" '
I have sworn upon the Alter of God, etemil ho9jy to every ftrta of Tyranny over the Mlud of Man." Thomai Jefforien
II. WEBB, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
Volume X.
liLOOMSHUUC, COLUiUIIIA CObXTY, PA. SATURDAY, JUNK 6, 184G.
Number 7.
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT.
opsins .-sr. I'mil s uiuircii, 01ain-st
TERMS :
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J) I'ER Tl SEMENS not exceeding a
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quent nser'tion. iJ-A liberal discoun
viade to those, who advertise by the year
LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
iimm.e ain i n "wmumn
NEWSPAPERS.
No nun is willingly without a news
paper. Cowper describe il as:
Tia fulio of four psges, hippy work
Which nole'en critic criticise; that holds
Inquisitive attention while 1 read
Fast bound in chain i of silence, whic h the
fair
Though eloquent themsel ves, yet fear to
break.-
What is il but a map of busy life,
lis flm-luaiiun and its vast concern!)!'
Locomotion has scarcely improved
more than newspapers since Cowper
wrote, and is not more subservient to
the general welfare. Every man looks
for his newspaper. Were the judges to
abdicate, and the courts to suspend their
(mictions, no man would at once mis;
and regret them, except for the loss of s
mIuhii of amusement in the newspapers,
hut iho clay and hour;' when the post
man 'with his twanging horn,' 'the her
Id of a noisy world,' or the mail train
leaving its .creat bags of almost a ton
weight of lelttrs, should go to il desti
nation without newspapns, would bi
iiw ui consternation, we cannot pic
ture the general alarm, the fidgelty un
easiness, which would spread itself into
innumerable conjectures as to what com
motion could have laid nn embirgi on
the newspapers. For the mail to ar
rive without the journal, would bo like
the approach of day followed by no ri
aing sun. Whenever the fuel is alluded
to, every man b"comes instantly sensi
ble that society could not exist in it
present wonderful ramifications without
newspapers. They are not merely the
offsprings of the natural system of socie
ty, they are essential puts of it, which
will outlive the throne and the peerage.
A DESPERATE ADVENTURE.
from captain Fremont's exiiedition
to the rocky mountains-
While encamped, on the 21th ofApril
ft a spring, near the Spanish trail, we
were surprised by the sudden appear
ance among us of two Mexicans a man
and a boy; the name of the man was.tf I
reaa Fuentas, md that of the boy (a
handsome lad, eleven years old)Palby
Hernandez. With a cavalcade of about
thirty hoises, they came out fromPueb
la de los Angelas, near the Pacific; had
lost half of their animals, stolen by In
dians, and now sought my camp foi
aid. Carson and Godey, two of my
men, volunteered to pursue them, with
the Mexicans; and, well mounted the
three set off on on the trail. In thee
veiling Fuentas returned, hi horse hav
ing failed, but Carson and Cedey con
tinued the pursuit.
In the afternoon of the next day
tvarhoop was heard, such as Indians
ruake when returning from a vicloriou'
enterprise; and soon Carson and Godey
appeared driving before them a band of
horse', recognized by uentas to be a
part of those they had lost. Two blood
y scalaps, dangling frooi the end of Go
(U) 'sgtin, announced that thsy had over
tsLti! the hidings aa will as the horse.-.
(They had conlinned (he puisuil ilono,
after Fuentas had lfl (hem. and tew
i
ardi nightfall entered the mountains in
to wntcn tne trait leu 7Uer sunset.
the moon gave light, and they followed
the trail by moonlight, until late in lh
night, when it entered i narrow defile,
and was difficult to follow. Here the
lay from midnight till morning A. day
light then resumed the pursuit, and at'
unnse discovered the horses, and im
mediately dismounting and lying up
their twn, I bey crept cautiously to i ri
sing ground which intervened from the
crest of which they perceived the en
campment of four ledges close by. They
proceeded quietly, and had got within
thirty or forty yards of their objes',
when a mevemtnl among the hoise
discovered them to the Indians. Giying
1 warahout they instantly charged into
he camp, regudlcss of the number tht
four lodges might contain.
