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' ¦J ^_j^_jggv _ THE IQITHERN sn-in 7 ¦ ...
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fittvgn -^lohemcitts
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u And I **n- ,wr i at lea8t in words, ( ...
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THE TARNOW MASSACRES, (From the Reforme ...
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? The land-stewards in GaUicia , are off...
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* "Captain of district" is a civil execu...
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OFFICIAL DESPATCHES FROM THE ARMY. The f...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
' ¦J ^_J^_Jggv _ The Iqithern Sn-In 7 ¦ ...
' ¦ J _^_ _j _^_ _jggv _ THE _IQITHERN _sn-in 7 ¦ ' " _~ ' _^ _^^^^^^^^*^^^ l _^^^^^^ _*^*^^ t _^ _BKB _^ _tV _m—^—^—^ t _^ _m—^ m _^—~ _r~—l * _rm _~ _—m _~ _HMriM _^^« _--
Fittvgn -^Lohemcitts
_fittvgn - _^ _lohemcitts
U And I **N- ,Wr I At Lea8t In Words, ( ...
u And I _** n- , wr _i at lea 8 t in words , ( _^ 4—shonldmy chance so happen—deeds , ) _Withall who war with Thought ! ' * * I flunk I hear a little bird , who sings The peop le byand by will "be the stronger . "— "B tkoh . E ASTERN EUROPE AND TEE EMPEROR ¦ NICHOLAS _, so . VII . _jnthe Star of the 29 th of * Sb _* rember last , we copied from the Times a long account of the
EORRIBLE PERSECUTION OF POLISH MJNS , extr acted from the work before us . The author of * Vl 3 work was the first to make known in England flie horrible atrocities of that persecution , and for so doing deserres the thanks ef every hater of cruelty 2 nd oppression . In an appendix to the third volume ( just published ) , we find a number of documents on _lie subject , confirmatory oi the acconnt of this horrid iniquity , in reply to the statements of the _Russian officials , who hare vainly attempted to Tejnte the statements ofthe principal of the sufferers . Without repeating the entire of tiie account given _jn the Star oi the 29 th of Nov .. \ remay remind our
readers that the nans of a . Basilian convent at Minsk irere ordered by their apostate Bishop Siemaszko lo conform to the Russian religion ; this they _reused to do . In consequence of this refusal , they were seized , bound , driven before the whips of Cos sacks , and finally imprisoned in " Greek" Convents . Here they were obliged to perform the most menial offices , starved , fed on salt herrings and denied water to assuage their thirst , and flogged twice a-week . In the convents in which they were impr isoned , they met with other victims—non-conformist nuns of the same order , who shared in their sufferings . The fioggingstoo"k place in open sheds , wherethe ua _ t edrictMnswereesposedtotheTiewof the brutal instruments of their persecutor . Their flesh was torn off their bodies in strips , and when any sank from exhaustion they were beaten with sticks until they
rose again . Some of the sufferers died under the repeated flagellations . Others were killed by being beaten with sticks , or met their deaths by being thrown down , kicked , and trampled npon . Another f avourite mode of punishment "was that of plunging t he-victims into a lake , and dragging them through jhe water until they were _^ senseless . On these occasions the nuns were dressed in a sort of chemise nf cloth , similar to what is used for com sacks ; a angle sleeve united both arms , and thus prevented resistance ; ropes were fastened round their necks , and by these ropes they were dragged through the lake by executioners in boats . These ' baths " usually lasted two or three hours , after which the _victims were suffered to remain all night in their wet clothing , shivering with extreme cold . ' Two of tbe nuns were drowned . They were employed
to dig out clay , and not understanding how to conduet an excavation , the earth fell in , and buried five of _tl-eir number , who perished in this self-dug grave . They were also employed to serve the masons in constructing a palace for the renegade bishop , and while so employed a wall fell , and killed eight of them . One of the nuns was burnt alive in a large stove , in which she vms shut up after being compelled to light the fire . The crowning atrocity we will repeat at length : — When the Russian soldiers , and the newly-made deacons , had heen rendered drunk with brandy , all these helpless nans were turned out amongst them as incurably obstinate to treat them as they thought fit . Then commenced a . scene worthy of Pandemonium the shrieks aud prayers of the victims mingling with the oaths , _Dlasphtmles , and ribaldry of the crowd to whose brutal lust they were abandoned .
