Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-07
TAYLOR's ARMY BEFORE


WA AMOhO0
When information was received In
Mexico City that General Taylor had
moved south from his post Of OBJ
~servation mt Corpus Christi on the
Nueces, the popular clamor for war
with the United States became more
intense. The country had passed
through a series of revolutions, and
General Herrera, then dictator. was
confronted with the problem Of max
ing his OWL position secur
Two divisions, one commanded BY
General Vincente Filisola Of San ia
into fame, and the other under the
command Of General Mariana Paroles
Y Arrilla were ordered to march with
all haste from San Luis Potosi TO
Matamoros to reinforce the army OF
General Mejia. General Filisola
obeyed the order, but General Pare
des, with the loyal Filisola marching
northward, fastened his division 70
Mexico City and proclaimed himself
dictator. Hearing Of the new revo-
luton Filisola hurried his division
back 10 the capital which was al
ready in the hands Of Paroles.
One of the first acts Of General
Paroles after assuming the Dictator
ship was 10 appoint General Ampudia
commander in chief Of the northern
area. The citizens of Matamoros re-
ceived this news with disgust and
sent a protest to Paroles. Ampudia
had been Paredes' most efficient lieu
tenant in the revolution, but the die
tator took cognizance OF the Mats.
moros protest and appointed General
Arista to command In the North. with
Ampudia ranking second.
General Ampudia was not aware
that he had been superseded by Arts
Ia until after his arrival in Mata-
moros on April II and the deiiverance
of his ultimatum 20 General Taylor
on April ~. The express from Mex
leo City announcing that General
AriSta had been elevated 10 the com
mand was received in Matamoros on
the night OF April u. which accounts
for the failure OF General Ampudia
20 carry out his threat TO open fire
within "a hours unless General Taylor
evacuated his position before Mata-
moros and fell back TO the Nueces.
Orders had been issued ~ General
Ampdia for the entire army, with the
exception OF q small garrison TO man
the batteries at Matamoros, 10 cross
the Rio Grande on April y.
An order TO the effect that no az
gressive move should be undertaken
until his arrival was received by Cen
eral Ampudia from General Arista,
who was hurrving his troops by fore
ed marches from Saltillo and Monter-
rev TO Matamoros. the order stating
the achievements and commanding
general would he in Matamoros by
the last OF April.
The First Casualties
A number Of small disasters over
book the Americans during their first
month on the Rio Grande, all Of
which combined tc4augment the con
fidence Of the Matamoros troops. A
band Of irrerulars operating from the
Mexican side under the command OF
Ramona Falcon, picked up several
stragglers. and on April 10, Colonel
Gross. who had left camp on n re-
ronnoitering expedition. failed to re-
turn.
On April ~, Lieut. Porter 81 the
4th Infantry and Lieut. Dobbins Of the
4th, each with q command OF ten
men, were ordered 10 seek the hiding
place Of Ramona Falcon, The morn
ing Of April rs a serreant Of Lieut..
Porterss command returned With the
report the party had been ambushed
and the lieutenant killed.
According 10 the report Of Lienten-
ant Dobbins the party proceeded
southeast from camp. and the two