The Indians received them wih a
flight of arrows, from their long bows,
ne of which passed through Godey'e
shirt col'ar, bare missing the neck. Out
mtn fired their rifles upon a steady aim,
and rushed in, Two Indians wan
stretched upon the ground, fruity pierc
ed with bullets the rest fled, except a
'ad whe was captured. 7'he scalps of the
fallen were instantly stripped off; but in
he process, one of them, who had two
nails through his body, sprang (o hif
feel; the blood streaming from his skin
ned head, and uttered a hideous how
The fiightful spectacle appalled the sloui
hearts of our men; but they did what
humanity required, and quickly te, mi
men ine agonies or ine savtge,. i lie)
.-i-I.L-. -- 4.1 r.
were now marten of the camp, which
iv j s pirny nme recess in ine tnoun
mins, with a fine spring and apparently
ife from all invasion. Great prepm-
ions ha. I been made for feislir.g a Urge
tarty, for it was a very proper plaen foi
t rendezvous and for the celebration e'
uch orgies as robbers of Ilia defer
lelight in. Several of the best how
hd been killed, skinned, and cut up
for the Lidians living in the mountains.
and only ceming into the plains to rol
ind murder, make ne other use of hor
e than to eat them. Luge earlhei
vessels were on the fire, boiling and
slewing the horss baef; and several
baskets, containing 60 pairs of mocca-
tin indicated the presence or expecta
non of a lirge parly. They released
he boy, who had given strong evidence
ot the stoicism, or something else,of the
ravage character, by commencing hit-
breakfast upon a horse's head, as soon as
he found he was not: bektlled, but on
ly tied as a prisoner.
Their ebjpct accomplished, our men
gathered up all the surviving horses,
15 in number, returned upon their trail
and rejoined us at our camp in the -if
ternoonoflhe same day They hud
rede about 100 miles in the pursuit anH
return, and all in thirty hours. The
time, place, object, and numbers consid
ered, this expedition of Carien and Go
ley may be considered among the bold
est and mosl distinguished which ih
annals of western adventure, so full o'
daring deeds, can present.
Two men in a savage wildemeie.pur
ue, day and night, an unknown body
oflndians into the defiles of an unknowr
mountain attack them at night with
out ceunling numbers, and defeat Iherr
in an instantand for what? To uun
ish the robbers of the desert, and re
venge (he wrongi of Mexiians whom
1 hey did rot know. I repeat, it wa
Carson and Godey did this the former
a native of Boonslick county, .Missouri.
he latter of (French patronage,) born
in Si. Louis, 'n the fame Stale; both ol
hem trained to wesltrn enterprise fron
early life.
Tha fJUwrng Anecdote connected
vith the decisive battle of the 9th is too
oed to be omitted,
'The battle commenced by heavy
annonading on both aides. Oen. Tay
lor, in passing hit lines, accosted Capt.
May,hsf the 2d dragoon, and told him
'Your regiment has never done any
thing yet you muat take thai battery
He said nothing, but turned te the cam-
mand and said ''we must taka that bal
tery follow!' He made a charge with
:hree companies at least the remahder
of three cempanies supported by the
5th and 8ih regiments of infantry. They
cleared the breastwork, rode over tht
battery, wheeled and came through the
enemy's line, whilst the tire of ilir
n fa ii try was so deadly in its ef
lects as te carry all before it. Capt.
May made a cut at an officer as he chars,
d through; on his return he found him
standing between the wheels of a cannon
fighting like a hero. He ordered him
o surrender, lie was askcu it he wat
tn offiiiei? Capt. May answered in the
iffirmatiue, when ha presented his
iword, remarking 'Yej receive Gen
Vt gi a prisoner of war.' Captain M ix
gave him in charge to one cf his ser
teants who had lost his horse in th
charge, ordering him to conduct him It
Gdn. Taylor out ef the line
Capt May's attack is spoken of as be
ug one of those splendid efforts whic!
would have adorned the brightest fealh
or of the plume of Mural, in the palm
ist days of his glory, Il cost him Is
norses, with a few of the gallant rideiv
The victory, says the ex'ia from wii
ve copy, entirely belongs to U. S. arm)
io volunteers having arrived in time t
share in Ihe honors of the day. It wih
convince our country, lhat West Point
tfoids the material of exhibiting thi
fjtuage and braveiy of the American
xuldicrs,
1 trust we will hear no more of dis
mounting our gill.int dragoons, the af
fur of the 9ih shows them to bs the ai
erieg of our defence;
BUYS OF SIXTEEN.
