Crrctfndenst nftU Httft Atlat.
Washington. May IS.
The I'rtwidnit's j.iM.'r coiiliiiups to
-prrd Imrefncwl falsehoods through
in columns, in reference to the coup
of tho Whig party, lis masters, m
''ingress, having failed to prexltico n
division iioii the vote of the supplier
winch was the main object of the pres
ident, nothing is loft hut the contemp
tible oxodicnt of making partisan is
sues during n time of war.nnd of charg
ing tho base.it slanders to get up m o
posilion. This purpose hud Ikjcii dis
coveted from the lMginiiing and tho'
then? is every jmt cause that the whig
b.ittorio shon d I; ok;ihm1 nt once, a
gainst Mr Polk, for hnving violated the
c institution, In wantonly and elchlie
ralcly making this wnr,yct their equa
nimity is not to be dibturhcd, at a .sea
sou when the best deliberation 11 re
quired for the t(ood of the country,
whose honor and whose interests have
Imhjii thus wickedly jeopardised. The
tunc will acomc however, when this
miserable concern may expect an in
vestigation, as ri;;id and searching as I
the forms of legislation will admit.
This scheme originated in u war a
gain! the whigs, and design to secure
Mr Polled rr-elcclioti. which has nov-!
er for a moment, been out of view, in
any public actor appointment, sincel On motion of .Mr Lewis, proceeded
tho hist dav he entered the walls of to the consideration of the bill making
the White 1 louse. Time, alone, will appropriations for the .support of the
prove how fjr he has succeeded. Post Ollice department for the year
Now that this war has commenced, I 1817.
it will not le considered improper, ij MrSpeightsaid it was not his inten
trust, to impure to its probable results: tion to oppose the nassaue of the bill
and, as Mr Ititchie and his friends may I
1 1 1 :.. .1 . 1 II '
IKlCKWnm III lliuu luajiunar, i nuiiii
take the frcncral reply upon myself.
It. will exliaustthc treasury, and entail
a public debt of twenty millions or
more. It will cost us the lives of some
of our most valuable officers and citi
zens.
If prosecuted into the enemy's
c'iuntry,diseasc will desimate the ranks j
and after it is all over, or L'allant army l
or its remnants, will return home, 1
"bringing no glory but that having con-
diierud a government so leetile aim
wiotrhcd as not to be able to quell in-
l rnal insurrection, or to support the
dignity and decency of its own laws, 1 fiom the postmaster at .Mew York that
a prey to faction, and thetnere creatine the increased number of letters passing
of every military despot, h that the ' through his ollice was astonishing.
sort of field for American valor, which j Mr N. was of the opinion that after the
has no superior in magnanimity ? Is next leltuigs the Department would
that tho Ixittlo ground for hih coiir- cease to boa buiden upon the treasu
agc and daring 1 The sympathies of ry.
the civilized world will bo in favor of j Mr Calhoun inquired what had been
Mexico, just as much as ours would the falling oil' 111 the revenue as com
be were she contending with another i pared with last year,
power. "We should fall under the op-1 Mr Nilessaid he lielievcd it was a
probimnof every brave nation, and the bout -15 per cent on the first six
s.ildicrs, who deserved renown, will j months.
bang down their heads at the mention , The bill was passed over till to-mor-of
the Mexican war. When till is done I row.
we shall perhaps havenained the boun-1 The committee on foreign relations
ilnry of tho Kin HrniHlo f wlncli Cor nil ' mnilc u U'piHt oil llie Mllljccl of 111
practical purposes was quite as ood claini of the owners of the brig Cien.
brfure, as will be after this war. Armstrong iijon the government of
For ten millions ofdollais this line Portugal, which was ordered to be prin
of division could have Wen secured, ted.
a'ul California made part of the ai rang-, The Senate then took up the special
inent. Now, we shall have to pay order, the French spoliation bill, and
twenty-five jvrhaps fifty millions of Mr Moreliead proceeded to address llie
li!hrs, and pet only a doubtful ten- Senate, in a very able speech in be
urc 011 the Hio Crande. How much half of the claimant". lie had not con
inore polite and honorable, and yalua- eluded when the Semite adjourned.
