The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-08
The Attaok on hiat.imoros,

The New Orleans Picaytirte OF the 3lst ultimo
makes the following remarks the into lgence OF
the attack on Matardofoa, of which we published a
Geographic outline several days since:
"our readers will find. in another column, the
startling intelligence brought yesterday Of an at
tack upon Matamoros by the insorrectionary forces
under Carvajal. Our accounts are only verbal,
come to us in disconnected shape, and are diff
| cult to understand; yet, 30 far we can compre-
bend the news, the facts are as follows:
son the 23d instant Carvaja appeared before
Matamoros with his force, and while making a re
connoissance an attack upon his advance was made
by the Mexicans under General Avalos. This at
tack was rcpulsedj and in phrsuing the Mexicans
a regular onslaught upon the city commenced, the
Texans under Carvaja probably leading the way.
| That Judgment within the city effected
there can be little doubt that Il would have fallen
completely into the hands OF the rsvolutionis5 ia
almost equally certain had il not been for the sud
den appearance of an American steamer, with a
| Mexican reinforcement on boardl which seen
coming up the river. To meet this force the Tex
ans, some two hundred strong as the accounts go,
were drawn of, and meanwhile the attack upon
MataInoros was suspended, and Carvaiai's forces
drawn off out of reach of gunshot.
"Of the after movements OF the American
| steamer, which had the Mexican reinforcements
! on boardj the ACCOUNTS are not clear That che
went down to the Bra5os, and that the troops with
two pieces of artillery were put on board the Mex
! lean war-steamer Neptune, would appear evident
| from the statements made by Captain Arnet, OF
|
| the commander of this reinforcement asked that
his troops might be permitted to march up on the
| American side of the Rio Grande to Maiamoros,
| but this was refused. How he came in possession
| for the time being of an American steamer does
| not appear. If the steamer was in the employ OF
our Government at the time, she could not have
| been lawfully engaged in transporting Mexican
| troops; if she was private steamer, she simply
laid herself liable TO seizure by the forces under
| Carvajal, in case she WAS taken We must confess
that We do not understand the movements OF this
steamer, and shall await the arrival OF more den.
mite news. We can easily understand why the
commander of the reinforcement for General Ava
los did not about landing upon, or marchin @
up, the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, in case
he saw two hundred Texans upon the banks
ain relation TO the final attack upon Matamoros,
which was expected TO take place on Friday, the
9th instant, cannot doubt of the success OF Car
vajal He evidently has no uncomfortable force OF
Texans with him, the most of them old rangers,
and all we'll armed; and with these he could worm
his way to any part of the city. No men better
understand street fighting than do the Texans.
They commenced the game of burrowing and dig
ging through houses at San Antonio in 1886, and
ten years afterwards increased their experience at
Monterey. Against these hidden attacks, carried
on by marksmen expert to degree, no Mexican
city stand; cannon and barricades alike
powerless in the way of resistance. 1t is therefore
reasonable TO suppose that this in Carvajal
made the contemplated attack, Matamoros is in his
power.
"Taking this for granted, the next movements
of the revolutionary leader will be looked for with
interest He may have commenced the ipsurrec-
tion as mere mercantile or smuggling transac.
ton; but, should he find himself in complete pos
session of Matamoros, and the entire line OF the
Rio Grande as high as Mier, the movement may
grow into revolution having for its end the en-
tire separation of the country this side of the Sierra
Madrc from the parent government The Texans
he has with him, and whose numbers he can easily
increase if he will but declare a general revou-
ton, will not be satisfied with halfway measures,
but in their very rcsessness and love Of adventure
will be for pushing on towards Monterey and the
mountains. We shall look for further news from
Matamoros with increased interest. Until another
arrival from the seat of all must be con-
lecture"