When the fury of these demons in human form had been exhausted , it was discovered that two of these unfortunate females were quite dead . The skull of one had been crushed by the stamping on the temples of an iron-plated heeL The other was trampled into such a mass of mud and gore , that even its human character was scarcely _recognisable . Bight others _haoVone or several bones or limbs broken , or their eyes torn or trodden ont . Of the whole number , the superior , a womas of iron frame as well as indomitable resolution , fared the best ; but she was not allowed to attend or console her mutilated _sisters except on the condition of apostacy .
They were afterwards marched ont _ofPolock by mgbi on toot , and chained two by two—eren those whose eyes had _been torn ont , and whose hideous wounds were festering . Those whose legs were broken , or who were lamed , were sent forward in carts under the care of Cossacs . After enduring two more years of torture , ofthe _Ehy-eight nans { thirty-ftrar from Minsk , fourteen irom Vitepsk , and ten from Poloek , ) only fourteen survived , and of these eight were either lame or blinded . At length , embracing a favourable opporfamiry , four of the survivors effected their escape , and tbe superior of the convent , Makreka Mieczislawka , after surmounting great hardships and dangers , at length reached Paris , where she made known to astonished Europe the horrors which herself and her _aster-martyra had suffered , and which our readers will find fully detailed in these volumes .
The minions of the Autocrat have affected to discredit , and attempted to disprove , the story of these abominations . M . de Boctexief , thc Russian Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court " of Rome , presented two notes to the papal cabinet , the _one-before , and the other after the pretended inquiry into the matter by the Russian Government . In the first " note , " M . BE Bomesiei ? _denounced the Abbess Mieczislawska _asanimposter , and in proof thereof quoted an error of a Polish
journal published at Pans , which in announcing the escape of the Abbess mentioned that she belonged to a convent at Eowno ; this was an error , it should have been Minsk not Kowno . The error was corrected in the following number of the paper , bnt though aware of ihe correction , the Russian envoy seizes upon this error and triumphantly _esclaims , "In order that a persecution could be instituted against the convent of _Badlian nuns at iiowiio , it would be requisite that snch a convent should exist ; but it Is certain that no convent of Basilian nuns ever did exist in the
townofEowno , nor in the whole extent ofthe _province of that name . " The pith of tbe szcond " note " is to the effect that no such person as Makbexa Mieczislawska was ever abbess of the convent of Minsk , or ever known there or elsewhere in Russian Poland . The " note" further states that "the mother-general of the order , tuftPrmee * sEv _. pHRossii Gieotmis mentioned by her , died at Rome COO years ago . " The documents contained in the appendix to the third volume of this -work , contain foil and complete answers to the fabricated denial of the Russian _oovernment . * We can find room only for the following extracts from the answer by the Polish priests at Rome , to the second "note " : —
The venerable rain whom it pleases the author of the additional note to call" the woman Mieczislawska" never assumed tbe title of Abbess ef the convent of Kowno . We defy the Russian dip lomatists to cite from among the numerous persons who have seen and conversed with her since her arrival within the Prussian territories , a single witness worthy of credit who heard her take this quality . Iu the first declaration , made before the Archbishop of Posen , two months before the publication ofthe article of ihejournal the _jTftird of May , she took her true title of Abbes * of Minsk . The error into which the journal , the Itird of May , ha 3 fallen , was rectified the next day by that journal and by the Bmwxs . The author of this second Bote is forced to confess that , in the first note , it was
carefolly concealed that in the said town ef . Minsk there did exist a convent of Basilian nuns , and to acknowledge that the mother itakrena did not arrogate to herself an imaginary title . Thus is confirmed by the admissions of Bussia herself the existence of this convent , tbe reality of which has been wilfully denied;—thus is confirmed the testimony of theold inhabitants of Lithuania , and particularly that of the Sisters ef Charity at Wilna , as well as that of the Marquis de Sarp , an officer who was in the service of the French army in ISii , now resident at Rome , all of whom attest the fact from having been eye-witnesses of
it . Driven to speak ofthe convent of Basilian nuos at _ilinsfc , the note gives its history from 1834 , and pretends that at that period it was converted into a hospital . This assertion is completely fake . In 1835 , the convent still Belonged to the Basilian nans , aud by the fire which in that year reduced Minsk to ashes , the convent suffered severely . AU the wealthy inhabitants of the town witnessed the mother Hakrena , with the sisters "Wawrzecka sad Konorska , demanding and receiving contributions towards the reparation ofthe damages their convent had sustained . It was not until 1838 that it was suppressed - _* ? the violent expulsion of the nuns ,
In the second place , the note joins irony to falsehood , m affirming that the Princess Euphrosnia Giedymin , who is brought to life in 1838 , died at Rome more than six hundred years ngo , We inform the learned author of the note , that Christina Clara Giedymin , who took the name _oIEu phroana _on becomings nun , was visitressgeneral or the order of Basilian nuns ; tbat she is the person de ° at 5 u _wier the name of mother general , a title whieh
U And I **N- ,Wr I At Lea8t In Words, ( ...
