Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-03-30

The war on the Rordcr--U. s. troops
IN nexxeo>-A mother Ef<zk<s
Under this head, the Brownsville Flag Tex
-fra) aHnouBcss thafthe Texas Rangers, nm
der Capt Ford and Lieut. Pugh. with the Eo
companies OF q. s. Cavalry under Captain
Stoueman and Lieut.. Kimmel, had crossed
The BIO Grande for the purpose of attacking
Cortina at the Rancho de Ia Mesa, only SIX
! miles from the scene of the last action at the
Bolsa. and gives the following pastieuisfs:s &
On the night of the 10th. the officers in
command of the American forces. having pre-
yioasIy received official information from the
officer in command al Maiamoras. that Cor
tina was at the Rancho de la Mesa with a
considerable force. crossed over and marched
towards that rancho When they had arrived
within hall a mile, they surprised picket
guard, who fmrnediaIeiy gave the alarm.
| Several shofs were exchanged and two per-
sons woundsd--eHe Mexican soldier. the
other woman who was trying to shut door,
| out of which Mexican officer was shooting
| al our cavalry-belore il was discoyered that
the surprised party claimed TO be Mexican
I National Guards, upon which the firing i'm
mediateiy ceased; -e-f--asF fea
When our forces were at breakfast, very
near the rancho, body Of about $50 Mexi-
| cans, borse aud frot. made their appearance
and desired conference which bsiig grant
|, ed. they stated that they were Mexican Ma
ffoHal Guards, and in eearcb OF COriina, but
I could give no information respecting his
whereabouts. and that the party surprised
/ was part of their own force guarding their
biggage, and concluded by rrqne>tiog our
officers to take no further action IN The mat
ter till they could communicate with The au-
tbosities of Maiamoras which our forces did
not seem inclin d 10 do. plying that they
were pursuing CorIina, and should adopt
such uFes 10 take him circumstances
might seem to require. -Efss.t-s8
Ii was subs, qurntly learned that these Ma
tiopal Guards had been watching our forces
during the previous day and night and the
conviction that they were only prevented
from attacking our troops through fear, is
very strong. ~ 81
= Although they denied all knowledge OF
CorIina' whereabouts. the women and boy
| at the rancho, assert that be was there w hen
the al arm was given, and our officers are con-
WINGED that their statements are true, and be-
leye that he escaped when the alarm was
| first given. a 1855 e
Our foi ces are encamped on the other side.
about thirty i've miles above this city, and
intend to remain in Mexico till they take Cor
tina, or are ordered back. ~
Major Heintzelman. with bis usual prompt
ness, has dispatched company of artillery
with a long twelve and atwenty-four pound
howifzer, 10 that vicinity 10 be in readiness
should their services be required.
The statements of the Mexicans agree. in
| the main. with those of our own forces They
state that they were ordered TO cooperate
/ with the Ams ricans, and were in pursuit of
Coriina. but that our troops, by taking dill
| ferent road unfortunately fell in with their
| baggage guard.
We are informed however, that some of the
officers of the Mexican National Guard ar.
intimate with Cortina, aud frequently pay
friendly visits TO his camp. 1t would not be
surprising if this should be ascerIaiued 10 be
the case in the present instance. -
Although We have every reason to believe
that the Government OF Tamaulipas is anx-
ious to be rid of Coriina, we have no idea
that they can compel the soldiery to fight
him