Mi-, too, to have made tho mcilic ad- j l loi'si:. In the I louse it was agreed
moment. Uut Mr Polk was delermin- m take the army bill out of committee
(I to have war, at some cost, and he at 2 o'clock to-day.
has succeeded. Mr .McKay had moved lo the amount
In the House of Representatives, to-' of appropriations on account of the
d.iy tho locofocos have been wearying j war, seventeen millions,
pntioncc with their thunderbolts of war )r Proingoole made a speech on
which costs much less when made of ; tlio Mexican' question, justifying the
words than of iron, and which can be ' course of the Piesident 011 Constittt
hurled about with more assurance of tjonal ground, m Inking a position op
iiersonal safety. If some of these high posite" Matamoras. He maintained
blooded champions would only vohm- j t!Hit, from ibis point, he had ritrht to
teer for the camp, it would give an il- pursue any force that threatened linn,
lustration of their .sincerity, which is0 the other side of the river. He coin
now very much questioned, and by ! nliniented (ien. Ammidia with the n-
nonemorosothanby their own friends I
Hut I apprehend theso "patriots" of,
Congress will keep out harm's way,
and loavo the fighting to be done by
othurs, while they satisly their gal
lantry by talking.
Mr Secretary Walker, determined to
have a finger m the pic, has ordered
nino revenue cutters to the scene of
.'ifioii, without law but, of course
that makes but little difference to
theso fire eating patriots whenever
there is a trick of popularity to Ih won.
Tho chairman of the committee of
ways and moans is exceedingly distress
ed. Nt the prostHjct of Ins bill in the
House, and finds his force weakening
ntcfnjirl nf ctrtf-lifrtlipmnrr witti unrli t
Lnvilxv. With tho linivi nf LTfiimncr!wiir mmn M.-xici. mirnnvtimii..!.. ',
i.ver a few refractory votes, lie will j al, nnd urged that the jieople would - ,"thp la,",ri'"""' lMn" "rrying this mat
move it to lo recommitted, for the pur- hold the authors of the war, responsi- j ,cr " far 11 ml-'11 be we" fnr lhrse p-tnouc
pose of making such revisions as will ble for the sUnn it had brought upon ft,nlmnn' lo"k lin lnt0 leneu of
ifirt-wtisfnetory to thow who now re- the country. But as we were in n war I "ma of the leaders of thei own party as it
tnrd its procr- l'10 agent of the
Hntiiit manuinr uircs, .nr nomcr, iiiuiiiAt n would Im brought to a speedy
Urno ajullv umlmrmtscd in his opera
tion for the last week, some of the
ivirihern members have retreated from
their original pltielgc, and left him and
hm co-ofHtnitftf iu a minority. The
New York ddogwtion has already giv-
n w.y, almost iu solid column : and
I, ut tix remain, who avow a purKe
i ' support the htll. Tin philanthrop
ic individual, as he nroTvaws to b
keep upcoustant communication with
"Mr J3reta,y Walker ; and they bmh
b(bl to rocitzaml probably for Ut
Ant tima, tlmt thnir nostrum i rathtsr
too iuuixia a tloso, for mm a locofo
ro maiodtr of tstore than 70, not with -
tandiiMr lite Hallimoro Cohtftittioa to
uke dvvti. Titomay m wail take-up
iKttr turgar atid rcr MMMher imr
kel
Th n ws frn tin- frnnti, r 1, niffrii
mi. t.uiiv stlni tin Hi i .cila-,i
same moil that carries this letter, it is l
tmnecesiary for mo to go into jwrlicu-
lars. Although a great rejoicing has
lvn made over it, looking at all that
has been detailed, 1 must confess, I am
unable to discover any cause of con-
gratulalion. Taylor and fifteen bun-
elrcd of his troops are 111 a worse con-
dition thiin at any prouous tune; if
they were opposed, as wo are led to
believe, by a formidable force of eight
or ten thousand , nothing short of a rmr-,
ado can save them. "Hut, we must .
lioiH.1 for the best.
