The Abbeville banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, March 10, 1847, Image 2
. From the N. O. Picayune.
- ; Later from the Brazos.
.! Embarkation of troops at the Brazos?Fur:
V ther of the surrender of Major Gaines's
= command?their arrival at San Luts?
Movement of Santa Anna's army?March
towards Sallillo?Santa Anna's address
, to his troops.
At an early hour this morning the schooler
Harmonious Walker, Capt. Malcolm,
arrived from the Brazos, having made the
nnccnerp'. in siy fin v. 'PhrnuorJi tlin r?niirtr?c\r
j - ^7
of Mr. Martin, who came passenger or* the
schooner, we are placed in possession of our
correspondence to the 18th ult. and various
items of intelligence.
Mr. Ilaile writes on the ISth that there
were transports enough at the Brazos for
all the remaining troops of Worth's division,
and that every moment of calm weather
was improved in embarking them. In
three good days more the whole command
would be off
By this arrival we have further information
in regard to the troops captured by Gen.
Minon. In Minon's own modest report,
which is before us, his prisoners are set
down at 82 in all.
Besides the Americans taken by him,
iTip.ta was nno. Mexican named Galeano.
who had been with our troops as a spy and
a guide. He was immediately put to the
sword, although Major Gaines interceded j
for him.
AVe have before us another list of the j
captured, which includes names of Captain :
Albert Pilce of Arkansas, and Capt. Win. i
Heady of Kentucky. Capt. Heady was
-Captured two days after Maj. Borlan's party,
by a party of rancheros. His fate is
uncertain.
The party captured is now said to have
consisted of fifty Arkansas troops and two
parties of Kentucky troops one of twentyfive,
the other of eighteen.
Their camp was surrounded in the night
after they had marched forty miles,
Report says that Capt. C. M. Clay wish- j
ed to break the ranks, but could not induce j
others to assent to it, finding- the Mexicans
so out-numbered them. Minon's command
consisted of two thousand and some hundred
men, according to some accounts others say
of not more than five hundred.
Dan Henrie, well known as a Mier prisoner,
who acted as an interpreter to the
Arkansas troops, made his escape from the
Mexican camp, on Maj. Gaines's horse.?
The guard fired upon him, but lie escaped
uninjured.
The prisoners arrived at San Luis on
the 26th ult. Drums were beaten through
the streets and guns were fired to celebrate
the event.
Mr. Maile gives us another important
item, from this same letter from San Luis.
It is to the effect that on the 27th ult., there
marched out of San Luis for Tanque de la
Vaca,-ihe place where Minon made his capture,
three bodies of infantry, a brigade of
cavalry, and that of foot artillery, with more
than fourteen pieces of artillery. These
pieces consisted of three 24-pounders, three
18-pounders, four lG-pounders, and the others
8 and 6-pounders. It was also said that
within ttfo days another division would
march, and shortly after, the rest of the
force remaining in San Luis Potosi. So it
appears the blow is to be struck in the direction
of Saltillo. Santa Anna's address
1.0 his troops dated the 27th ult.. favors this
idea, and would seem to leave no doubt
about it, but we learn that the opinions of
the officers in our army are various on this
point. Many think Santa Anna is in truth
n his way to Vera Cruz, and that the
lisplay of force on the other side of San Luis
is intended to mask his movements, and
hide the weakness of the latter place.
Though crowded for time and room, we
cannot omit Santa Anna's address.
The General-in-Chief of the army of Operations
of the North to his Subordinaries.
Companions in arm 1 The operations of
the enemy demand that we should move
precipitately npon his principal line, and
we go to execute it. The independence,
the honor and the destiny of the nation depend
at this moment upon your decision.
Soldiers 1 the entire world observes us,
and will expect our acts to be as heroic as
they are necessary. Privations of all kinds
surround us, in consequence of the neglect
shown towards us,* for more than a month
by those who should provide your pay and
provisions. But when has misery debilitated
your spirits or weakened your cnthusias^'
' iV II i The.