wasgtven to her according te custom , and that she it was who perished miserably -when she was " being con veyed to Siberia . It will be seen the author of the note is little versed in genealogies , although he pretends to have consulted them . It will not be ont of place to make him acquainted with that ofthe nun whom he persists in calling tbe woman Mieczislawska . _MakrenaMieczislstwska belongs to a distinguished family of Poland , allied to the princely family of Wistgenstein . She is the daughter of Joseph Mieczislawska and Anna Jagiello , daughter of Cashnir aad Hedwige . She was born at Stokliszki , the estate ot her parents , in the ancient palatinate of Troki , ia 1784 . She is not the onlymember of her family wbo haB suffered for religion . One of her brothers , CalixtMieczis lawska , who took the name of Onuphms on entering the order of Saint Basil , was , on his refusal to forsake his religion , put into a cart and so tightly bound that he
perished ou theway to Smolensko . Twoofhiscompanions , Szozerbwiski and Chryanowski , died with him in thc same cart ; and a fourth , Zulkowski , expired on arriving * at Smolensko . We will add that the mother Makrena entered Ae order of Saint Basil at the age ot twentythree , in the convent of Biala , of which her maternal aunt , Isabella Jagiello , was abbess . Several months afterwards she went to the convent of Hinsk , where she remained and performed almost all the duties of the establishment until the moment when the abbess Kulesza , having become infirm , Makrena took her charge for three years , and succeeded her as abbess in 1823 . In her quality of abbess , she was presentat the election of the abbesses of Wilna and Seres wecz . We havedestroyed oneby one the allegations ofthe additional note , and we deliver the new errors with-which it is filled , as its most cruel condemnations , to the indignation and contempt ef all upright and impartial minds . Rome , April , 1846 .
But it-will be said , admitting these cruelties to have occurred , is it just to charge Nicholas with the responsibility of acts which probably were the result of the barbarous zeal of his servants rather than of any commands direct from himself . Not so , the Tsar heard of these atrocities , for the victims petitioned him for mercy , which was sternly refused except on condition of changing their religion . In the published narrative of her sufferings , the Abbess says : — The nuns having addressed a petition to the Emperor "Nicholas , received for reply tke following ukase , which was read to them by the schismatic bishop . " ukase .
" All that the Archlarchlarchwey ( i . _« . three times archbishop ) Siemaszko has done , and all that he shall do for the propagation of the orthodox religion , I hereby approve , confirm , and declare holy , holy , thrice holy and I order everybody not to dare to resist him in anything _, _lalsoorderthe military authorities , in the event of any resistance whatsoever , and on the single request ofthe Archi-archi-archivey Siemaszko , at aU times , and in all places , to furnish him as great an armed force as he shall request , and I sign tbis ukase with my own hand . •• Nicholas I . "
"When he had finished , he showed us our petition to the Emperor , in which we had protested that -we were witting to abandon to the government our property and the pension promised ns on leaving Minsk , but which bad never been paid ns ( about three sous per week ) , to renounce everything , in short , provided we might be allowed ta die in tbe free exercise of onr religion . Siemaszko unfolded the petition in the same way that he had unfolded the ukase , and with the same hand that held the paper he gave me so violent a blow with his fist on my face , that for nearly a year I could not speak distinctly , the cartilages of the upper part of my nose having been-grievously Injured . "I will teach you , " cried he , still threatening us , — "I will teach you to
write to the Emperor !" Included amongst the documents given in the " Appendix" is a letter oi a Russian , M . Bakousike , to the Constitutionnel newspaper , in which , answering the question , " Was it possible that the Emperor could have commanded these atrocities ? " he says : — "The condemnations and executions which I have mentioned were all sanctioned and ordered by the Emperor . He certainly did not order Siemaszko to break the jaws of the poor nuns , but he ordered him to act with all the severity of the Russian law ? , I am convinced that if the emperor had any decided wish to prevent such unjust and sanguinary scenes of violence from being enacted in his empire , all these atrocities wonld not have taken place . " The writer of this letter gives an account of the religious
persecution of the Roman Catholics and United Greeks similar to that which appeared in the Star of last Saturday , and narrates some acts of the thrice archdevil Siemaszko ( of which the writer was an eyewitness in the year 1833 ) , which shows that monster to be quite capable of all the atrocities imputed to him by the Abbess Mieczislawska . In commencing his letter , the writer say?— "lam a Russian , and I love my country . It is ou this account that my best wishes , like those of many other Russians , are offered up for the success ofthe Polish insurrection . The oppression of Poland is disgraceful to my country , and its liberation might prove the commencement of . " This is significant , and corroborative of the statements Jof the author of this work as to the revolutionary spirit gaining ground even among 3 t the Russians themselves .
