the mouth of the Rio Grande on the east. The country between it and the Colorado is a flat open plain, covered with rank weeds and grass. At a distance by land of twenty-five miles east of Matamoras, on an arm of the Gulf called Brazos Santiago, is Point Isabel, General

Taylor's intended military depot. On arriving at the road which runs between the two places, the General learned that the Mexicans were already at the Point. In consequence of this information he changed his original route, and leaving the main body of the army with General Worth, pushed forward with his dragoons and artillery for that place. When near this destination he was met by a civic delegation, at the head of which was the Prefect of Tamaulipas, who protested in the name of their country against the occupation of Texas. While the conference was going on, the General observed several volumes of smoke arise from the houses at the Point, and immediately concluded that it had been fired by the Mexicans. The

safety of this station was a matter of great importance, and accordingly, in order to lose no time, the delegation was immediately dismissed, with the assurance that they should receive an answer when the American army had arrived opposite Matamoras. At the same time Colonel Twiggs was sent forward with the dragoons to arrest the conflagration and capture the incendiaries. Upon his arrival he found Point Isabel deserted; both citizens and military, with General Garcia at their head, having fled at his approach. The public buildings had been fired, but he succeeded in saving some of them.

Meanwhile, the main army under General Worth had remained encamped about six miles from the point of its separation from General Taylor. Here the latter joined them soon after the capture of Point Isabel, and they resumed their march to the Rio Grande. They crossed the plain where subsequently were fought the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, and arrived about noon of the 28th of March opposite Matamoras. Here the army formed its encampment, and for the first time planted the American flag upon the shores of the "Great River of the North."

During the whole course of this fatiguing march, and while he was stationed at Corpus Christi, the commander took great pains to impress upon the people and authorities that he was not advancing as an enemy, nor to make war upon Mexico, but solely to assert the right of the United States to Texas up to the Rio Grande. Even the protest of the Prefect of Tamaulipas, and the warning at the Colorado, had led to no harsh words or violent measures, but thus far all was bloodless.

In his despatches of the 29th of March and 6th of April, General Taylor thus notices his fortifications before Matamoras, and the dispositions of the enemy:-"Our approach seems to have created unusual excitement at that place, and a great deal of activity has been displayed" (by the enemy)" since our arrival in the preparation of batteries.*******The attitude of the Mexicans is so far decidedly hostile. An interview has been held, by my direction, with the military authorities of Matamoras, but with no satisfactory result." "On our side a battery, for four eighteen pounders, will be completed and the guns placed in battery to-day. These guns bear

directly upon the public square of Matamoras, and within good for demolishing the town. Their object cannot be mistaken

range

by the enemy."

The "interview" here alluded to, was held between General Worth and commanding General Mejia, soon after our flag had been displayed upon the left bank of the river. Its object was the delivery of despatches from General Taylor, and the obtaining of an interview with the American Consul. Mejia did not attend personally, but was represented by General la Vega, the Licenciado Censares, and Juan N. Garza, aided by an interpreter. After much altercation, the accepting of the despatches was refused, and a similar ominous result attended the request of an interview with the consul.

While employed in the erection of their fortifications, the army received intelligence that General Ampudia was approaching with a large force, to the relief of Matamoras. Soon after, the following proclamation was circulated through the American camp:

"The Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican army to the English and Irish under the orders of the American General Taylor.

"KNOW YE―That the government of the United States is committing repeated acts of barbarous aggression against the magnanimous Mexican nation; that the government which exists 'under the flag of the stars' is unworthy the designation of Christian. Recollect that you were born in Great Britain; that the American government looks with coldness upon the powerful flag of St. George, and is provoking to a rupture the warlike people to whom it belongs, President Polk boldly manifesting a desire to take possession of Oregon, as he has already done of Texas. Now then come with all confidence to the Mexican ranks; and I guarantee to you upon my honor good treatment, and that all your expenses shall be defrayed, until your arrival in the beautiful capital of Mexico.

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Germans, French, Poles, and individuals of other nations! Separate yourselves from the Yankees, and do not contribute to defend a robbery and usurpation, which be assured, the civilized nations of Europe look upon with the utmost indignation. Come therefore and array yourselves under the tri-colored flag; in the confidence

that the God of armies protects it, and that it will protect you equally with the English.

"PEDRO DE AMPUDIA.

"FRANCISCO R. MORENO, Adj't of the Commander-in-Chief. "HEAD-QUARTERS UPON THE ROAD TO MATAMORAS,

April 2, 1846."

Such a proclamation, of course, would only be treated with contempt. Hitherto, though both armies stood in a hostile attitude, nothing of the "last resort of injured nations" had actually occurred. This state of things was now broken. On the 10th of April an event took place, which though it involved a case of only individual suffering, yet on account of the character of the victim, and the circumstances attendant upon his death, was sufficient to damp the high spirits of the whole army, and to fill its officers with melancholy. That event was the murder of Colonel Cross.

He had ridden out in the morning, accompanied by his son, to take his usual morning exercise. In a short time the son returned without his father. This created the first apprehensions, which were increased by the non-appearance of the colonel at night. The army became alarmed, scouts were despatched in every direction, letters were sent to the Mexican general, and every means taken to obtain information of the unfortunate officer. The search continued until the 21st, when the mutilated body was found and brought to the army, by whom it was solemnly interred. The commander of Matamoras disclaimed all connection with his death, and there is little reason to doubt that he was murdered by a party of "rancheros" or mounted outlaws, numbers of whom then infested the neighborhood.

These rancheros are a sort of half-savage population, answering to the guachos of the pampas of Buenos Ayres. They spend most of their time on horseback, and use the lasso, a long cord or strip of hide with a noose at the end, which they throw with such dexterity as to catch wild horses or cattle, or drag a horseman from his seat. Attached to an army, they serve as a sort of irregular cavalry, and under certain circumstances might become nearly as formidable as the Cossacks of the Don were in the disastrous retreat of Napoleon from Moscow. But in this Mexican war their want of discipline and their poltroonery, have rendered them rather objects of

contempt than apprehension to the American soldiers. It is only the straggler, or small parties detached from the main army and off their guard, that they have ever been able in any measure to annoy.

On the 11th General Ampudia entered Matamoras at the head of one thousand cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry, and assumed the command. The Mexicans hailed his entrance by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon, peals of music, and other indications of extravagant joy. His arrival was little less welcome to the Americans, as it was supposed to be the harbinger of either war or peace.

The commander was not long in defining his position. On the morning of the 12th he sounded for a parley, and sent two officers with a despatch to General Taylor. As the paper is curious, we insert it, together with the reply:

"FOURTH MILITARY DIVISION,

General-in-Chief.

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"To explain to you the many grounds for the just grievances felt by the Mexican nation, caused by the United States government, would be a loss of time, and an insult to your good sense; I therefore pass at once to such explanations as I consider of absolute necessity.