Mexican soldiers is well known for
Vi!n frn/rnliHT ri r\ A liis nalionpa linear
r, y 7, ^uuu j/uviwuvw MUUVI cuuci"
ihg-~ii0v;?r.wanting magazines in marches
ocfoSsideserts?-and always counting upon
Aitt#fesource8 of the enemy to provide for
" his Wants.
To-4ay we shall undertake a march over
a 4fe$ert^country, Without succor fit provism
idii. Bui be assured that we shall irrimediHK'
^ ;"V|^v"be provided from ttiose of the enemy,
|| atia with tjdem you will be sufficiently
religion of our'wives and children. What
sacrifice, then, can be Ioj great for object d
so dear? Let our motto bo, "Conquer or
Die I" Let us swear before the great Eternal
that we will not wait an instant in purging
our soil of the stranger who has dares
to profane it with his presence. No treaty,
nothing which may not be heroic and proud.
Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna,
Headquarters, Sati Luis Polosi} Jan. 27, '47.
Still Later from the Brazos.
In addition to the details given in our last,
\vr? ;nmr?v flir? litlliuvinnr i t ni 11?; of infortunium
( late Feb. 25,) lor which we are indebted
to Mr. Martin, who arrived on the Harmonious
Walker.
Gen. Wool apprised Gen. Taylor,towards
the end of January, that he anticipated an
attack at Saltillo. In consequence, Gen, j
Taylor left Monterey on the 1st of February '
"With his staff for Saltillo. He took with !
him Bnigg's battery and Thomas's battery,
Ihe 1st Mississippi Rifles and May's squad*
ron of dragoons. Capt. Thos. F. Marshall
was to leave Monterey on the 3d inst., with
his company of mounted men, also for Saltillo.
Capt. Gorden, with a detachment of!
110 recruits for the different regiments, also .
left Monterey for Saltillo with Gen. Taylor, i
'im.~ \ :
JL 1113 ^Vlllv'l iLiill iwu rn nt, Mtiiuuu wuuiu
be between 5 and 6000 men. In addition j
to the two batteries named above, the batteries
of Capt. Washington and Capt Webster
were at Saltillo, and at last accounts the j
the troops were throwing up formidable for- i
tifications. Little apprehension is felt as to j
the result of any attack which may be made ;
upon that point.
The number of troops left at Monterey ;
does not exceed 500 men, but the citadel or \
"blaHt fort" is held by them, and there is j
no route by which the Mexicans can ap- i
nroach the cilv with artillery, save by Saltil- !
lo. Without*artillery, any attempt on Mon- '
tercy would be futile. The troops at Mon- j
tero}' consist principally ot Ohio and Indiana j
volunteers, all under the command of Col. ;
Rogers. Capt. Arnold, of the 2il Dragoons, j
has also been ordered to proceed to Monterey
from the mouth of the Rio Grande.
We mentioned in our last the capture of
Capt. Heady by a party of rancheros. He
was taken, with seventeen men, two days after
the command of Majors Gains and Borland
had been surprised.
In regard to the murderers of Lieutenant
Ritchie we learn that. Gen. Taylor had in
i
vestigated tlie affair as thoroughly as was i
possible while on his return to Monterey.
His inquiries led him to release the first alcalde
of Villa Gran and also the interpreter
of Lieut. Ritchie, an Englishman, who was
also his guide ; but ho retained as prisoners i
two Mexicans, upon whom circumstancial
evidence fixed suspicion, and carried them
with him to Monterey. The principal man
concerned in the atrocious afiair, the one
who threw the lasso, was still at large and
: tt
ill UI II1U lIUajJilLUllUB* ill? |)IU- |
ceeded on his route to San Luis by the way of
Victoria and Tula, having had the despatches
translated for him at Linares.