We like to see active and industrioun
hoys of lilleen and sixteen yuers of age; we
linow they will make smirl men. There
ire scores ef such in this city wko are
earning mysteries of trades or working be-
hind the counter. They are cheerful and
happy, have a pleasant look and a kind
won) for all.
i?ut there are other boys who aie dull
and lazy. At sixteen years of Bge yeu
will find them hanging about the eornerf
or waitting their time in idle society. They
will nut work lo support themselves and
are obliged to call on ihttir parents for their
suppert buch boys will lurn out misera
ble tools. Few man care te lake beva who
have arrived to sixteen oi seventeen years
4
of age who have contracted idle habits and
partially formed their characters. Those
lads love l dress well and innke a rflo!
appearance and parade about lha etreets in
show themselves, but thsy are good foi
nothing io a mechanic or merchant, and nev
er can be, unless they cast off their Uzy
tiiiliiiK xnd enjaje hi some business
In ininy instances parents are remiss in
hity They will neither let their sons go
n i his place nor the other, for (oar they
will soil their hands or dirty their clothes.
nd they keep them dandling about the
hus till they become altogether too old to
find places The sa generally brings therr
up at last, unless tdey rusi out and riio of
what is politely called the consumption
Port. Uull.
A tradesman in the west of England ha v.
ing heard thai il wxs usual, for safety, in
sanding bank notes by posl. to cut them in
iwo, adopted lhat plan Usi week, bnt in-!
ktead of keeping one half by him unto ail- thrown forward a body of lighi infxntry in
vised of the safety receipt of the other hello ihe forest, which covers the JdUmorBs
enclosed ihem both in one Ict.ti! road. When near the sot where I in.
WAR WITH MEXICO.
From the Washington Union.
OFFICIAL.
We have received at an hour too late for
any special remarks upon ibem, the official
despatches frem the War and Navy De
partinenta. We lose no time in lay ing them
before our readers. I will be seen that
.hey confirm substantially the accounts al
ready published.
Head-quarters Army of Occupation, ?
Ptfint Isabel, Texas, May 7, 1846. $
Sir: I respectfully report that I shall
march this day with (he main body of the
army, te open a communication with Ma
jur Urown, and threw forward supplies of
ordinance and provisions. If the enemy
oppose my march, in whatever force, 1
shall fi;'ht him. Occasional guns are heani
in lha direction ef M itamoras, ihowin; lha1
every thin is right in that quarter.
Yesterday the recruits under -isutenan'
McPhail arrived here. After filling up the
companies of the permanent garrison, (k
1st artillery, and G, 4th artilleiyj the re
mainder of the detachment, with its officers
vas plaoad under Majar Munroe'a orders,
to assist in the defence of the depot. The
men are yet toe raw to lake the field, though
efficient for garrison defence. They will
he permanently assigned as soon as practi
cable. yhe four companies of the first infantry-
are heurly expected, and will be a reasona
ble reinforcement. The first shipment of
volunteers from New Orleans may also
soon be leaked for. Their arrival will en"
able me la opsn the river and free our com-
municatiyns,
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obd'i
ssvant,
Z TAYLOR,
Brevet Brig'r Oen. U. S. A Com'g
SThe Adjdtant Grxkral of ihe Army,
Washington, I). C.
Head Quarters Arm? of Occupation',
Camp ai Palo Alto. Texas, May 9, 1816,
S;r; I have the honor lo reperl that I w
was met near this place yesterday, on my
nnrrh fnni Point Isabel, by ihe Mexican
farces, and after an action of aboul five hours
lisloged ihem from their position, and en
'amped upon the field, Ou' altillery, con
sisiing of two 18-pounders and two light
batteries, was the arm chiefly enj'ged, and
to Ihe excellent manner in which il was
manoeuvred and served is oui succes main
ly du.
The strength of the enemy is believed to
have boen about six thousand men wiifi
seven pieces of artillery , and eight bundled
cavalry. His lo is probably at leasl one
hundred killed. Oor strength did not cx
ceed all told twenty-three hundred, while
our loss was comparatively trifling four
ui n wounded, several nf the latter mortally
I regrel to say that Mjor Ringgold, 3d ar
tillery, and Captain Page, 4ih infantry, are
severely wounded Lieutenant Luther, 2d
arlilery, slightly, so.
