Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-05
News from Mexico. by steamship Nautilus.
AT aATAMoRAs.

AT MATAMoRAs.
By this arrival the New Orleans Picayun,
Publishes letter dated Malamoras, August
22d, 1854, from which we make the following
extracts. Speaking of Santa Anna's oppres
sions, the writer says:
"Two of his DEGREES, affecting very seriously
the people of the State of Tamaulipas, have
done as much, if not more, towards bringing
about the present state of affairs in this State
as anything else. The first of these inter
dicted the expectation of all animals from the
State OF Tamaulipas into the State of Texas
Now, as the chief, not TO say the only occupa
ton OF the rancheros or farmers of this State
was stock raising, this was vital blow 10
their interests. The other decree was raising
the expectation duty on silver from six to ten
per cent. This affected more particularly the
merchants, and rendered it almost impossible
for them to meet their engagements with their
creditors living cut Of the country.
These proceedings gradually produced q
deep feeling of discomfort, which has at last
broken out in open rebellion. To add to this,
General Vol, the commanding officer of the
State of Tamauipas and er o1icio governor,
has been exceedingly rigid in the discharge
of his duties, making domicilary visits on the
slightest pretexts, and threatening prominent
citizens with visit to the castle of San Juan,
&c. These acts together with the desire ap-
parently inherent in the breast of every Mexi
can from an early overthrow of their rulers,
brought about the present revolution.
Don Macedonia Capristran, one of the most
influential Mexicans in Tamaulipas, took the
lead, and quietly withdrew to the American
bank Of the Rio Grande, when he was soon fol-
lowed by some four or FIVE hundred of his
countrymen. This was done in such man.
ner as not to violate the letter of the neutrality
laws of the United States, and, to the credit Of
the Americans be it said, they took no part in
the matter further than to express their SYM
pathies in conversation with an oppressed peo-
pie. In fact, the American authorities were on
the alert to break up any military organization
on their soil, and even sent military COM
mand from Fort Brown, just opposite, to visit
points at which it was reported that armed par
ties of Mexicans had assembled but everything
was conducted so quietly that detection was
avoided.
About ten days ago they crossed in small
parties, and raised the standard of revolt. The
proclamations, herewith enclosed, which they
have scattered throughout Tamaulipas, will let
you into all their grievances and plans. Gen.
Vol, who had kept himself informed of their
movements, Immediately ordered Gen. Cruz,
one Of his best officers, with one or two pieces
of artillery and some two hundred of his
choicest troops, to attack them. The insur.
gents took up strong position, and boldly
awaited the troops, determined to measure
swords at once. Gen. Cruz opened with his
artillery, and, after a few discharges, charged
The position Of the insurgents with all his force
He was met with most gallant and steady
FIRE, which broke his columns and drove him
from the field with severe loss. He immedi.
ately returned to Matamoras with his shattered
columns, having but three officers killed and
three wounded, and between thirty and forty of
the rank and file killed and wounded.
The loss of the insurgents was very trifing.
They were under the command of General
Voldomar and Colonels Capistran and Garcia,
and Immediately after the engagement took up
their line of march for Victoria. ] should
have stated that this city, the capital of Tamau-
lipas, pronounced some weeks since, as well
as San Fernando and Y ula, and is in the hands
of the insurgents, under the command Of the
Provisional Governor of Tamaulipas, Senior
Don Juan j. de la Cara. Santa Anna has
been throwing troops around Victoria, and it
is reported that it is besieged by some twelve
hundred regulars. News has Just this moment
arrived that they assaulted the city on the 18th
instant, and were beat off, and while in confu-
sion were attacked by General Valdomar in the
rear; and suffered severe loss. IF this should
be true, and should they succeed in defending
successfully Victoria, the revolution would
spread most alarmingly, and Santa Anna's
power east Of the Sierra Madre would dwindle
to nothing. Strong bodies of revolutionists
are in the vicinity of Reynosa and Camargo,
.,,,l t11ra l,,S, Ill
the news of their capture is daily expected.
Yesterday a Mexican war steamer arrived
OF the mouth of the Rio Grande, having in
charge two gun boats and four hundred troops
from Vera Cruz, to strengthen the garrison of
Matamoras.
The Brownsville Flag of the 18th says:
Rumors were current here on Tuesday last
that Camargo had already fallen into the hands
Of the insurgents; that it was captured By an,
other army OF them, under the command Of
Carvajal and Juan yilareal We know not
now true this rumor may prove, but we place
credence In 1t from the fact that we have posi-.
tive knowledge that a considerable force has
been for some time in process Of organization
for that object.
The insurgents in the battle near Mata-
moras, were commanded by E. Gautier Waldo
mar, rs commander in-chief with the aid of
Colonel Macedonia Capistran and his son-in-
law, Guadalupe Garcia, the latter of whom,
with the rank Of commander Of the staff, and
the former that Of colonel Of cavalry The
minor officers we're almost wholly composed OF
citizens Of Matamoras. Since their very signal
victory, they have planted themselves in a.
rancho near Matamoras, where their ranks are
being hourly augmented with fresh recruits
and it would not surprise us if in our next
issue we we're called upon to record the fact Of
their having taken that city. Everything at
present seems certainly to denote their COM
plete success. The deep discomfort is SO gen.
eral against the existing government, that its
administrators dare not move the force which
garrison the city Of the republic, through fear
that the Inhabitants themselves will rise against
them, SO soon as the cause is removed which
force them 10 subsection"
From the Albany Express of August 81.
A Picnic Party Surrounded by Fire I'm the