We have conversed with an intelligent
Spanish gentleman who left Durango 011 the
15th January; Senor Benito Velez, a nephew,
we learn, ot Peter Harmony, of New
York. Senor Velez confirms all that we
have said of the action near El Paso on the
15th of December. The loss ot the Mexicans
in that affeir was about 180 men. No
news had reached Durango of the fiill of
Chihuahua when our informant left there.
On the 10th of January Gen. Heredia
left Durango for Chihuahua at the head of
700 men, of whom 150 were cavalry. He
took with him 1500 muskets and two pieces
of artillery.
When he reached Cheucame, in the
north part of the State of Durango, he heard
the news of the action near El Paso, and
leaving there his infantry he pushed on to
Chihuahua with his cavalry, with a view to
assume the command of the government
forr.os thorn.
The cavalry of Cuiltz, which was in the
action of the 25th of December, and which
protected as far as possible the retreat of the
Mexicans upon El Paso and afterwards Carizal,
had dwindled down to a handful by
desertions which took place at the different
ranchos on the route.
News had reached Durango that about
the 5th or 6th of January, two English ships
entered the port of Mazatlan, having evaded
the blockade. They are supposed to have
Veen ladened with amunitions and other
munitions of war.
Wc ndd Gen Minon's report of his success.
The date is omitted, but the despatch
is addressed to Santa Anna :
Excellent Sir,?To-day I have captured,
without the loss of a man, 2 chiefs of sqadron,
4 Qfficers and 76 men of the troops of
the United Statea^vho had advanced to this
point; all their arms, horses and equipments
have been taken for the nation, and at the
first opportunity will be placed at the disposal
of your Excellency, according to the list
herein. The prisoners will be put en route
Qn>, T ?J T ? ii ?
iui uau juuis wiuuuuw, una 1 ttllUll COTlIinUC
my operations about this point, and if fortunes
favorable to ma, I shall endeavor to
turn it to account for the public good.
Your Excellency, on receiving this account,
will please regard it not for what has
been ddne,.since it is a very small affair, but
merely as a proof of the ^desire which we
bav? ^ diechar^ pur duty. In spite ^he
croesineoverthe country, exhaustedof eve
we fihaU confer all
Me was immediately put to the sword. The
chief of the surrendered forces wished to intercede
for him," etc. etc.
There, I have not time for another word
?-the schooner is ofi*. I enclose Tampico
papers.
Later from Tampico.
Arrival of Gen. Scott at Tampico?With- j
draival of the Mexican Forces from Vera j
Cruz?Orders of Gen. TJrrea to proceed I
against Mat amor as and Brazos?Arrival ;
of the South Carolina and other Regiments
at the Island of hobos.
Through the politeness of the Editors of
the New Orleans Picayune, we have been
placed in possession ol an Extra from the !
office of that paper, from which we gleam
the following items of intelligence:?
The schr. Oella, Capt. Ilam, arrived at
New Orleans on the 1st instant with dates
from Tumpico to the 20th ultimo.
Gen. Scott arrived at Tampico on the
10th ult.. and was received with salutes j
fired from the land and from the U. States
schooncr Nonata. The General was in !
excellent health, and Tampico was alive i
with excitement. The Mexicans had the |
lltmAof /iltriADll f\ OAA CC InMrtMrtl))
u wiiiv/cv v<u i iv701Cjf tv^ ocu tllU .gicul U vJ I! U1 cii
of whom they had heard so much.
Quite the most important news by this
arrival is the reported evacuation of Vera
Cruz, by order of Santa Anna. The news
was recehtcd at New Orleans in the follow- 1
ing letter from a most respectable source:
Tamtcco, Feb. 18. 1847.
This afternoon the mail carrier from
Vera Cruz arrived, bringing letters for for- |
eign merchants in this city, which stated J
that the commander of the Mexican forces j
at Vera Cruz had received positive orders |
from Santa Anna to withdraw all the forces !
from that city and to march them into the !
interior, and it is supposed by all now, that I
T 7" ri _ 11 i_ . .i i ...
v t:ia v^iuz win oc occupieu uy our iroops,
without a blow being struck.