The enemy has fallen hack, and it is be
lieved has repassed the river, I have ad
vanced parlies no thrown forward in hi,
lirertiun, and shall move the main btdy
Timediately,
In hasto of this first report, lean only
say that (he officers and men behaved it
he mosl admirable manner llireugheul tin
action. I snail have ihe pleasure ot mak
mg mere detailed account when the
i me ainereni cemmanuers snail te re
r . i v ... i t is
cei veil.
I am, sir, very respec'.fully,
Your oliedienl earvspt,
Z. TAYLOR
Btevet Brig Gen, U. S. A. cummanding
The Adjutant General, U. S Army,
Washington, D C.
Head Quarters Army cf Occupation,
Camp al Resaca de la Palma,
3 miles from Malamoias,
10 o'clock, P. M. May 0,184(1.
Sir; I have the honor In icporl that
inarched with the main body of the army
at 2 o'clock today, having previously
now encamped, my advance discovered that
a ravine creasing the read had been oecu-1
pied by the enemy with artillery. I imn e
diately ordered a battery of field artillery
to sweep the position, flanking and austain
ing it by the 3d, 4ih, and 5th regiments,
depleyed as akirmishers to the tight and
left, A heavy fire ef artillery and of mus
kelry was kept up for some time, until fi
nally the enemy'e batteries were carried in
succession by a squadron of dragoons and
ihe regiments of infantry lhat were on the
round. He was soon driven from his po
sition, and pursued by a squadron nf dra
goons, battalion ef artillery, 3d infantry and
a light battery, te ihe river. Our victory
has been complete. Light pieces of anil
!ery with a great quantity of ammunition
three alandards and some one huudred pris
oners have been taken, among the latter
Gen. La Vega, and several other officers.
One general is undeistood te have been
killed. The enemy has rscrossed Ihe river
and I am sure will not again molest us en
this bank;
The loss of the epetnv in killed has been
nost severe. Our own has been very
heavy, and I deeply regrel to report that
Lifitil- Chadbotirne 8lh Infantry was killed
m the field. Lieut. Col. Payne 4th Artil
lery, Lieut. Col. Mcintosh, Lieut. Dobbins
3d Infantry, Capt. Heoe. and Lieut. Fow
ler, Bth Infantry, and Oapl. Afontgomfry
Lieuts. Gales, Selden, McClay, Bnrbank,
and Jordan 8.h Infantry, were wounded.
Die extent ef our loss in killed and wound
ed is not yet ascertained, and is reserved for
a more delated report.
The affair of today may be regarded as a
proper supplement to the camonade of yes
tenia y and the two taken, exhibit the cool
ness and gallantry of our officers and mer.
n ihe rnoM favorable light. All have done
their duty and done it nobly. It will be iny
Dride in a mote circiimslancial reporl of
I'oth actions, lo dwell upon particular instan
ees of ind'vidusl distinction.
It affords mt peeuliar pleasure tea repo
that ihe field-work opposite Matamoras ha
sustained itself ban lamusly during a can
nonade and bombardment of 1 UO hours
Bui Ihe pleasure is alloyed wilh profound
tegret al the loss of its hemic and indomita
bio commanuer, Major Brown, who died
to-day from the effect of a shell. His los
would be a aevtre one lo the service ai any
limo, but lo ihe army under my orders il i
indeed irreparable. One officer and em
loneoinmissioned ofTker killed, and ten
nen wor.nded, compiise all the rasualue
incident to this severe bombardment.
I inadvertantly omitted le mention ih
capture of a large number ef pack mules
lefi in the Mexican camp.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
Z. TAYLOR,
Bl. Brig'i General U. S. A. Com'g.
fhe Adjutant General of the Army,
Washington, D, Cf
Head Quarters Army of Oceupation,
Resaca de la Plma, May 11, 1916.
Orders A'o B9.
1. The commanding general congratu
lates the army under his roininand upon ihe
lignal success which has crooned i's rereui
operations against the enemy. The cool
ness and steadiness ef the tronps dining the
action cf the 6di, and the brilliant impeiu
isity with which the enemy's position Bnd
irii'.lery were carried on ihe 9th, have dis
,iyd the best qualities of the American
oldter. I o every nflicer and soldier ol
lis command, the general publicly reiurnf
ds thanks for the noble manner in which
hey have sustained the honor of the ser
nee anil el tne country. ffnie the msin
'tody ef he army have been thus actively
employed, the garrison left opposits Mala
more has rendered no lets distinguished
service by sustaining a severe einnonade
md bombardment for many successive days
fhe army and the country, while justly re
joining in this triumph of our arms, will de
plore the loss or many brave officers and
men who fell gallantly in the hour of com
bat.