The author of this work absolves the Russian church from all general participation in these persecutions . Left to its own impulses the Greek Church i * Russia is one ofthe most apathetically in different to the conversion of the heterodox , and therefore is unmoved by that religious fanaticism which destroys the body in the belief that it is saving the soul . These persecutions are part of the system _, the object of which is to Rnssianise Poland , and make aU ' who crouch beneath the Tsar's sceptre , the slaves of his spiritual as well as temporal tyranny Bravely does the author of this work denounce the base sycophancy of the English court and aristocracy in paying homage to the child-killing , woman-murdering tyrant-. — "Atthe time that these harmless
and helpless women were undergoing their _inhuman and protracted martyrdom , the Emperor Nicholas , the { author of this -. diabolic persecution , was reeeived _' with welcome ' on our English shores ; and his apologists should blush to remember , tbat whilst defending him , these poor females ( and heaven knovs how many more ) were expiring in the most cruel tortures , mere units in the multitude of victims sacrificed to uphold a system which is not even intended to benefit nation at the cost of one another ' s suffering , but solely to further the interest of one family , —the family of Romaxoff , in which the father has murdered the son , ihc wife her husband , and , the son even in thc present generation connived at the assassination of the father . "
The Tarnow Massacres, (From The Reforme ...
THE TARNOW MASSACRES , ( From the Reforme of the 27 th of May , 1816 . ) The following at last is the report of an eye-witnese who comes forward to attest ou free . Trench soil , th ' horrors with which the Austrian government has polluted its own fame , in unhappy GaUicia . Until this very day , nothing has reached us hut thc mangled reports , which fonnd their way through the German newspapers . The document we now publish , will remain eternally annexed to the condemnation which all mankind ought to pass upon that government of assassins . We call upon the independent newspaprr-pre « s
to reproduce it , ho fear of its ever being contradicted , need to be entertained . Major Podolecki _( _Podolcttki is an honourable citizen , whose testimony is entitled to the full _confideace ofallhonestmen . Hi-reis his letter _, it is impossible to refrain from shuddering at its perusal " Having succeeded in escaping from Austrian butchery , and Austrian gaols I feel it to be my sacred duty toward ' so many unhappy victims , to trace a faithful account of those horrors , of which I happened to be an eye-witness . I shall relate merely what 1 have Keen myself , without any admixture of even the most authentic verbal reports -. but I have seen only a minimum part ofacataBtropht unheard of in the history ofcrime .
After leaving Lemberg on the 16 th of February , whet _, passing on the lfllh through tbe Village of IodlOVfl , in ftdistrict of Iaslo , I was surprised at the emotion causer in the minds of the inhabitants by vague and foolish _ruraours arising from unknown sources , purporting thai in the village of Demborzhin _, ( _Demhorzyn ) the nobles were massacreing tlie peasantry . Several inhabitants of Iod lova hastened thither , and returned of course without having found the leas t disturbance ; but these rumours were a melancholy and premeditated preclude to the storm ofthe succeeding day . Having reached on the evening of the same day , thimansion of .. . . from which tbe owner was absent , 1 resolved in common with M . Alexander Zdzinski , who hid arrived before me , to remain there lor the night .