Preparations were making at Tampico
for the embarkation of the troops with rapidity.
The Sentinel announces the death of
Capt. Achilles Morris, of the Illinois volunteers.
He died on the 15th ult., and was
buried with Military honors.
A letter has been received in N. Orleans
dated the morning of the 18th ult., from
Tampico, which declares, that Gen. Urrea
had received positive orders to move against
Matamoras and the Brazos.
The following letter from Mr. Lumsden
to the editors of the Picavune will be read
with interest:
TAMnco, Feb. 18, 1847.
A vessels is to sail early to-morrow morning
for New Orleans, and I avail myself of
the occasion to send you what little news I j
have picked up since my last. I have seen !
an extract from a letter written at San Luis j
Potosi on the 9th instant by a Mexican offi- |
cer to his friend in this place. This extract [
states that Santa Anna was to march upon
Saltillo preparatory to attacking Monterey ; j
that Urrea, with some 5.000 troops at Victoria,
was to attack Matamoras, and that both
expeditions must prove successful. The
writer indulges in the most sanguine ex
pressions. He says " the Yankees will see j
a strong blow struck against them, and be i
made pay dearly for what they have done." I
It is pretty certain that Santa Anna is at
Saltillo, and it is even reported that he has
engaged Gen. Taylor. This however, we
do not believe in Tampico. I must confess
that the extract of the letter to which I here j
allude gives me some concern. " We shall !
give the Yankees some hot work in the
North while they are marching on Vera
Cruz," is the confident language of the writer
of this extract, who is none other than
the private secretary of Santa Anna.?
Of this lam altogether well assured.
Midshipman Perry is still here with the
lampico, lormerly the Iselle, taken as a
prize. He is to sail in a day or two for
Anton Lizardo. The Nonata, commanded
by Midshipman Smith, sailed a few days
ago, but returned in a leaky condition with j
her hull working badly. A survey has !
been held upon her, and she is condemned 1
and turned over to the Quartermasters de- '
partment for the use of the United States, j
By an arrival fsom Lobos Island I learn
that there arc now at that place one Penn- i
svlvania Regiment, the South Carolina
Palmetto Regiment, part of the New York
Regiment, the whole of the Louisiana
Regiment, with the exception of that part
which was wrecked and are now in Tampico
under Col. Derussav ; also. 400 of the
8th Regiment U. S. Infantry. I learn further
that the vessel by which I have this
intelligence, on her passage up, spoke a
vp?p1 with trnnno nf fV?Afli TT S Tnfnnt nr I
on? board, bound for Lobos Island. Many
of" the troops at the island had not disembarked,
others had landed and commenced
drilling. The island furnishes scant and
brackish water; of wood there is a sufficiency.
In addition to the ships at anchor at
Lobos, the U. S; sloop of war St. Mary's
is also there.
The British mail steamer from Vera
Cruz, due here some two or three days, has
not yet arrived.
I see that some of the volunteers lately in
your city were guilty of a little bad conduct,
and " H." in his correspondence, complains
severely of their depredations in his whereabouts
; but it falls on my: lot to speak in
the fullest terms of peace of the volunteers'
encamped at this post. I have never seen
a more orderly set of rften anywhere.
Yours, &c:j F. A. L.
which has, no doubt, been communicated
to you:?
Saltillo, Feb. 8, 1847.
My Dear Captain?I have only time to
write a few lines, and have but little news
to communicate.
Capt. Heady and nineteen men were captured
by Mexican cavalry on the 28 ult.?
This is now confirmed,
dan ?.;iu t\,t?:?~ c< .1 t->_:
v^bii. J. ujiuij Willi IHUjUlS O^IIUUIUU,
and Thomas' batteries and ihe Mississippi
regiment, arrived here on the 2nd;instant.
He has taken his position at Aqua Nueva.
All the troops will be there day after tomorrow,
except a few, who will remain in
town, and Pike's squapron, which has gone
to Polomus. The enemy are still near us,
but will not attack us. Yours, &c.
