Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-02
From, the Rio Grandc.

A Fort Clark special says: "Col. Skater
crossed the Rio Grande yesterday with SIX
hundred men and TWO Gatiog guns, to extrl'
cate Bulls from his dangerous position. One
thousand Mexicaos LETT Pielras Ncgras, Sara
roosa aud Vile Nuava to-day. Their desllna'
,jcr IS uuknown" The latest specials from
The Rio Granuc give no reformation OIL col
I;sion between the Mexican and Federal troops,
| although it is thought that Shatcr and Bulls
| have had an engagement with the Indians on
Mexican soil. Rcinlorcements have been sent
| to Sbaiicr. There are now eight companies OF
| JJoiled States troops on the Mexican side of
| the river. Gen. Falcon. commanding The Nlcxl
can forces at Picdras Nagras. has ordered his
officers 10 keep 90 the trail OF the Americans
until they recrCss tire river.
| Aothcr dispatch from Fort Clark says :-One
thousand Mexicans had already leit the Towns
Of picdras Negras, Saragossa and Villa NeuVe
on secret expedition. 1t is believed that the
| Mcxicans consider that tho present opportunity
presents an admirable chance TO rctaiIate inr
the pressure made by the United States au'ho''
ties al out the affair at Rio Grande City
| These reports clearly POINT tn hostile mert
ing, and the fac: that the United States forces
now On Mexican soil arc in some dan.
element among the people here and at
other points along the frontier, for the question
Of stopping these raids by Indian aud Mex
lean marauders is one which interests all
classes OF the community. If our troops are as.
sailed they will no doubt, give good account OF
themselves, even though the forces brought
against them may be supcrlOrln numbers, Tor the
men under COL Shaiter arc under excellent dlScl
plinc. By to morrow VIC shall doubtless have del
mite information from the scene OF operations.
| A dispatch from San Antonio says: General
Ord received telegram tonight from Eagle
Pass announcing that it was currently reported
and believed at that place that the American
troops under Lieutenant Bulls had been pretty
roughly handled in their encounter with The
Mexican troops from Saragossa. Indeed, it ap-
pears from the adviccs OF Gen. Ord that there
is no doubt that Lieutenant Bulls did have
fight and lost several men and horses.
Nothing positive has been beard from either
Col. Skater or Lieutenant Bulls, as neither oil
these officers have sent any dispatches, the reason
being, in all probability. that they were not 10 a
position to do so, their lioc oil communication hay
ing been cut off, The latest special to the San
Antorio Herald makes the startling statement
that Lieutenant Bulls lost nearly all OF his men
while engaged in the desperate task OF cutting
his Way through the lines oil his opponents,
and also that that Col. Skater had been sur.
rounded by force OF 1000 Mcxicans.
II is only proper to say that neither OF those
statements are confirmed or even limited at IN
;. the dispatches received by Gen. Ord, and they
are considered by him to be merely sensational
rumors. 10 fact, such is the character OF all
tho non official intelligence at hand, but tho
military authorities, including Gen. Ora, have
no doubt whatever that Lieutenant Bulls was
roughly treated by the Mcxieans, who opposed
his movements, but they arc unwilling to be
icvc this story of disaster and danger TO both
bodies Of our troops
The excitement manifested here during the
day has in no way abatcd, but On the contrary
is on the Increase, as grave fears arc entertain
cd by the people for the safety Of the United
States forces now on the other side Of the Dor
der. Both Col. Shalter and Lieut.. Bulls arc,
however, brave and experienced Ulcers and 1t
is to be sincerely hoped that the rnmors Of
disaster aud danger are exaggerated