Mr Sell. Barton, Solicitor for the
Treasurv, was confirmed to-day with- ,
opposition. VK1UTAS.
Washington Mav 1'.' 184(5. j
.SnN.vrr.. MrBemoii,fromhocoiii-
iniltee 011 Mihtarv Airairs,wluch coin-!
1. ...1 1 ....1 . 1
mum; 111111 ixun uircruu up iiiijiiiiu hi-
to the expediency of making further
provisions to promote tho elliciency of
the volunteer force authorized bv law,
reported 'An act supplimentnry to an
act entitled an act for the prosecution i
of the existing war between
the Re-
pulic of Mexico and the 1'. S
tmd for
other pnrioses."
The bill lo provide for the adjust
ment of susiM.'iided pre-emption chums
in the several states and territories, was
passed
but he launched out at once into a
attack upon tin; cheap postage system,
which he denounced as n scheme to
keep up high taxes.
Mr Nile.s replied that the committee
had not thought it their duty to iee
oinmcnd any cnange. lie was Kur
pri.scd
il the denunciation of a bill
which was one of the most beneficial
thnt had ever hmi enacted. As to the
stae lines, they had hitherto been n
burdon of a million of dollars a year on
the Department, and nothing lo do
with the eonvevance of the mails.
LMr Niles said he had leeentlv learned
pj,0I1 t)ml ),y ,S proclamation, he
,t. had put himse f without the pale
of national law,aud ought lo be tried ifc
punished when we catch hunfor
man stealing. As lo the boundary,
he was not surprised that it was dis
puted by the opposition. They had
disputed and given upevcrybniuidary.
Mr Tibbats of Ky., made an aruu
incut in support of the title of tho Un
luted States to the Rio Grande as the
boundary line.
Mr Black of South Carolina, spoke
in support of Ins proposition to increase
tho jiay of the troops to ten dollars a
month.
Mr Wahingtm Hunt pronounced
flio ?,pt nf llw F.vipnti vn in ninlf itwr
j he trusted it would be so prosecuted
conclusion. Hh was opposed to a lin
gering protracted war, and was in fa
vor ofa magnanimous jience. Consid
erinit lhat Mexico waa a feeble power,
the war would not ho hoped, ;
ie prcreij m a ieu spim 0
revenge, bill 111 a humane ami jjener
rons manner.
Mr Cocke ol Tennessee, t hone It an
ardent opponent of the- admuiiatration.
as U all Hi internal policy, was in f -
nrnrMiiliiiiiini thn ,r in iwu.
.r, r--
cuuusi i wi.ii mui, c no
UlsrHlteel territory except Wtiere a liotv
tile foroa waa lound.
Mr McKay's nmendwHKrt wnaaerettd
i ii. ..ul.i .Ui.
r'.i. 1.1 aL , '
Ul WNIDII wn UO.WIBU WtH IM Ul'
Wr
An aiwtidniwii I rrinini1T,lor) n.
ulliWaillt 1"! IIM,- t, I'.t rl-rv ,. i
This is tho way of returning thanks
to General Taylor and his nrmy.
Tho bill passed yeas? liU, nays
none, and tho Hotifo adjourned,
(N. Y. Com. Ad.
rP f 1 "P TT'P'D T
JLJlJli Jl xji vilJuU
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 28.
WAR1 WAR I I
Wflr wh Mcxjeo conlimlr8 m (0
, . .. . ,
iho nRroM.nB nnd exciting subject or
conversation, ll is m.ide tho themo upon
which brnwling polilicmni wasto their
breath ond 'cuckoo patriots' belch forth
dieir strains of vmdictivencss ngnintt nil
unions, s.ive their own thus showing to
. . . . . ....
mc worlU SUCH evidence ol their devotion
to the country ns was never seen before
It is a topic upon which hast demagogues
delight indwell; and it is nmusinir 10 wit-
nr!S vvlltl vvl"u P'''' nonchnlnnce (his in
(-resting poiiion of our pcoplo consign to
'low d'ptlis' such stubborn filk'ns will
not join them in all ihcir longs of prnito
and glory lo thu present powers that be I
'The Gods' are called upon to 'dcitroy' till
such ns will not surrender their own npm
Ions, and follow, uitlioui question, the Irnd
of these reckless and dishoutet seekers oter
fnvie or j.lact.
