The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-04-07
MEXICAN REVOLUTION.
DiaZ Takes Possession Of Mafam0-
as-GOVernment Troops 60 Over
to the Eaemy.

! NEW YORK. April IA Brownsville,
, Texas, special of April . says at 5 this
morning General Por6rio Diaz present
! thousand men 10 attack Matamoras.-
/ General De Laharra, in command of
I the garrison, sent ont a force of some
three hundred men, under General Toll
edo, to attack the enemy. This force
/ pronounced. when out of the city, in
/ favor of Daiz, and came into his ranks.
/ The National Guards, one thousand
strong, in the city, and the artillery, re-
| fused TO FIRE single shot when ordered
1 by General De Labarra. and the Revo-
lntionists kept advancing. On this all
/ the Government troops turned over ex-
cept the cavalry, which held firm. Az
ter some fighting. General De Labarra,
seeing he was betrayed on the battle
/ field, left the city with squad of the
| Ninth Cavalry for Brownsville. At the
sentinel station on the river opposite
| Brownsville, the guard fred at the par
1 - taO
General crossed over and is now here
| The United States guntoat Rio Bravo is
| in front of Matamnras to protect Amer
/ ican and foreign citizens. General Diaz
/ is in Matamoras, and has been received
with great rejoicing. AT present fight
( ing Is going on at Forts San Fernando
/ and Cara Mata, fortifcation in the
suburbs of Matamoras by the regiments
of Colonels Cristo and PARROT, who re-
| fuse to surrender. The artillery Is roar
| ing and the contest is uncertain. HIM
| dreds of families from Matnmoras have
been pouring into this city for week
past, in antici patton of the battle, and
the greatest excitement prevails on both
sides of the river. Officers and troops
who crossed over to Texas have been ar
rested and dIsarmed by General Potter,
and taken to Fort Brown under orders Of
the Secretary of War.
GALVESTON, April "a News spe-
cial from Brownsville, of the Cd, says:
This morning at 3 o'clock, General
Toledo went ont of Matamoras with one
hundred men TO reconnoiter He was
endeavoring to ascertain the position of
the revolutionary forc>s. While thus
engaged a column Of cavalry suddenly
passed between him and Matamoras,
completely isolating him The main
body Of Diaz's army marched boldly
upon the works in the upper part of the
city. Not a gun was fired from the works
The regular troops and National Guard
hurrahed for Diaz. General Labarra
discharged his revolver, and then re-
treated to the river bank with about
twenty-five men. He asked permission
to pass, which was granted on condition
of his becoming a prisoner and being
disarmed. He and his detachment are in
Fort Brown.
Another version is that General Tole-
do had six hundred men, and that when
outside they pronounced and Joined
Diaz. General Diaz has more than one
thousand men, He was received with
great rejoicing by the people of Mata-
mOras. Colonel Parrot and Colonel
Cristo refused to surrender. They hold
some forts. A brisk cannonade il going
on, and it is not known what the result
may be. Firing mostly from Casa Mata
and Fort San Fernando. When General
Labarra approached the ferry with his
escort, his own gnard fired on him, be-
lieving it the enemy.
When Colonel Cristo learned that
General Labarra was in Fort Brown, he
surrendered. General Diaz has complete
possession of Matamoras. Refugees will
soon begin TO flock to the other side.
Particulars of to o-day' doing are being
ascertained. General Labarra was with
General Toledo, reconnoitering the
forces. Toledo fell back to the Casa
Mata, but had been separated from La
barra. Abont 7:30 O'Clock a fight began
between the Ninth Regular Cavalry and
the regiments of Lapareno and Angirre.
This was outside of the town. The cav
airy surrendered Two pieces of artil-
Iery were taken at Monterey Fort by the
Revolutionists, and carried by hand to
the lower part of the city. The former
gunners served them when they were op-
ened upon the Casa Mata.
The Twenty-second Regular Infantry
abandoned Fort San Fernando and en-
tered Casa Mata. The fight at Casa Mata
was brisk for half an hour. The Revo-
lntionists attempted to take the works by
! storm, and were repulsed. Just as they
were ready for another attempt, a white
flag was raised. Colonel Cristo offered
his swords to General Diaz. The latter
complimented him. and told him to wear
his sword The number of men surren-
dered by Cris,o is variously estimated at
from 119 to 362. Colonel PARROT was
thrown from his horse in an affair out
side of the town. and is a prisoner
An officer Of General Diaz caves the
following list of captures; $50 men, II
pieces Of artillery, and 712 stand of
small arms, besides those in the hands Of
prisoners.
The surgeon reports three killed and
twelve wounded. The officers report FIVE
killed and sixteen wounded
Generals Trevino and Naranio had
Colonel OrdOnnez surrounded, day be-
fore yesterday, near Punta Aguado.-
Trevino sent a courier to General Diaz.
and says he will defeat Ordonnez. Trev-
ino is expected in Matamoras within
three days. Ordonnez is the officer who
defeated Naranio few days ago.
General Diaz was preparing a note to-
day, TO General Potter, requesting or de-
manding the removal of the gnnboat
from before Matamoras. Her presence
is said to be disagreeable to him. He
has expressed determination to remain
at Maiamoras until his troops enter the
City of Mexico. An entire change is
progressing. Diaz's men are crossing
into Matamoras, and the Lerdo men are