There is little doubt now but that Gen.
Minon will give Gen. Taylor considerable
trouble. A regiment of Texas rangers is
very much needed. They should be allowed
to enlist for six months, if the arc averse
to engaging for an indefinite time. Gen.
Taylor wants light troops who thoroughtly
understand tins kind ol war-Iarc. as the
Texans do Yours, H.
or t) .<? iTaWiTiiiri
ABBEVILLE C. H., S. C.
lVcdiicsday, March 1?, 1817.
Cotton Market.
Charleston March the Sth from 9 1-4 to
10 1-2. Hamburg, March Gth, from 9 to
10.
A BOY some 14 or 15 years of age of
steady industrious habits can get a situation
in this office by applying immediately.
We are indebted to the Hon. J C. Calhoun,
for a copy of his speech in reply to
Mr. Turney.
ICr* An appology is due our friends on
the Saluda side of the District, for the Banner
failing to reach them at the proper time
last week. Owing to the improvements
we made upon the paper, the publication
was delayed for several hours and consequently
missed the mail which left at 3 o'
clock. We shall endeavour to avoid tliis
for the future, and if there is a failure it
shall not be our fault.
|/ Tlie Palmetto Itegiinent.
' By extracts and a letter from our correspondent
it will be seen, that the Palmetto
Regiment is now at the Island of Lobos.
The men were all in good health with the
exception of a few cases of mumps. We
arc informed by our correspondent, that a
portion of the Volunteers recently called
out, will be ordered to Monterey, and that
our Regiment will accompany Gen. Scott
in his attack upon Vera Cruz, which it is
thought, will not take place now before the
last of this month in consequence of the
want of vessels for transportation.
Mexican news.
Copious extracts will be found in this
week's paper giving us news trom the army
and Mexico up to the 25th ult* It is rumored
that a battle has been fought at Saltillo
between Gen. Taylor and Santa Anna,
and that our arms were again victorious,
the loss on either side not stated. It seems
that Santa Anna is determined to remain
no longer inactive, but about to try in person,
the valor of our troops.
It is also rumored that Vera Cruz has
been evacuated bv the Mexicans, but this is
not credited. The next news will be looked
for with interest, as stirring events must
have taken place there before this.
C ?ngr cssional.
The twenty-ninth Congress has at last
been brought to a close. It is characterized
by nothing more thap the disgusting
quarrels and personal explanations, that
has occupied so much of the session. The
Three Million Bill has passed toy a vote
115 to 82, the Wilmot Proviso being left
out. The Bill appropriating^$500,000, for
the sufferers in Ireland was lost in the
House. The hill providing for four additional
steamers, has passed. They are to
be placed on the same footing with the Canard
Steamers, defraying their own expenses
in time of peace by carrying the
mail.
Additional Major CJeneral*.. >
The bill giving the President the power
of appointing two additional Major Gtenernln
iJ .1 tl-: ii.-.-jt J'' Al.' J-Jx. J
.mo irwou me oenaie on m? ou iuhi., ???
the President forihwith' ,appointed Colonel
(Correspondence of the Banner.)
TAMPICO, Feb. 19th, 1847.
Mr. Editor:?The following information
may not be uninteresting to many of your
readers. That part of the Army of Occupation
which is destined for the attack of Vera
Cruz, and to act under the immediate r'^:'
command of Major General Scott, is now
concentrating as fast as possible at the Island
of Lobos. There were at Lobos, about
two days ago, three thousand troops, consisting
of the Palmetto Regiment, a part of the
I first and second Pennsylvania Regiments,
! six Companies of the Mississippi Regiment,
! Mllfl tl?f> anmn 'l? 'VT ? ?"V 1 T*
. u.m.iu nuiiiuci %ji me i^uw i orK i\.G"
i giment, besides five and a half Companies
: of the 8th Infantry of U. S. Army. The
i Volunteers were all encamped on the Island
j and were busily engaged in the drill whilst
j ^he Regulars remained on board the ships,
i anchored in the harbor. The ship of war
i St. Marys (Capt. Saunders,) was lying off*
the Island, to assist in the landing and re|
embarking the troops. There is a fine anI
chorage South of the Isle of Lobos, which
is said to bo sufficiently large for more than
one hundred vessels. The northers blow
there every five or six days, but the ships
seldom leave their anchorage for the sea.