l'ut nntwithstmding the general nnd lb
snrhing iut"rist taken in this ninttT, we
don hi. nfier all, whether tlioso most in intr 1st
tho hone and einow of the country; tlusc
who nro to pay lor the continuation of 'exhi
bition of thiso fire works' are to the full tx
tent aware of tho cost of these pnstimes,orof
the precise position in which tho mad nnd
crnzy pranks of the President is likely to
place them nnd the country. Wo hear
much said ofiha strength nnd power of tir !
nation. This strength tho power we
are not disposd to underrate hut in no
wiiy is the strength onil power anil
gliry of a nation so securely preserved ni
in the cultivation of the arts of peace. Let
this not he forgcttea; and let it he forever
home in mind that it h.is been by llie rigid
adherence to this doctrine to the carrying
nutofthis policy thnt gives to our coun
try it? present forcf nnd power, nnd invests
our fl,ig with that dignity wl ich causes it
to bo honored and nspected in every sea
nnd clime. Hut, says n valient locofoco,
"We nre already in war we ore enough
for all the world, and theieforo we must
fighl our way out, regardless ofconsequen
ces" When, but 11 few months since it
was urged by thu Whigs, ns one reason for
their opposition to the niuic-tiition ofTexas,
that war would come of it they were
langhid at ns croakers and panic makers.
Well, war har come of it ! nnd now each
and every Whig is to swallow Ins own
predictions, and stultify himself, or he is no
p.itriol, no lover of his country ; at least so
says locofocoism from one end of the coun
try lo the other. Now how stands the
Whigs in view of this question 7 They
find the cniintiy thrust into n nut dins war
lo gratify the ambition of u weak ami imbe
cile man, who by accident (No 2) is placed
m tho Presidential chair and yet, almost
10 a man, the Wing party from one end of
tho country to the other, are for the curry
ing out of this war lo nu iinmciliati! and
successful termination. We arc in war
which we regret ; but being in there is
hut one honorable way out. And il is
moreover important that w e extricate our
selves from our present difficulties at once,
lest we run upon more serious evils. The
torch ofwnr, when onco kindled, is no rush
light or firlhing candle, that can be extin
guished by u brmth but n devouring
flame thnt carries consternation nnd woe
over the land illuminated by its lurid glare.
In view, then, of the situation of our rela
tions with other countries than Mexico, we
hope nothing farther may rtjwiie of the an
nexation of Texas than a shortjand trium
phant vindication of our honest ckons upon
that territory.
THE DOUNDAHV OF TEXAS.
Wo often hear the Whig abused by such
loco at know no bcttei for llie oipreuinn
of an honctt opinion lhat, in Iho claim of iho
U. State to alloCTexatandpart of Mcxieo,
'" lhe 1,10 0r,nde' 1 manifest injusiire is done
regards this question.
f 'ol. Denton In hit great speech upon the
Texnn Treaty. 1811, afirr showing tliat
Mexico was to be robbed of a slice or ler
rilory two thnunand miles long and some
humirnd broad, closed as follow :
'1 watli my hands of oil atlrmpts Iu da
metnhtr tkr SUttcan Hrpvllie by tcitiii" her
dvminiiHi in .NVi Mejieo, Chihuahua, Coa
Mvtlaaiut Tamoupttat. The treaty m alt that
rttalet f tht hovndary of the Rio (irandt.it
an act nf unparraUattd outrac n Mexico,
Jl it the ttiture el l we Inwitand milet ef htr
1 . 1 1
, frruory, wniioui a word of explamuon mth
nr.. .nu u, ,........, , ,rw ,
Whifb the 11 nn parly. Our tecreiirTof
Su,ei , his leuer 10 the U Stain Chtrar
m Meiwui, and Mien days after the tre.ly
I wu tiened. arm alirr lhi .ilexican Mtuitter
' "Mravn Irom oor aat 01 Uorernroent
I shows lull tll that he was oentcious of ihr
' wmtlT of ihiaimlrage ; knew it w w,r;
and tNtt-ed vetuMrr apologirt ie avert
it rmoeACs which lie knew be had
lr ,.kH "
I iir',.re ,rtroe aa an additional resolu-
n o MoneixH.mU
ar w -v. iho
e' in, I rr,.