On the following day I had , in order to reach the object of my journey , to ride over the same way I had come the day before . Reaching Iodlova , I found there a crowd armed withscjthes , pikes , and flails , at first I supposed this to be a revolutionary outbreak , burst forth before the appointed time ; but I was soon bitterly undeceived , a * tlie crowd surrounded me , howling , that they wereactinj * by virtue of an order of the government . I asked them in vain to bring me before the lord of the village , or before the land-steward » They replied : " you are all rascals , yoa wish to slaughter the people ; we have already arrested two of your kind . " luckily forme , tbemaireof the village arrived , and ordered me to be led ' to Demborzhin , to the Commissary of the District _f who had remained there since the morning in search of suspected persons .
? The Land-Stewards In Gauicia , Are Off...
? The land-stewards in GaUicia , are officers acting under the controul of government _, f A _rui-al pplice _* director iu Austria .
? The Land-Stewards In Gauicia , Are Off...
During this short trip , several peasants , whose _milifci : J appearenee seemed toptint them out as dismissed soldier * , proposed several times togetrid of me instantly , in order to escape . the trouble of escorting me further ; but tbo maire objected by placing himBelf in my sledge and accompanying me to Demboizhin , In this last place several hundreds of armed peasants filled the court-yard , and the avenues of the mansion . I was introduced into the house of the landsteward . Soldiers kept watch in the lobby ; . gendarmes _Cfinam-uiachel filled the parlour , and in presence ofthe commissary , M . llayrofski , fHajrowskiJ and of an officer of infantry , they were breaking open the chests and drawers , because the landsteward had in his flight taken the keys with him .
After the usual questions about my name and surname , my rank or profession , and the object of my journey , the commissary caused me to be transferred to an adjoining room , where I found two young men in irons , Thegendarmes searched my boxes and my dress , and although they found nothing which could lead to any suspicion , M . Hayrofski intimated to me that I was to be taken to Iaslo , the chief town of the district . In the afternoon we resumed our journey . The caravan , composed of several vehicles and sledges , contained , besides , M , Hayrofski , tho commissary , an officer , twenty-four soldiers of infantry , about ten gendarmes , M . _Bobrofski , ( . ZtoDroiMfct , ) the proprietor of the place , several women , children , a priest , two young men in fetters , and myself . I was placed between two gendarmes , who watched over every movement I made .
Thus we traversed two or three _villages before we reached the highway between Silsiw and Iaslo . The villages and all the roads and by-ways were guarded by armed crowds . At every moment thc commissary and the gendarmes stopped to give secret instructions to the peasants . At the ford of Iavorzhe ( Jawrze ) a bloody scene made mc shudder : two mutilated corpses lay on a peasant ' s sledge without horses , left at a small distance off the high road . One of these victims was still breathing : it was SI . Xuntzel , { Ktuizel , _} a chief wood-keeper in the _neighbourhood . After crossing the river we met with three peasants on beautiful horses , As soon as they perceived tbe bayonets ofthe soldiers they hastened to join us and to depose into the hands of the officers of Government several pieces of silver plate and dresses of both sexes .. Their hands and clothes basprinkled with blood bore testimony to some recent crime .
Further on we found bands moving in the vicinity of the high-road in divers directions , as if in search of somebody . "Whenever they perceived us they joined the caravan , to disencumber themselves of their booty . Before the inn of Kamienista ( Kamienica ) the crowd was very numerous . Our caravan stopped . M . Hayrofski alighted from his vehicle , and immediately two unhappy ladies threw themselves at his feet to implore his intervention to save the life ofa man who was thc son of one of them , and the husband ofthe other , A little while after the unfortunate * * * sustained by the ladies , came out of the inn , but with a face so disfigured and mangled that his features were notrecognisable . He was put into a sledge as well as a wounded old man and sent under au escort of a gendarme , into a nei g hbouring mansion ; tbe ladies followed on foot . The gendarme soon returned and rein ted that the mansion , where he had left the wounded and the ladies , was completely ruined and contained neither furniture , doora nor windows .
