The true Democrat., 1855-10-30

anu ulin the H9nC Ol ueT HOW DrlSnG sun = Does she despise her young sister, and lool upon her present condition with contempt Let her remember the beginning and progres of Chicago! Let her beware! Or .ather, le her be wise in time! Let her promptly prepar to guard her own interest and pursue, witt sleepless vigilance and untiring energy, the sug gestlons of prudent and a wise ccuntervail ing policy
 "The capital of the east, the railroads of II llnos, the city of Chicago, and the city of Cai TO, are all in the field against St. Louis! Anc their plans are urged forward with boldness perseverance, and an industry, which appear to defy all obstacles. Their daring enterprise seems determined to conquer all the impedi- ments of nature, and to snatch the prise of com merce from hands in which it was thought to be secure. But we of the country, make com mon cause with our chief city, to resist the schemes. We are ready to help her. Is she ready to help herself? and in doing so, to help us? Let us suppose the system of roads in H. linois completed and in operations; some seven or eight of the branch roads touching theMsss- sipp, at as many different points; bridges span ming the mighty stream at other places than those already projected; the Hannibal and St. Joseph road, the road from Rock Island to
 
 Burlington across the State, placed as great feeders to the roads in Illinois; is it not plain that when the lakes and the upper Mississippi are frozen up, that all the marketable and mcr- chantable products of Iowa and the upper Mis- souri would flow into, and thence down the great central trunk road of Illinois to Cairo, and from thence to New Orleans? And soon re- turns of merchandise would come through the same channels to supply the consumption and the wants of the upper country; and thus would the city of St. Louis be, for time at least, cut off and deprived of all the benefits, and all the advantages, of this immense trade. The coun- try, indeed, might not suffer 50 much from this state of things, but most assuredly the city of St. Louis would. A check would thus be plac- ed upon her prosperity and her commercial advancement, from which she might never en- tircly recover.'
 Texas Rangers-Bloody Battle in Mexico O
 --Victory of the Texans--Detaiis--Th
 Killed.
 It may be remembered that some time ago, body of mounted Texan Rangers, under the command of Captain Callahan, were, with the appreciation of the executive, mustered in the western part of the State. The object contem- plated by them, was to destroy the encamp- ment of Lipan Indians on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, and to exterminate the war riors of that tribe which had long infested their frontier-murdering their wives and children, and deprcdating upon our property-and such MeXicans and negroes as would be found allied with them.
 Captain Callahan, in an address to the peo- pie of Texas, dated Eagle Pass, the 4th inst, gives narrative of the campaign. The Indian camp, he had learned, was situated about 35 miles west of the river, near the city of San Fernando, in the State of Tamaulipas. To- wards that point he marched. On the 2d in- stant, about three o'clock in the afternoon, and when within about ten miles of San Fernando the Indian camp lying the other side of the town--they deserted three horsemen approach ing them from mound of timber about a mile to the northward. "At first says Capt Calla- ham," Gor we now quote his own language) these men were not noticed, we supposing them to be Mexican herdsmen-but on their approaching within two hundred yards of us we discovered them to be Indian cheftains ready dressed and painted for battle; and they were evidently striving to decoy us from our position. Forming my men into a line along the road l waited for the enemy to begin the battle-for by this time large numbers of them had emerged from the timber, seemingly with the intention of attacking us; they soon spread out in front of us, and to our right and left, to the amount of several hundred horsemen, and commenced to fire on us. About this time one of my men fired on chief, about two hundred yards distant, and broke leg of his horSe.-- Perceivlng that the enemy, composed of both Indians and MeXicans, were trying to outllank us, ordered my men to charge, which was eX- ecuted in fine style, and thirty of the enemy were slain
 "Whilst making our charge, the left flank of the enemy, which extended for near half mile came in our rear and opened on us very severe fire, during which four of our gallant men were killed. The front and right flank on which we charged, after gallins fire fled be- fore us, leaving us Ill possession of the position which 1t was our object and determination to gain. Then we discovered that our enemy numbered some six or seven hundred and their footmen were concealed in the timber, and had not advanced in view on the prairie. My men formed in strong position beneath the bank of small creek, on which the enemy had been encamped, and their whole force coming up against us, we continued the battle for about three hours, when they fled in the direction of San Fernando, leaving, as we heard this even-
 
 of one hundred wounded This we learn from some Mexicans who were engaged in the bat tie, and from other sources since my report to his Excellency, the Hon. E. M Pease. The same MexicanS have also informed me the actual number of our enemy was seven hundred and fifty men. After the retreat of the enemy which was about dark, we, suppoSing that they would come on us again before day, with large rai1o foll bo do where we would be safe from any number of men and any quantity of artillery they might bring against US.
 Approaching the town of Piedras Negras about sunrise, we took possession oft, and now occupy position opposite Eagle Pass, on the west bank of the Rio Grande.
 are w. II. Cloptou and August Smith, of my company of Rangers Willis Jones of Captain Henrvs company, and H. R. Holland of Capt. Benton's company of volunteers The men wounded are John Gregory, dangerously, of ton, slightly, and 1st Lieut.. Henry B. King, slightly.
 "I am now occupying the town of Piederas Negras, opposite Eagle Pass and intend to hold JHe pOSIIlOU uiIil IclllloICeu l:OH GllC oCIGiO- mcnts The Mexicans have basely betrayed us, by pretending to favor our expedition against the Lipans, and attempting to draw us into a snare at our late battle ground, which would have succeeded, but for the bravery ofmy men against overwhelming odds.
 :" Uniformed the prominent men of this place this morning, that we did not come here to fight the Mexicans, but to whip and exterminate the Indians, and that we do not yet desire to fight them, although they have killed and wounded several of our best men. I have told them that they must deliver up to us the h. dians otherwise the Texans will make them responsible for the murders of their wives and children, and the depredations upon their pro- perty. It is now clear that they combine with and protect the Indians. have tried to ex- plain to them the injustice of their course, and have advised them that we will invade their country and burn the last of their towns, If they continue to protect and fraternize with this hand of outlaws, whose hands are still reeking