American Republican And Baltimore Daily Clipper

BY LAST NIGHT'S SOUTHERN MAIL.

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE DEFEAT OF THE MEXICAN ARMY—OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

The New Orleans Bee of the 13th inst., states that it has been favored with a perusal of the official despatch addressed by Gen. Taylor to Gen. Gaines, dated from his camp on the field of battle, three miles from Matamoras, May 9th, 1846. The Bee says:

"It does not differ materially from the account of the two engagements already laid before the public. On the 8th Gen. T. drove the enemy from their position and occupied it during the night. The loss in this conflict was 12 killed and 39 wounded. On the 9th, the army resumed its march, until it encountered the enemy, protected, as stated in our extra, by a ravine. This battery was stormed by Captain May's Company of Dragoons: The number of killed and wounded on our side could not be ascertained. Private accounts make the number something over one hundred.

In this second engagement Lieut. Inge of the 2nd Dragoons, Lieut. Cochrane of the 4th Infantry, and Lieut. Chadbourne of the 5th Infantry, were killed. Officers wounded. Lieut. Cols. McIntosh and Payne, Captains Montgomery and Hooe; Lieutenants Gaters, Maclay, Selden, Burbank, Jordon and Fowler of the Infantry.

The despatch stated that the forces under Gen. Taylor were two thousand three hundred men, that they had to contend against 3,800 Mexicans of the regular army, and about 2000 irregular cavalry.

The fort opposite Matamoras has been nearly incessantly bombarded during one hundred and sixty hours, during which an immense number of shot and shells were thrown in it.— No material damage has been sustained.

The Galveston Civilian says that Gov. Henderson, of Texas, was to assume the command of the troops. The Galveston News relates the following of the decisive battle of the 9th:

"The battle commenced by heavy cannonading on both sides. Gen. Taylor, in passing his lines, accosted Capt. May of the 2d dragoons, and told him—'your regiment has never done anything yet—you must take that battery.' He said nothing but turned to the command and said—'we must take that battery— follow!' He made a charge with three companies—at least the remainder of three companies—supported by the 5th and 8th regiments of infantry. They cleared the breast work, rode over the battery, wheeled and came through the enemy's line, whilst the fire of the infantry was so deadly in its effects to carry all before it. Capt. May made a cut at an officer as he charged through—on his return he found him standing between the wheels of a cannon—fighting like a hero. He ordered him to surrender. He was asked if he was an officer. Capt. May answered him in the affirmative, when he presented his sword—'You receive Gen. Vega a prisoner of war? Capt. May gave him in charge of one of his sergeants who had lost his horse in the charge, ordering him to conduct him to Gen. Taylor out of the line."

In this charge, Capt. Gage, a brave and gallant officer fell. A complete panic ensued on the part of the enemy, and they fled in every direction, many being drowned in attempting to cross the river.

"Eight pieces of artillery fell into our hands, and innumerable quantity of small arms, munitions, baggage, camp equipage, military chest containing a large quantity of gold, Gen. Arista's carriage, baggage, port folio with all his official correspondence with the Government, full plans of the campaign, and instructions from the Mexican Government, authorizing him to send Gen. Taylor and his army when taken prisoners to the city of Mexico; to treat Gen. Taylor and his officers with such care and attention as becomes the magnanimity of the great Mexican nation. Four or five hundred head of mules, &c., with a large number of stands of colors.

The plan of the campaign and the instructions from his Government ordered him to take possession of Point Isabel. This was to be the first act of hostility, he was to fortify it as strongly as possible. He was likewise ordered to take possession of the mouth of the river and fortify it at once."

Some 400 Mexicans were buried at the last accounts, but doubtless hundreds lie dead among the Chaparral.

Capt. May's attack is spoken of as being one of those splendid efforts which would have adorned the brightest feather of the plume of Murat, in the palmiest days of his glory. It cost him 18 horses with a few of the gallant riders. The victory, says the Extra from which we copy, entirely belongs to the U. S. Army.— No volunteers having arrived in time to share in the honors of the day. It will convince our country, that West Point affords the material of exhibiting the courage and bravery of American soldiers.

I trust we will have no more of dismounting our gallant Dragoons, the affair of the 9th shows them to be the arteries of our defence.

The following letters from intelligent officers of the Army, will be read with interest

[Correspondence of the Baltimore Clipper]

POINT ISABEL, Texas, May 12, 1846.

Messrs. Editors:—In my last letter, I gave you some account of matters in this neighborhood. I informed you of Major Ringgold being in this camp. We yesterday paid the last tribute to him: he died on the evening of the 10th, from wounds received in battle. None others have died among our wounded; but Col. McIntosh, is not expected to live. He was shot through the body by the enemy, and afterwards bayoneted. Gen. Taylor returned last night to this place. Col. Payne, who formerly commanded at Fort McHenry, is wounded; Capt. Hooe has lost his right arm. The fort opposite Matamoras was bombarded for several days, and but three of our men were killed, one of whom was the accomplished and gallant commander Major Brown. We have a great number of prisoners, many of whom have been sent to this place. We have exchanged for those they took from us, and have still a large number left, after getting all our friends. In the last engagement we have lost in killed and wounded, about 100—the Mexicans about 1,000—the most complete slaughter on record. We have captured property to an amount unprecedented.

Lieut. McPhail, of your city, who is now at this place, has been ordered to march, with his recruits to camp Taylor forthwith.

Yours &c.

[Correspondence of the Baltimore Clipper.]

Camp TAYLOR, May 10th, 1846.

Messrs. Editors:

Two battles have been fought and we are the victors! The enemy around us, and in front of Gen. Taylor, were yesterday finally routed—utterly defeated—with immense loss—ours trifling in comparison.

This fort was invested and bombarded from the morning of the 2nd to the evening of the 9th; at the same time batteries of cannon playing upon us almost constantly. We have been providentially protected within our works.

Thousands upon thousands of shot and shell have been thrown at us, and we have had but one man killed, three badly wounded, (one since dead, our commanding officer, Major J. Brown, 7th U. S. Infantry,) and eight slightly and three Mexican prisoners slightly;—only four were put hors du combat during a siege as memorable for its length and incidents of peril as any in our history.

Gen. Taylor on the 8th encountered the enemy, in force thrice his numbers, between this and Point Isabel, on his return here, and had a sharp action with them on that afternoon, attacking them in their position chosen to intercept him. Yesterday he followed up his advantages, and after a severe fight routed them completely, and raised the siege of our place before sun-down.

The Mexican army is completely broken—hundreds, if not over a thousand are killed; and in our return fire from the Fort the enemy have also suffered severely. We are burdened with provisions! As I told you, we would whip them, but I had no idea we should annihilate an army four times our strength!

Yours, &c.,

D.