The Wheeling Daily Register

THE SOUTHWEST

Engagement near Orizaba

The Latest News from Texas.

Successful Liberal Enterprise—Arrest and Discharge of American Citizens.

[By Union Line, cor. Monroe and Water Sts.]

New York, Sept. 8— The Herald's Vera Cruz correspondent, writing on the 28th, says: Since the sailing of the Vera Cruz, 14th inst., there has been but one engagement of note, and that is the capture and abandonment of the Orizaba city of Chuacan by 10,000 inhabitants, nearly thirty-three leagues south of the city of Orizaba. A week ago to-day the commander of the Austrian troops there was informed of the approach of a body of Liberals. He immediately made application to the Prefect for assistance, and was furnished with a few auxiliary troops, and at their head he marched out to meet the approaching enemy, whom he found to be a formidable force under command of the gallant Liberal commander General Figueroa, whose forces having been augmented by Republicans under command of Col. Chato Diaz, presented quite an army. The commander of the Imperials saw his only safety was in flight, and at once retreated to the town, where being met by the Prefect of the district, the latter advised the evacuation of the city but the commander chose to make an effort of defense, and retired with his forces to a convent, hoping there to resist the liberals until success could be obtained from the adjoining towns, but the Liberal army at once surrounded the town and compelled his surrender.

Couriers were dispatched north to Orizaba, by the Prefect, on the approach of the enemy, and reinforcements were sent to retake the Chuacan. A detachment of French troops, in fact the entire garrison of Orizaba, was ordered there. Gen. Figueroa and Col. Chato Dias, however, had no intention of remaining in the town, and after securing all the ammunition and arms of the garrison, raised a forced loan of $20,000 and levying on wealthy foreign houses for $109,000, they left. That it was a strategical coup de main is very apparent. To have held the town would have required all the Liberal troops in that State, and strategically the city is of no importance.

This is perhaps the most successful enterprise within several months, and the Imperialists try in vain to depreciate the truth. The policy pursued by the Imperialists seems an insane one. There are only 13,000 troops, and they are divided into a hundred different bodies, now together and then separated. There is not one protected highway in Mexico. The only reinforcements to this force is the arrival of 500 men, mostly from France. No force less than 100,000 men will ever subjugate this country.

Commerce is ruined; there are no exports save the bullion sent to France.

Mr. Noyes, an American citizen, and Assistant Engineer of the Imperial Mexican railroad, and Major Wm. Anderson, brother of Gen. Anderson, had been arrested, but soon discharged, with apologies from the civil authorities. The arrests were made because Mr. Noyes' children laughed at a drunken French sergeant, who fell in the street. Imperialists were chuckling over the supposed material reduction of Sheridan's force.