proper lime, 1 shall ask Iho rote of tin Sen
tie. Thit la the Resolution :
ltnolvtd, That tht incorporation of the
i Itjt tank ej tht Hio del fiorlt, into tht Amcr
I icon Union, by virtur of a Irtnty teith Ttias,
(tttfrthtndtng at 'aid corporation itoutd do,
1 Ipart ol tht Ntiuan drpartmtntt of icw
! MiJiro. Chihuahua, Voahuila end Tau-auli-
pat, mmild it an act of difrt un on Mexico;
tor nil Hie consequences 01 w 1 li llie llnltwl
.Slate would stand ronillilc.'
CONVENTION OP THE FRIENDS
OP EDUCATION.
It is to he hoped thnt n goodly number
of the friends of Edncution. mid especially
the town superintendent, will be in ntten
dancn upon the Convention lo he hold in
this village nn the 3d of June It is nbo
desirable lh.11 as many irnchrts of both fi
ts can make it convenient will .Mend this
meeting,
Much hat been tend of iho waywardness
of the younger malt portion of our rmninunl
ty and, as wo hid ever supposed, with
sumo reason. Wu lire howeier disposed to
favor tho 'b-hnyn' uitli a hearing; and come
quenily give place to the following cmnmii
nieiiion from onn of them. Whether bo
mali'd out 'a caio' or whether he throw nny
light upon the cause winch lend lo product)
llie evil cumplatiiod of, in for ovary one to
judge for himself. Wo havo liofore, in apoak
Ing of the evils of our old comm in school
system, nlludcd to In thli milter and have
now nothing to add.
I'i,r tho Ilrralil.
UNPOPULARITY OF BOYHOOD.
It is nn unquestionable nnd notable fact
that in certain xcould It aristocrat ic towns
there 13 a period in the lives of young per
sous, 1 specially of hoy., when they nre, to
a great (h :;ree, excluded from respectable
society And the consequences arising
from this arc, that this excluded part of
community engage in mischievous nnd
petty tricks, nnd (whnl is most important)
degrade themselves, and become n continu
al pest. to iho community nt large I said
their own dcgrndnlion was of chief impor
tance, because it is nol owing lo (he hoy's
own choice, but Gen'.eel and lesnectahle
1
people treat them with very little and some
limes no attention, so lhat they are almost
forced from the society which would have
no other tendency than to improve their
character, nnd biing them up ie the way
they should go, and they associate together,
indulging in tho only rccrration left them j ruin upon themselves, nnd 'go down in mis
by those who nre solely in fault, nnd who ery to an untimely grave; thai it is nol the
undoubtedly will he called to nn account ' f.iuli of the young men themselves; that if,
for these very young men's commenci mini , ni soon ns their eyes arc open lo see their
in the seductive course of ciime, when the j position, and the disadvantages which ihcy
black catalogue of crime is finally read labor against, they leave their own homes,
over, which will decide the fate for nn end- land go abroad In seek a place uheie thev
less eternity. , will have belter encouingements for labor
ll is a well known though sremingly not ( and renown; where they will be treated
an acknowledged fact, lhat young people ir;'i attention, and as '.hough they them
ir usl and trill have amusements, either of s"lves were soon to take their proper place
an innocent, or of an injurious and ruinous
lend. 1 f they nre shown no ri sped, treat
ed with no attention, banished fiom society,
1 bey will of course, not of choice, form
hinds nf conspiracy for robbing hen-roosts,
breaking windows, removing marble i'oot
steps from rhurcus, ns well as private hous
es, leaving down fences, taking gales o(T
iheir hinges nnd carrying them froino dis
tance fiom their proper places, lo the great
nuoyance of their uspectivo owners; nil
finally, as their age inereases, they look up
on these little tricks ns btneath litem; and
pilfering small sums of money (for they Thornton's CommandOii the eve
have no other means of obtaining it,) go on I ,,,,, 0f ,hc 03J ul, (;t,ner;ii Taylor's
' . , i .. .....