Besides these victims , five corpses were found by us in the inn of Kamenitza , A friend of mine , M . Victor Bogush , ( Bogus ? , ) was one of them . He was still breathing when we arrived , but he expired soon after . One of the assassins boasted loudly before the commissary , M . Hayrofski , and in presence ofthe whole caravan , of _having killed SI . Victor Bogus * ! . "Yes , II . Commissary , " said he , " it is myself , Thomas Iardis , from the village of Kamienitza , who killed Bogush with my own hand , I , who for ten years have served the Emperor . " The commissary and the gendarmes talked familiarly and politel y with these brigands . It was very late when we arrived at Iaslo . I was confined in the town prison with two other prisouers , who were suspected of revolutionary proceedings , and were in irons , notwithstanding thc strength of the prison walls and the numerous watches posted at every outlet _.
On the following day I was brought into the governor ' s hotel . There , another commissary , 31 . PaToutchkofski , ( Pajaczkoicski ) drew up-a written examination against mi-, and as the papers found on the preceding day in my valise gave proofs that I had legal affairs to attend to at the tribunal at Tarnow , and as moreover tivo gorernmen t officers who knew me personally , deposed in behalf of my personal identity , I was let out of prison and had a passport given to me for my returning home to tbe district of Zlotchof ( _Zloizow ) . But this I did not intend to effect as called elsewhere by duty . I resolved therefore to prolong my stay , in which I succeeded under different pretences , until the * 26 ih of February , although II . Prsbybylski , _iPrzybyltki ) the captain of the district of Iaslo (*) , had
himself commanded me to leave the place . During the interview I had on the occasion with this base and sanguinary man , I gave him an account of the deeds of horror I had witnessed on my way to Iaslo , of the frightful expressions of the assassin Thomas Iavdas , and of the facility with which a stop could be put to all these atrocities ; the peasants obeying still blindly the government ofiieers , the soldiers and the gendarmes . He fell into a rage and exclaimed : " You hare willed it yourself , gentleman * , I will have no pity for you . " Vainly I objected that his sentence could not refer to me , as I did not belong to bis district and as I had for the first time in my life the pleasure ' of seeing him . He threw a tiger ' s look at me aud replied : " Bah ! gentlemen ; you are all alike , I know all of you well , and therefore be gone . "
During my stay at Iaslo , more than ten dead and mutilated bodies were brought every day to the town , besides a great number of wounded . Among tho slain I remarked M . Denkerthe proprietor of Gogolof , _aadhls son ; M . Alexander Zdzinski ; M . Piershhalla ( Pierszchala ); a little boy nine years old , whose eyes had been torn out ; several servants , and even foreign working men . Among the ill-treated were M . Niuceud Pol , one ofthe stars of our literature ; his brother Joseph ; M . Titus Prshenilzki { PrzenkH ) : Madame Pol , the wife ofthe celebrated author , M . Jordan and his wife ; and M . Mias , ancient French officer under the French empire .
The carts loaded with prisoners , with wounded or dead bodies , always under the escort of the murderers themselves , stopped constantly before the government hotel , were the officers and gendarmes received the living , releasing some of them and imprisoning ' others . The corpses were returned to the murderers for interment on the spot where the murder had been committed . I saw agonising men ashing for and receiving the sacrament on the wheelbarrow which had brought them before the government hotel and in presence of their assassins who after a while returned with their inanimate bodies . The most awful wretchedness reigned amongst the prisoners . The wounded and the d ying we ' re' heaped without distinction together . It was not before the eve of my departure from town thatthe caves were transformed into gaols , by partitioning large subterranean halls into cells by fresh brickwork .
Meanwhile the town was fast filling with those who in consequence of the proximity of _tht-ir abode had succeeded in escaping from the slaughter , often by the help of their oitnt peasants . Of their oien peasants , I say , as in this systematic , massacre , each commune was employed in the extermination of the inhabitants of soma neighbouring mansion , but never of their own masters . Whenever the _peasants showed a determination to save the life of their master , several other communes were summoned to combine together in order to overcome the resistance .
It is an extremely false and erroneous opinion which ascribe- these horrors to tho revenge of the peasants against the oppression of their masters , The country _, gentleman in Galicia was so isolated , so thwarted in all his proceedings by the influence of government , that he could do neither good nor harm to the _peasints . No other oppression but that of the Austrian was possible , In fine the landed proprietors in Galicia were so far from _beins inclined to oppress their peasants , that they expressed at each Diet at Lemberg , the wiab of emancipating these selfsame peasants .
