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



When information was received IN
Mexico City that General Taylor had
moved south from his post OF OBJ
%servation. at 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, y
General Herrera, then dictator, was
confronted with the problem OF max
ing his own position secure.
Two divisions, one commanded by
General Nincente Filisola Of san ia
:into fame, and the other under the
command Of General Mariana Fareaes
Y Arrilla were ordered % march with
all haste from San Luis Potosi q
Matamoros TO reinforce the army OF
General Mejia- General fiIsoia
obeyed the order, bat General rare
des. with the loNal Fiiisola marching
northward. FASTENED his division 70
Mexico City and proclaimed himself
dictator. Hearing OF the new reVo-
luton Filisola hurried his division
back to the capital which was al
ready in the hands Of Paroles
One Of the first acts Of General
Paredes after assuming the dictator
ship was 10 appoint General Ampudla
commander in chief OF the northern
area. The citizens OF Matamoros re-,
ceived this news with disgust ana
sent a protest to Paredes. Ampuala
had been Paredes' most efficient lleu-
tenant in the revolution. but the die
tator took cognizance OF the Mata,
moros protest and appointed General
Arista 10 command in the North. with
Ampudia ranking second.
General Ampudia was not aware
that he had been superseded hy Aris-
Ia until after his arrival ~ Mata-
moros on April III and the deliverance
of his ultimatum to General Taylor
on April II. The express from Mex
ico City announcing that General
Arista had been elevated to the COM
mand was received in Matamoros on
the night Of April ~. which accounts
for the failure Of General Ampudia
to carry out his threat to open fire
within "a hours unless General Taylor
evacuated his position before Mata-
moros and fell back 10 the Nueces.
Orders had been issued ~ General
Ampdia for the entire army, with the
exception OF q small garrison to man
the batteries Mt Matamoros, TO cross
the Rio Grande on April -.
An order to the effect that no AZ
rressive move should be undertaken
until his arrival was received hy Gen
eral Ampudia from General Arista,
who was hurrying his troops by fore
cd marches from Saltillo and Monter-
rey to MatamoroS. the order stating
the reinforcements and commanding
general would he in Matamoros BY
the last Of April.
The First Casualties
A number Of small disasters over
look the Americans during their first
month on the Rio Grande, all Of
which combined to augment the con-
fidence of the Matamoros troops. A
band Of irregulars operating from the
Mexican side under tho command Of
Ramona Falcon, picked up several
~stragglefs. and on April 10. Colonel
Cross. who had left camp on a re-
connoitering expedition. failed TO re-
turn.
On April II. Lieut. Porter Of the
4th Infantry and Lieut. Dobbins Of the
4th, each with a command Of ten
men, were ordered 70 seek the hiding
place Of Ramona Falcon. The MORN
ing Of April rs a sergeant Of Lieut.
Porter's command returned with the
report the party had been ambushed
and the lieutenant killed.
According 70 the report Of Lienten-
ant Dobbins the party proceeded
southeast from camp. and the two