10 grenicr ueeua 01 iniquity, sucn n gam
bling, drinking, &c. till nt last they become
fit subjects for state-prisons nnd the gallows
Bui 10 confine myself more strictly lo
my subject. After the boys become noted
for their vices, this trould be aristocracy
wonder how n happened that the boys in
their town have become so wicked. They
say, ''Wo would nol on any account have
our children that is, those ofthem who
have not already enlisted iu theso bands of
iniquity; fur, fmiutintely, theso people re
ceive, in part, their punishment for neglect
nf duty, in this world, by having the guili
nnd misery of their own sons lo mourn
over remain here for fear they will nsso
ciatc with these mischievous boys.'1 and
thereforo withhold all their encouragement
ot educatiou in that town by necessarily
sending their sons and daughters abroad for
improvement.
Perhaps it may be better to give a brief
description ofu town which 1 now have
in my mind, where a course directly oppo-
site llie one 1 nave occn uiueavorin 10 ue
scribe is pursued, and in this way set forth
a precedent for every town. This town is
plonsnnlly situated near the Green Moun
tains, upon n rise of ground, about n mile
tnd n half distant from a noble stream
which empties its turbulent waters into La'.e
Champlain. Undoubtidly the solders se
lected this spot, thus fai faun any stream,
because they wero a quiot per-ple and did
noe desire to have the none of thu machine
ry of various factories and mills which its
waters seemed beautifully adapted to keep
in ccnttant operation. They wnhtd their
village to be to large and no larger, unles
some of the same cast of mind with them
itlve-8 should desire to atiilo among them,
for whom the hare many fine building
spots reserved. In this villago the de-
stription of which I hare just given grtal
attention is shown, ana great encourage-
ht,i foilhlo the our-
Tho boys
. . " .
' nlrd for their mischievous tricks,
nightly reveling nnd hooting, nnd open
insuln. Some inny inquire how this cm
be It certainly is nol the case in other
towns. I reply; because the inhabitants
invariably show them tho gtentesi attention.
They nllow I can nlmnst say compel
their childtfti lo nssncinle with one another
Horn their infancy upward, nnd in this way
e.xerln moral influence over their char
ncter, cultivate their manners, nnd deter
ihcm from indulging in pastimes, nt feast,
detrimental to their character nnd useful
ness in after life. Hence the parents never
11 prove one another for the inisdcids of
their children. They do not say lo each
other, Your son plays cards, or your son
went a bathing on the Sabbath, for my boys
wero there uud saw him, and would nol
have gone had they not followed your sou's
example, he being older than they. In fact,
one parent does nol ask another to inko a
mote out ol his eye, w bile there is a beam
in hts own. Nn, they nil together help to
remove all the beams and motes out of all
their eyes. .
Another noticeable fact is. thai w henever
a young mnn comes among ihem for iho
purpose of learning a irado or studying a
profession, the inhabitants, yin, the most
aristocratic ofthem (this is, by no means,
thu extreme of aristocracy, quite the conlta
ry, for it is such a difficult thing to be oris
locrnlic there, that it amounts almost to no
nristocracy) immediately upon his arrival
invite him to their houses, make partus for
him.and in short, treat him with all possible
attention, and offer him every encourage
ment, thai he tuny be successful in his new
ly undertaken pursuit. But to sum up this
whole matter in a word, the inhabitants of
this little, peaceful town, show thu young
special fivor. They even seem lo sacrifice
their own property nnd pleasure, and to do
every thing in their power for their im
provement; yea, they consider that soon
the young are to occupy their places, nnd
endeavor to havo ihom follow 111 tho fool
prints of their forefathers.
My object in writing this nrlicle is to
show that it is not simply the fault of the
boys themselves, or of their parents merely,
but of the community in which they live;
tlintthey begin by little mischievous tricks,
I and go on in deeds ofdaring. till they bring
in society.
