Arkansas Intelligencer

GEN. TAYLOR VICTORIOUS!!!

IMPORTANT FROM THE RIO GRANDE!

Battle between Gen. Taylor's force and the Mexicans--The American Arms Victorious--200 Mexicans killed or wounded.

By the extreme kindness of Capt. Eddy, of the schooner Louisiana, who left Brazos Santiago on the 11th inst. and arrived at the English Turn this evening, we are indebted for the following important and interesting account from Point Isabel up to the evening of the 9th inst.:

Gen. Taylor left Point Isabel on the 7th inst. with 2000 men and 250 wagons loaded with stores, for the fort opposite Matamoros. On the 8th, while marching, came in sight of the Mexican army, and when quite near, both armies commenced firing with their artillery. The Mexicans, from 7000 to 10,000 strong, surrounded Gen. Taylor, but those on the rear were soon forced to retreat. The battle commenced at noon, and a constant roar of cannon was kept up until dark, when all was quiet. Our army slept on the field in battle array, ready for and expecting another hard day's work; but in the morning, seeing nothing of the Mexicans, Gen. Taylor sent out Capt. Duncan's company, and found they had all left the battle field, save their dead and badly wounded, together with three field pieces, which they left on the ground. About 200 were left dead. Those who were taken prisoners say that our firing was so destructive that the whole Mexican army was panic stricken, and when ordered to charge upon that of ours they positively refused. One of their colonels rushed into their midst with sabre in hand to urge them to battle rather than die, when they shot him down. Some of their wagons were examined and found to contain ammunition and salt. Gen. Taylor kept his wounded to Point Isabel, & would not proceed further until reinforced, as some places he would have so to fight his way very difficult. Our killed and wounded were but few—three officers were wounded, Capt. Gold, shot through both legs; Capt. Page, jaw badly shot, the other name not given.

On the 8th, three frigates, one sloop and two brigs of war arrived off the Bar from Vera Cruz and came to anchor, and, on hearing the cannon, sent five hundred men to Point Isabel to protect our depot of stores, or reinforce Gen. Taylor if necessary. They were all well armed and anxious for a fight with the Mexicans.

While the battle was being fought, two companies of Mexican artillery came down to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and marched up the beach towards the position of our vessels with stores which had come to anchor very near the Point. Our sloop of war Cumberland got under way and ran down on them—seeing which, they wheeled back.

After leaving Brazos Santiago, met a Mexican ship of war and one steamer, standing for that port. On the 14th, saw a schooner wrecked on the west end of Timbelier Island, rigging standing—apparently full of cotton—abandoned.

Left at Brazos Santiago 11th inst. Steamer Waterman, for New Orleans, waiting for cotton; Steamer Col. Harney, waiting for coal; Monmouth, Cincinnati, Neva and La Saline, loaded with Government stores to Point Isabel. Schrs. Benj. G. Gage, Decatur and two small schooners loaded with coal, waiting to unload inside the bar; schr. loaded with powder, outside, waiting to go over the bar. Seven feet six inches water on bar. The Louisiana experienced some heavy squalls on the passage—arrived at the mouth of the river on Thursday evening, but could not get steam at the head of the Passes—met the Princeton and informed them of the news, they next gave six cheers, which told tales of woe when heard by the Mexicans.

THREE DAYS LATER FROM SANTIAGO-ANOTHER BATTLE TAYLOR VICTORIOUS!-GEN. ARISTA TAKEN PRISONER!

The U. S. steamer Col. Harney arrived this morning just as our paper was going to press, from Brazos Santiago, having left that port on the 12th inst. Her news is glorious to our arms. She brings official accounts of another battle between the Mexican and American forces, which took place on the 9th, commencing at 3 o'clock, P. M., within three miles of Gen. Taylor. The action was upon the edge of the prairie and one mile from the chapurral, which is about twelve miles in width.

The Mexicans commenced the action with their artillery, which was so posted as to command the narrow pass by which Gen. Taylor was marching, there being a swamp on either side. Gen. Taylor immediately ordered a charge upon the enemy's destructive fire, and his gallant troops promptly responded, and carried the enemy's battery at the point of the bayonet.

So sudden and impetuous was the charge, so successful, that Arista had not time to escape with his papers, which with all his correspondence fell into the hands of Gen. Taylor.

The action lasted one hour and a half, in which time 600 Mexicans were either killed or wounded, and the Americans took 300 prisoners and 9 pieces of artillery. The American loss in the action was but 62, killed and wounded.

Among the killed were Col. Meltzen, Col. Hardin, Lieut. Col. McCulloch, Capt. Morris; Lieuts. Ingraham and Chadbourne, and others, whose names are not given.

Lieuts. Gates, Burbank, Hooe, Luther and others were wounded.

We regret to say that Major Ringgold was so severely wounded in the action that he died on the 10th inst. and was buried with the honors of war.

The total loss of the Mexicans in the two actions of the 8th and 9th was at least 1000, while that of the Americans on the ground did not exceed 100. The Mexican force amounted to at least 6000—the American not exceed 2300 men.

An exchange of prisoners took place subsequent to the action, by which all the Americans who had been returned to the army. Lieut. Col. Hardee and Capts. Thornton and Hardee and Lieut. Kane were not demanded and still remains a prisoner.

Among the prisoners taken by Gen. Taylor was Gen. Vega. For him two American officers offered in exchange, but it was declined to give him up, save in exchange for an American of equal rank, whenever one should be sent over by the Mexicans. Gen. Vega and two Mexican Lieutenants were sent over as prisoners of war. Gen. Vega was allowed to be accompanied by one of his aides, a Lieutenant, as a friend.

The Mexican army was so confident of victory that every preparation had been made for it; but all their preparations fell into the hands of the Americans. In their flight many Mexicans took to the river, and were drowned in their attempts to swim it.

Gen. Taylor reached his camp the afternoon of the action. Leaving there his whole baggage train, he started the next morning for Point Isabel, arrived there the evening of the 13th, and started on the 14th for his camp opposite Matamoros.

We are happy to say that he and his army are in the highest spirits.

LATEST FROM THE ARMY.

RETREAT OF THE MEXI

La Barita occupied-Gen. Taylor on his way

TO MATAMOROS.

By the Rockport Mail, which arrived through the kindness of a friend about one o'clock on Wednesday morning, we have files of the New Orleans Picayune to the 18th inst. containing letters from Point Isabel up to the 16th. We hasten to copy one which embodies all the most important particulars taken place since our previous accounts. No hostilities.