Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-15
THE IMPERIAL ACCOUNT.
from the Matamoras Ranchero extra QmpeT
orRanl Oct 25 p MI

lhE lMIEhlAL ANiOONA-
From the Matamoras Ranchero extra Imperial
organ), Oct. %, ?. NJ
AT five o'clock this morning the outlaws
made, as was expected, an assault on the
Notifications surrounding the city. They
appeared at different points in small force,
leaving it matter of doubt whether feint
or attack was intended. At length a
charging party was found TO attack in
earnest the artillery pickets at the south
west part of the city. The charging party
made up in desperation what they lacked
in numbers for a time. The artil-
lery was forced back, leaving their
guns behind. At this juncture the gun
boat Pariano commanded by Colonel
Anselmo CRUDE, steamed down the river
to the assaulted point, and by well di-
rected fire put the outlaws to flight, when
the artillery picket retoOk their guns and
opened on the flying outlaws. AT the
same time the fort commanded by our
cotempOrary, SenOr Don Mignel Pena,
opened shocking fire upon the outlaws,
and, though at long taw, aided the gun
boat in clearing the chapparal of the last
scamp. Gen. Mejia, learning that heavy
assault was making on one Of the forts, put
himselfat the head Of five hundred cavalry
and galloped down to the assaulted point,
and arrived just in time to see the fleeing
outlaws disappear in thechapparsl. While
the charge was being made at the lower
end of the line a furious artillery and
mueketry fire was being kept up on the
upper forts, but without effecting any
thing. Fully one thousand men were led
against the forts. The forts maintained
a heavy fire upon the outlaws and kept
them at respectful distance. An imper-
ial cavalry force went up to see how things
were going where there was so much
smoke rising, and, upon seeing the situa-
ton of affairs, with Gen. Mejia at their
head dashed in and put the rebels to
fight, taking from them one gun. Alto
gether the firing continued two hours, when
it died out The imperial troops main
tained their enviable position admirably.
The citizens responded nobly, and were
on hand for fight, in which they were dis
appointed. Ifpossible, the confidence in
General Meii8 was augmented. Although
Gftv-eight persons were taken, and large
numbers of outlaws killed and wounded
the Imperial loss was several wounded and
less than dozen killed. A considerable
quantity of ammunition, abandoned by
the fleeing outlaws, has been captured.
The Captain of the gunboat Antonia, just
arrived from below, reports the outlaws
swimming the river in great numbers, and
in the utmost confusion.
Gen. Espinoza, second in command in
the outlaw army, is killed, and his body is
in the hands of the Imperialists. General
Meiia has Just returned from the front,
where he was from the beginning of the
fight until the common enemy of mankind
disappeared. The very latest from the
front leaves the Imperialist troops in pur-
suit of the fleeing outlaws. 1t is reported
upon very good authority that General
Hineiosa was wounded and taken to
Brownsville. Reports from Brownsville
Justify us in saying that the outlaw loss
exceeds five hundred men in killed and
wounded.