A BOY.
We lay before our reader nn account
of the suppriso and the siil)seiientsiir
I'ouder of Capt. Thornton's command.
Though not official, wo have it from a
gentleman familiar with the circuni
utancos of the can:, and upon whom all
reliance may be placed. "We do not
jknow when wo have published any
j thing which has afforded us such sin
cere pleasure. It will cheer hearts that
have been wrung with all the bitterness
: of grief, and make the. nation glad:
l-IIMII tOt a k'fi Qntl HtMii.K nwt C . .. ...
spies brought m intelligence to the ef
fect thnt about two thousand five hun
dred Mexicans had crossed the Rio
I l'rnnao to tno I exas side above the
jiiui'iicaii run, nun inai aootll llliccil
hundred ol the same had crossed below.
Gen. T. immediately distmte.hed
a
scpin lron of dragoons to each plncc of
crossing, lor llie purpose ol rcconoitor
ing them and ascertaining their posi
tion. The squadron ordered below
was in command of Capt. Kerr, thoono
above was commanded by Captain
Thornton, nnd composed of (Japt. Har
dee, Lieut's Kane and Mnson, with CI
privatesand 11011 commissioned officers.
Tho former commander, Capt. Kerr,
on arriving at the point where it was
supposed they crossed, found that the
report was false,thnt they had not cross
ewl there, but had all crossed nbove,
which was afterwards proved by Capt.
T's command being surprised, in
which Lieu. Geo. Mason with 9 men
were killed add two wounded. The
wounded were sent to Gen. T's camb;
thearmv having no hospital in the
field. Capt. Thornton, Hardee and
Lieu. Kane miraculously csenicd, to
gether with the balance of the non
commissioned ofiicers nnd men, but
were enptured and are now prisoners
ofwnr in Mexico.
The ctrcumstunces which led to the
surprise nre these: After Capt. T's
command had proceeded up the Km
Grande alwut twenty-four miles, and
as was supposed, to within about three
miles ot the Mexican camp, the guide
refused lo go any further, and stated
for his reason that tho whole country
was intestcd with Mexicans. Copt. T.
howiivcr, proceeded on with his com-
maii'l about two miles, when he came
to n farm-house, which was enclose!
entirely by n chapparnl fcnce.with the
exception ol that portion of it which
borelereel on tno river, anu tins was so
boggy as to be imnossahle. Cunt. T.
entered this enclosure through a pair of
nars anu anproncnwi tno house for tho
pnrposc ol maktnp some inquiry, his
command followed him. So soon ns
ins command had all entered the cn
closure, (he enemy, having bee n t n
cealed in the chaparnl, about two ilmti
sand live hundred in numl r, r, u
pletely surrounded them, nnd M
ineuceil firing upon his command -He
then wheeled Ins command, ihini,
nig that he could charge through t ,
enemy and pass out where ho bad er.
tered, not however without n consul, ,
nblo loss. This ho attempted, but d d
not succeed, thu enemy be'ing to
strong.
At this instant Capt. Hardee r
proached him, lor the purpose of mis',
sing him how to extricate themselves.
The firing of tho enemy still contnm
ed, Capt. Thornton's horse, having
doubtless received a shot, ran nwnv
with him, and leaped the clm.r.,'
fence, and plunged over a precq. ,
where he fell, with Capt. T. tir.'l
liiiu, where the latter remained iiimi,
sible for five or six hours. This "nw
alily placed Capt. Hardee in eotniuri,1
with the residue, to makehis escn e 1 ,
the river- -intending, on arriving at in
margin, to swim it. In this he huln)
'finding it so boguy lhat he could n
get to il. He then returned, tiikm.
the precaution to get out ofdist.ui, ,
of inuskeli y dismounted and 1 on
tiled the arms of his men, ileteriiun. ,
lo sell their lives as dearly as pnsMk,
Before he had succeeded, howeu r. e.
lite inspection of his anus, a Mim, :,;.
