, it may be somewhat
difficult to explain the weight and CALLING sew
Gritty of the grievances, abuses, and oppressions
under which the people of this unhappy count
ry have groaned and struggled since the era of
its nominal independence.
Ground down by intolerable taxation, crushed
by heartless monopolists, and rode over by mil
itnry tyrants, the people of Mexico have endu-
red oppression in every shape, and borne in
suits in spirit that would have dignifed mar
tyrs. These argrcssions have at length be-
came insupportable, and by a spontaneous, uni
have resolved to strike off their chains, and TO
stand on their native soil unshackeled freemen.
This was the exalted spirit that dictated the
action Of the people of Guerrero, Camargo,
ReyHosa, Mier, and other independent towns
OF the North In this section Of the Republic
of Mexico there cannot be said to exist two o.
plnions upon this subject tl,a same feeling per. IL
vades every bosom, the same impulse aninates
evcrv heart
a. L. Al to
what manner their rights and liberties could
best be preserved by common consent, without
any agency of my own, ! chosen to lead
this patriotic enterprise. | accepted the appoint
ment with pleasure, having seen and felt the in
igIitons exaefions to which my counsrymen
were daily subjected, ard the despo'ic outrages
constantly practced upon them by the mnions
of power in the name of freedom. | have
raised the standard Of liberation, and hundreds
of my aggrie countrymen have rushed to it's
support.
Oppressed and borne down by the organized
military despotism of the Central Government,
/ knew that my countrymen, brave and devoted
as they were, could not IN the first hour ofstrug-
gle, single handed and alone, cope with such an
enemy. With the approba'iou and consent Of
my fellow citizens, invited number of amer
leans residing along this frontier we'll acquaht-
ed with our habits, feelings interest .ands, to
VditiCtpdlC Win us III li'S ~
dictate our rights. True to the instinct Of their
nation they yielded ready assent to the call,
and have been from the beginning of this con-
Test among the bravest and most determined of
the gallant party which | have had the honor to
lead have presented myself before the city
of Matamoras, upon the invitation of many Of
the most influential and respectable citizens of
this jurisdiction, and instead Of finding myself
and troops received with open arms as liberia
tors, we were met with ramparts brlstiing with
bayones and canon, and with the stern frown
Of military defiance. #s -
You have been pleased to state, Sir, that the
forces under my command are said to be attack
ing and destroying by fire, property of peaceful
American citizens, and that they have also dcs.
ecratcd the flag, and fred upon and wounded
the Consul of the United States.
1t is utterly false that the force under my com.
mand have attacked or destroyed private prop
crsy by fire or in any other manner. The ire
that occurred in Matamoras on Friday was not
kindlcd by my orders or by any Of my men =