Ti,? T ,.n? T
ioiv, vji ijuuwa ^wnicu x uuucve is not
marked on the common chart,) is to the
South of Capo Roxo or Ilogo about ten
miles, and about the same distance or a little
loss from the main land. It was entirely
free from any traces of human habitation
before taken possession of by our troops.
An old well was found near the centre which
i was said to have been made by Cornmadorc
Mooke of Texas. The climate is pleasant,
and is about the same temperature of
' our summer, except during the continuance
of a norther, when the atmosphere beco:.nes
cold and damp. The Island itself may be
called beautiful. It is covered with a thick
growth, composed of vines and trees of different
kinds, among which the Lemon and
India Rubber abound. There , is a Coral
vnnr nrfonrliorr nrnnnrl tVirt
1 V'tll UAtUlIUIII^ (VI VU11U tuv.' II IK/iU lOAUHU^
which prevents any vessel but a light boat
from landing.
Of the nine Regiments recently called
into service, four arc destined for Vera Cruz,
and tivc tor Monterey. I have been informed
that the Palmetto Regiment, was ordered
for Brazos, and from thence to Monterey
; but I have just seen General Scott,
I and he told me, that our Regiment is to
accompany him. There are now at this
place 8,000 men, consisting of Regulars,and
the Georgia, Alabama, and Baltimore Regi
mcnts, who are all, with the exception
of about fifteen hundred, waiting transports
to embark for Lobos Island. These
troops bave just undergone a long and labo
nous march trom Oamargo, to this place.
They have, however, been well repaid for
their fatigue, by the pleasant quarters they
iind in Tampico.
The town of Tampico is situated on a river
of the same name, about seven miles
from its mouth. It was surrendered to our
Navy without a struggle ; but it is thought
by the best judges, that with the slight improvements
which have been recently made,
in the lines and fortifications, fifteen thousad
good soldiers, might hold it against
twenty or thirty thousand. The town lies
on the North side of the river, and immediately
north-west of i% extends a large lagoon,
which. is impassable. To the east
and west, are well constructed lines: whose
guns are able to sweep the whole plain
around as well as the river. A little to the
north-cast, is fort Conner, which has entire
command of the.river.
Tampico, it is said, has more resemblance
to an Amerifcan.town, than any city in Mexico.
The houses are not strictly Mexican
.in their style, but a sort of compound.
They are, however, well built, generally
consisting of one stoiy, but the rooms
are large and commodious/ and well a,ijrcd
by large doors which are enclosed outside""
by iron bara and shutters within. This
streots arc well paved and kept in complete
rviv?or flptinrnl SnnrT :irrivnrl horn tfiio
morning on his way to Lobos. He remain*
cd off the bar last night, waiting for a
steamboat to bring him up. As he passed
up the river, the troops encamped upon its
banks, marched up to the water's edge, and
fired him a volley of musketry. When he
arrived at the town, the whole Plaza was
crowded with Mexicans and soldiers, and
the streets resounded with music, whilst the ^
thunders of the cannon were heard in every
direction.
General Worth was still at Brazos the
last news, embarking his troops as feat as
possible for Lobos. It is much to be rpvv *
gretted, that so great a failure lias been
made in procuring proper ships for transportation.
Not a sliip has yet reported at Tam-'
pico, and they Were to be there by the 15th
of Januarv-rgifeat neglect exist somewhere.
Tjie result ,tjf all,this will be, that instead of
the attack ontfetti CrUz the first of Febru-,
arv, it wiil probably not he beforfe the last
^fMarch,ari^lilntif all.the'plartsofCte^.