olltcer rode up and askeil him to mh
lender. Capt. II. replied that he wmi' 1
surrender on one condition- wh,, I
was, thai if tin Mexican General won, l
receive them as prisoners of wai, an,!
treat them us the most civilized lutim,-,
do, ho would surrender, but on inn,
titer conditions. The Mexican nfii r
bote this message to the General cum
mantling, and returned with the
Mirance that he would. Capt. 11. then
surrendered. Capt. Thornton and II ,
with Lieu. Kane, and the residue of lhe
non-coininissioned officers ami privates
of Cant. T's command, arc now prism
ers ofwnr, in Mexico. The e inuv
theats them remarkably well.
Lieut. Geo. Mason was a line , "
officer, and his death is much legreit ,
His sabre belt was recognized an.
some articles that wero subsi qui",
captured ft 0111 the enemy.
So lively is the curiosity to I' ,
every particular of the actions of ll t .'
and'lth instant, that we annex ben1'
a letter from an officer at Point b.,l
written more for our private te tl an
for the public, but which cannot but
interest all our readeis:
Point Isaiici.. May, .Mb lt'"
Gentlemen When theexjire1 'tir
in, this morning, 1 hurriedly peiid'h
down lltegratifying inlelligenee v. I.
it brought us, expecting the boat w p'i 1
leave 111 a few minutes. It now mi
wails for Gen. Taylor's official eh
patch, which is being prepared f
Washington. Having beared the :.'
cial re-port, from Major Brown let,'
and Iiavini.' a letter before me Ir.-rn
there, 1 will give you further pat tie. tiki
accordingly.
On tho morning of the !5d, at n v ,!
le, the Mexicans opened their battern
upon the work, throwing balls and
shells, without intermission, until mii
set, fiiiishni" with half a dozen exiri
ones, at tattoo, for a lullaby.
At reveille, on the -1th, they opem d
again, sending a few shotttiid she lb
which compliment was repeated at
noon. Our artillery silenced the frt
opposite ours, in half an hour after the
filing commenced on the 4th, nnd
knocked three embrasures into ui.e
This caused them to stop firing tin re
for a considerable lime, to repair ltn
ages. Our artillery also disiuoui.t"!
several of their gnus, and, from ) -pearanete.s,
must have killed many nn 11.
On our part, but one sergeant, of tiie 7th
Infantry, was killed, being shot 111 tin
head with a 31b ball. He was r-arr.d
to the hospital, when, strange to say. a
shell fell, and blew the remainder "f
his head off. Home twenty men were
standing around the hospital when Hie
shell hurst; several were knocked down
but not injured. One artilery solelnr
was slightly wounded by a piece- of ,1
shell, and many have made narrow
escapes. AVe only kept up our fire e '
about two hours saving our aiumum
tion whilst theirs was being thrown .
way. From their having thrown fr un
h'OOto 2000 shots and shells, and lul
ling but one of our men and wounding
another, you may judge they are none
of the best artillerists, anil that we bad
good defences. Their shot reiided a
good many of our tents iinservicab,''.
but all our men are iu good sjurits,iirid
anxious to ootr.e to close quarters.
Our piquet guard is now firing a' a
party of Mexican soldiers, about n m 1
Iwlow the fort. The Cliajiarall 1
tween this and the fort, is like a I
hive, so full is it with Mexicans. It s
thought they will make an assault
the rear of the fort, and try and re; 1
the inarch of the troop from this p
returning. General Taylor leaie-a-soon
as a reinforcement arrives her
which will enable the work to bed
fended without the force which b"
brought down from above.
In haste yours
GEN TAYLORS DESPATCHES
Ofliiciul despatches from Geo. Tay'"
were recivcel at Washington on Tuitl'V
evening tho 19th insi. Thu Union fc1'
the following account of their contents
F110 Tiir. Hio Grande. We leom
lhat dispatche-s were received this cvn:n"
from Oen, Taylor, dated the 3d and 5
inu. both Point Isabel and the fail 00 tie
Bin Grande perfectly safe.
On tho 1st, the defences on the mrr If
ing mdo strong, (neatly completed,) Or
...m