Colonel Twiggs governor of Matamoras.

to attend them. Some had lost a leg, others an arm, and some both legs and arms. I noticed one who will certainly get well, whose legs were shot off within two or three inches above the knees, and he seemed to me to have a greater flow of spirits than some who had only flesh wounds. I said to him that had his wounds been made by a Mexican shot, he would have been dead, to which he replied, "The American shot was very goodno poisonous copper in them!' One had died just before I had entered the room, and they were making preparations to carry him out. He had been shot in the mouth by a rifle ball, which passed under the left ear, and he had lived from the 9th up to this time. There are between three hundred and fifty and four hundred of these horrid objects in this place, and the sight of them would induce many a stout heart to lament the horrors of war. These men give the number of killed and wounded on the 9th much greater than the Americans ever claimed, some say twelve hundred, and some, fifteen hundred,—but enough of them."

Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of Matamoras, and immediately afterwards the prefect or former governor retired in disgust. Don Jesus Cardenus, for that was his name, appears to have been distinguished for his tyranny and his hatred to foreigners. The only care he expressed in surrendering the city was whether he could retain his office; the privileges or interests of the citizens being matters of no consequence to him.

General Taylor issued orders to his men to respect strictly the private property of the citizens, and permitted the latter to go on with their business as usual, prohibiting only the sale of intoxicating liquors. "The

Behaviour of our army after victory.

people had been told," says Captain Henry, in his Campaign Sketches, "they would be persecuted 'for conscience' sake;' that we would tolerate no religion but the protestant; and their priests have added all the fuel to the flame they could to produce the impression among these poor, ignorant creatures that we were a set of savage barbarians. Our acts, both civil and military, and now religious, will prove the contrary, and will open their eyes to the magnitude of the attempted deception:

The behaviour of our army after the victory is as highly honourable as the victories themselves. In taking possession of Matamoras we have not interfered with either the civil or religious rights of the inhabitants. Their courts of justice are still held, the most perfect respect is paid to law and order, and every infraction of either is severely punished. The army instead of entering the city as conquerors, encamped quietly in the suburbs. Instead of taking possession of their houses for our men, we remain under miserable canvass, which affords no protection from the storm, and scarcely shade to protect the soldier from the noonday sun. Many have no tents, and yet, under these circumstances no building is occupied: those taken for storehouses and public offices are regularly rented. By such conduct we have restored confidence to the people; the citizens mingle freely among us, walk through our camp, and feel sure of protection. Such conduct should make our countrymen proud of their army."

On the day following the taking of Matamoras, Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, with all the cavalry of the army, about two hundred and fifty dragoons and Rangers,

Pursuit of Arista.

started in pursuit of the retreating Mexicans, with orders to harass their march, and to capture prisoners and baggage. He succeeded in capturing a small rear party, after a skirmish, in which two Mexicans were killed and twenty-two taken prisoners, and one wagon with ammunition and clothing of an artillery company. The army of Arista was twenty-four hours in advance of this pursuing party, retreating in good order. The Americans having stopped at a ranche, the proprietor asked Captain Graham, with some appearance of astonishment, whither they were going. He was told that they were pursuing the retreating Mexican army. His astonishment was now still more increased, as he asserted that General Arista had stopped at his house on the night before, and had informed him that he had conquered the Americans, and was then on his way to Mexico to bear the news. The scarcity of water, with the barrenness of the country, and the jaded condition of the horses, compelled Colonel Garland to return on the 22d, and his pursuit of Arista closes the history of the opening of the war on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Large numbers of volunteers, called out by the government to reinforce the gallant commander, having arrived on the Rio Grande, General Taylor determined to move forward into Mexico, that they might not become dispirited by inaction. He despatched Colonel Wilson to scour the country in advance, and if possible to capture some of the Mexican towns near the river. This party soon got possession of Mier, Reynosa, and Camargo. The last named town, it had been directed, should be entered by a party of Texan Rangers from the rear, while a small party of regulars should approach

Taking of Camargo.

it in front. The steamer containing the regulars was groping along at night a little south of the town, the pilot being altogether ignorant of the river, and the commander equally doubtful as to his reception by the townsmen. A light was seen glimmering on shore. The pilot neared it, and demanded to know in Spanish, “De quien es ese rancho?"

"Tis my rancho," answered a good Yankee voice from out the chaparral. ""Tis my rancho, and who has any claims against it?"

“If you are an American, come on board."

"I will at once, soldier," said a stalwart man, stepping on the deck of the steamer. "I hail you in these parts, for I have been sleeping out some dozen nights, afraid of the treachery of the Mexicans; not that I fear them in a fair fight, of a dozen or more at me at once, but I could not stand five hundred."

Here was an enterprising American, full of patriotism, on "the search for town sites on the Rio Grande;" he knew the people well, and ere the day had fairly dawned, he had completed all the preliminaries of the surrender of Camargo, and at the head or the heel of our troops, as suited his humour best, he entered the city.*

Captain Duncan was sent forward on the 14th of August, with a small command, to Seralvo, sixty miles above Mier, for the purpose of making a reconnoissance. On the road, half way to Seralvo, he entered Punta Aguada, a town of four hundred inhabitants, said to be the head-quarters of Canales, and in which Captain Duncan expected to find some of his robber band. His

* Our Army at Monterey.

Captain Duncan's adventure, and Capture of Seralvo.

force was divided, marched into the town from all sides, and met in the centre, without alarming the people, who were now found to be engaged in an absorbing fandango. The consternation caused by the entrance of the Rangers into the ball-room, can be better imagined than described. The gallant captain, however, ordered the music to proceed, led off the dance with the belle of the room, and then, bidding them adieu, gained quiet possession of Seralvo before daybreak.

On the 18th of August, General Taylor having learned the nature of the route from Captain Duncan, organized the regular army, and ordered General Worth to take up the line of march for Seralvo on the next day.

The first division of the army, commanded by General Twiggs, consisted of the second dragoons, first, second, third, and fourth regiments of infantry, and Bragg's and Ridgely's artillery. The second division, under General Worth, consisted of the artillery battalion serving as infantry, the fifth, seventh, and eighth infantry, Duncan's battery, and Captain Blanchard's Louisiana volunteers.

On the 6th of August, General Taylor moved to join the advance under General Worth at Seralvo, leaving General Patterson in command at Camargo. At Seralvo it was first learned definitely that Ampudia had arrived at Monterey with a large force, and that the city was perfectly fortified, and would make a stout defense. The march to Monterey was now arranged in every particular. Major-General Butler arrived, and the volunteer division was concentrated in the vicinity of Seralvo. It was composed of the first Mississippi regiment, under Colonel Jefferson Davis, the first Tennessee, under