2, Ii being necessary for the command
ing general lo visit l'oint Isabel on public
suninsss, Col. Twiggs will assume com
manj cr,)e
corpa of the army near M-m-
moras, including the garrison of the find
work. He will occupy the former line i.f
the army, making such disposition for de-
fence and for the comfort of his command
is he rnsy deem advisable. He will hold
himself strictly on ihe defansive until the ie
iurn of the commanding general.
By order of Brig Gen Taylor
W W. J. Bliss, Act. Adj, Gen.
Head Quarters Army of Occupa:inn,
Foist Isabel, Texas, May 12. ISlti
Sir In making a hasty visit lo this ph.ro,
for the purpose of having an interview writ
Commodore Conner, whose squadron is
nowatanchur ofT the harbor, arranging with
him a combined movement up ihe river, I
avail myself of the brief lime at my com-'
mund le report thai the main body of the
army is now occupying iis former position
pposite Matamoras. The Mexican fun a
are almost disorganized, and J shall lose no
time in investing Matamoras, and opening
iho navigation of the river
I regret lo report that Major RinoU
died the morning of the II th insi, of the e.
vere wounds received in the nctimi ef 'h
Alto. With ihe exception of Citpt. P..
whose wound is dangerous, the other woun
ded officers are doing well. In niy report
of ihe second engagement, ( accider.uliy
omitted the name ( Lieut. Dobbins, 31 in
fantry, among the officers slightly wounded
and desire that the omission may be sup
plied in Ihe despatch itsolf. I am under
the painful necessity of reporiing thai Lieut.
Blake, topographical eni'ireers. after ren.
dering distinguised service in my staff du
ring the affair of the 8th inst, accidentally
shot himself wi;h a pistol on the following
day, and expired before night.
It has been quite imoossilili vm .
i " J ,,f
furnish detailed reports of our engigements
wilh the enetey, or even accurate reitirns
of the killed and wounded. Our loss is
not far from 3 officers aij 40 men killed,
wi 13 officers and 108 men weundsd
whilo lhat of the enemy has in probability
exallilml 300 kided, more than 200 have
heen buiied by us on the two fields ef bat
tle. I have exchanged a sufficient number of
prisoners m.'reeover the command of Capt.
rhenton.Ths woundad pawners have heen
cnt to Malamoias the wounded officers
on Iheii purole. Goneral la Vest and a few
other officers have teen sent lo New Or-
eans, having declined a parele, and will be
reported to Maj. Gen. Gaiues. 1 am not
convsraant wilh ihe usages of war in such
cases, and beg that such provision may be
made tor these prisoners as may be author
ized by law, Our own prisoners have been
treated with gieat kindness by the Mexicaa
uicers.
1 am, sir, very respectfully your obedient
servant
Z. TAYLOR.
Bt. Brig. Gn. U. S. A., com'dg,
I'he Adjutant General f ihe army.
Washington, D. C.
Head Quarters Army ef Occupation,
Fort Polk, Texas May 12, 184(1.
Orders No. 60.
As a maik of respeoi to Ihe Magistrate
if the Republic, the work constructed in
this place, to cover the main depot of the
army, will be known as 'Fori Polk '
The Commanding General takes this oc-
lasmn to express his satisfaction wilh iho
Impositions nude for the protection and de.
fence of ihis point, o vitally important to
he efliciency and security of the arny. To
Major Minroe, ihe coramandinc officer
Captain Sanders, ef ihe rngineers, Major,
1 homas and McRee, and Captains Sibley
nd Hill, of the quartermaster's department
Captain Ramsey, of the ordnance, and Lieut.
Montgomery, of the subsistence depart
nents, creuu is especially due for their zeal
and acliviiy,.
The General returns big thanks to tho
numerous citizens who voluntsed their set-
' .1 , i
vices m ine ueience oi iiie depot. Their
assistance added materially to its strength
and lo his confidence in its ability t0 ytf
an attack. The rsinforremenl fiorn Ihe brig
'Lawrence' under lieutenant Renshaw, am
the large force of sganjen and astiuee so