Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-12-09
rron lhr '. 0. crr.cent.
 From the Rio Csaads. Ths Siege Of Maamoros Fsilsre-- Present Po-- of fL. Ms1i.y,a Reral,,fic,ssfs

Efead6fs that siege dnd assault upon Ma,amorcs by Gen. Carvaiai and his forces has resulted in dis asiroas failure. In cnT two last papers, weskave stated the arrival of Gen. CATvaja and his Iofses, amounting to about 500 men and Q six x.poanaef gun, to invest the city nf Mataracros we also Sias | ted in the same papers that Gen. Ayales, Com mandiug for the CeuiFel Mexican Government, i had in the city of Matamofos force of about Go0 men, sustained by nine pieces ef artillery ol the respective cabres oisix, nine sad twelve poaadeTS These guns were established au haIricade batter ies. completely defending lis head quarters and hiS position for all his p1aa.-NTsH tafyaarS aIriyal ! at Fort Parades, about a mile above Aatangofus, he ordered an attack made upon Ayalv's position five companies, viz: Walkers, H5welfs, Ed- lnuudson's, HoFd's aud Shilhng's, added by DOT 1 ton Of the Reynosa Mier and Guuera battaions, ] These forces were under the command Cot. Ford, | next in command 10 Gen, Cafvaai. They made | a vigorous and energetic assault and after much severe fighting. reached to within few houses tue Main Plaza of the city of Mstamoros. This was
 the first contest that enSned between the forces of Caryajal and AsaloS, and resulted so conspicuous ly in favor Of Carvaal, to occasion the greatest aStonishinent at tho withdraw of his men from 1 their adyantageonsly advanced position. They had in fact reached nearly within Inusket shot Of Avalos'S headquarters, and had reached point 1 near the Main Plaza where they commanded three l of hs main batteries. The order to withdraw at night from such q position as this, caused the greatest surprise to the men 10 whom Il was ad- dressed. They reluctantly obeyed 1t; and we are greved 10 say that this order was the ground work Of all the fatal and unfortunate errors tha. took |, place during the successive assaults on Matam0- ros. Had Col. Ford been allowed to proceed we believe that few hours would have reduced the city under Caryajais control. But misled by false information, or some other mistaken influence he gave an order that rescued Ayaos from the jaws Of l destruction.
 After this unfortunate movement, a succession ofa and ~k4 or eight days. occurred, in which the companies attached to th" force of CarVajal very greatly dis 1 tinguShed themselves. Those of Captains Hord, Walker, Edmunson, Howell, and Shilling, most particularly attracted the notice of the Comman- derIn- Chief and all others; also several of Mexi- can companies conducted themselves with great gaiiaEtty and proprety. The contests in which these companies were engaged were generally very keen and spirited; and they behaved in manner which secured 10 them the highest encomiuDs of ther commanders. We need not detail the par tic ularS ii is enough 10 say that up to Thursday morning their conduct had won for them the high est praise. On this morning, about daylight, Gen. Caryaial, influenced by some considerations, we doubt not, of high character resolv ed to retire for limited distance, 10 recruit his forces for another asaaul He arranged his temporary re- treat m such manner as 10 chiefly place his Mexi
 can forces in advance, leaving Capt. Walkers company, with some MexieanS, at the rear guard of his column. They proceeded in this manner 10 a designated point about twelve miles above Matamoros, on the Bravo river. Having attained some four or five miles the advance of his rear ! guard, AyaloS cavalry, amounting to 200 men, ted by Col. Portllo made two attacks upon the rear guard, headed by Capt. Walker, and after severe conflicts, were repulsed with considerable loSs.- During these combats, the Mexican advance and centre, composed of some Mexican battalliops, and a few struggling Americans, were seized with sudden panic, and ingioriouSly hed-Dot even a l company, or dozen men, could be rallied 10 re- turn to the rescue of Walker but this gallant off, cer abundantly able 10 rescue hulself and soon put Portilla and his superior force 10 ight
 Caryaal proceeded with his advance guard Rnd
 forces up the riyer, and left Walker and the DOT
 ton of his auxiliary forces, who followed bm to defend his rear. Captain Wheate, who command
 ed the noble six -pounaeT which had answered
 AvaloS's batteries with so much spirit, ordered
 to cast his gun into the ryer. We frankly confess
 that this state of things has caused us more sur prise and modification than any event it has been
 our misfortune to witness during our whole lives.
 lt may have been severe contest to have assault
 ed and taken Avalos'S batteries, in the city of MatamoroS but the idea that such a force as Car
 veal commanded, consisting of so large portion of Americans and the best description of Mexican
 troops, should have fled with such precipitation
 from the field of battle, IS a degree of shameful
 debasement which we cannot comprehend. There
 IS no doubt that the experience and habits of
 Mexican officer are so different from our own, that
 WtGau HaFuf1 uuuCIStdDu the peculiar nOtlOuS that
 regulate his notions American citizens and sol
 diers are not in the habit of being subjected to the
 procraStinatng and uncertain orders that arc usual
 among the best disciplined troops Of Mexico. General Carvajal, as a Mexican officer, com
 manded in spirit suited to his Mexican troops- The result was, that he lost the confidence of his
 American followers, who deemed him inefficient
 and inadequate to the stern grasp of military enton. Had Colonel Ford, hts second in com mand, not been wounded, we believe that the jar
 ring and discordant state of feeling with hs Ameri-
 eau allies would have been avoided-and that the firm and iRAexible character of his auxiliarieS would have sustained the shrinking courage of his
 other troops, in the most critical state of flss al fairs.
 For the present Carvajals forces are dispersed,
 and can only be recognized at Camargo some
 other internal point, to TeslSt the forces Of the Central Government.
 Vigorous measures have been taken to re- unite
 and animate the scattered troops hS vicinity.
 Col. Fords wound is so laI healed as to justify
 the hope that he can put himself al their head in f few days 4 junction can be easily formed with
 General Caryaial, and a far stronger and better organized body Of men be held in readiness for ac ton, than any which has yet appeared under the banner of the I.berating Army.
 Il IS due to General Carvajal and his fugitive
 followers, native and auxiliary to state that just
 as they commenced theE march from Matamoros,
 report spread with great fapidfiy among them, that treIntorcementS, amounting t9 about five hundred
 men, with several pieces of heavy ordinance, were
 on their way to join AyaloS, and would be enabled
 to concentrate before that city during the day, yes terday, Ii at once reported that Carvajal
 would be surrounded and cut of, and hence in a
 great measure, no doubt, the diSgraeeful stampede
 o, hs troops.
 It IS proper also to remark that CaUajal's forces were hastily collected and with the exception Of two compames. had enjoyed the advantage of very lille experience and discipline. They hardly
 knew thelr o.iicers or were known to them. They were, however, as brave and resolute as men could
 be, and constituted as fine raw material for sol degs, as the world could pToduce--but they lacked discipline and obedience 10 orders, and that high military pride without which an army is liitle bet
 ter than rabbe, and the brayast men, most likely
 to create disturbance and dscerd. Besides a
 number Of irregular and evil disposed persons bad