There is not tlie slightest doubt that the Austrian Government organised the slaughter by means of this calumny as atrocious as it was absurd , that the gentry _uxreconsp ' _uingfortheexiermlnationofthepeasaiits , In the first moments , the thirst for pillage did not enter into their motives , as lie peasants gave up the whole booty to the gendarmes and the civil oficers , believing ihat they were acting in legitimate self-defence ; alike in this case to the people of Jerusalem , who in their sacrilegious Mindness slaughtered their prophets , they murdered the very men who were labouring to give them liberty , property , and political existence .
On the 26 th of Pebraary the martial law was proclaimed at Iaslo , aud orders were given to the suspected to leave the town before three o ' clock in the afternoon . To describe the terror and the despair ofthe unfortunate , who , driven from this last refuse , were given up to the mercies of an infuriated mob , which having acquired a aste for crime , had discontinued to give up the plunder and was ravaging and pillaging all around for its own profit would be a vain task _. Some of those who were placed in this perplexity asked for passports to other Austrian provinces than Galicia ; and although the government bf the district had uo right to give any , they did it nevertheless iu order to disencumber the town from all those whom tbey feared , without
having a sufficient pretence for imprisoning them . The government allowed al ! these atrocities to be committed against the Polish nobility , by their abstaining from any intervention . It was however enough for a gentleman to be brought thither by the peasants , _tche treated like a criminal . But the government dared , er willed not to imprison those who had succeeded in _escaping . Finding myself in this melancholy situation and judging it to be the only opportunity perhaps I would find fir my salvation . I joined with the others in asking _forapasuport , and obtained one for Prague in Bohemia where I found means of getting to France , this hospitable country which now constitutes the only refuge for political misfortune . Jons Podolecki . From the distric t of Zlotchof .
* "Captain Of District" Is A Civil Execu...
* "Captain of district" is a civil executive oflice answering to that of _Lieutenant-Gevernoi _' . Uusti-colcu-chec , an Indian chief of the Seminole tribe , is delivering lectures on Christianity in Louisville , Kentucky .
* "Captain Of District" Is A Civil Execu...
l WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND MEXICO . The intelligence from the United States relative to the war with Mexico , which has reached us by the Britannia steamer , is interesting and important . Two battles have been gained by General Taylor , though the disparity of force on his aide was very great . The first was fought at a place called Palo Alto , or " The High Trees , " on the 8 * of May , and in this action the Mexican army was estimated at upwards of 6 , 000 men , whilst that of General Taylor amounted to only 2 , 300 ,- thc loss of the Mexicans was stated at about 200 killed and 400 wounded :
that of the Americans , amongst whom were two or three officers of distinction , did net exceed fifty . The second battle _^ which may be looked upon as a continuation of the first , took place at the Rcsaca de la Palma , or " Palm Ravine "close to the Rio Grande , both actions occurring in the rear of General Taylor's original position in tbe bend of that river , opposite Matamoras . In the last affair the loss of the Mexicans exceeded 1 , 000 men , and Gen . Vega , who held a command , was taken prisoner . Although not officially declared it was probable that on or about the 18 th of May Gen . Taylor crossed the Rio Grande and invested Matamoras , which it was reported had been captured without firing a shot—the Mexican army having evacuated the place .
We shall not conceal our regret at this most unfortunate contest . Anxious as we are to promote the principle of universal brotherhood , we must set our faces against all wars except those undertaken by nations in self-defence , or for the recovery of their rights and liberties . In the present case the force may be on the side ofthe United States people , but assuredly justice is not . The whole affair of the annexation of Texas , was a fraud and a wrong , as great a wrong as was ever perpetrated by the English in India ; : But this is net all , not content with seizing Texas , the United States forces proceeded to occupy what was to say the least , " debatable ground , " not really _belonfiing to Texas , and therefore , despite the
act of annexation , not forming part of the United States territory . The Mexicans have been goaded into fighting , and have only done as every other race of men would do in their situation . The Mexicans are brave , as brave as the Americans or any other race , but they bave not the natural force to enable them to successfully contend against the Anglo-Americana , The Mexicans have been defeated , but we repeat right is on tlieir side . However much we may regret this war on other accounts , we regret it mainly because of its ( im ) moral effects upon the United states . Territorial aggrandisement , wars of conquest , and numerous armies , these are the worst enemies of Republican simplicity and human progress _.
In the account of the battles , which will be found below , the reader will observe with disgust that tho Jying cant of " national glory , " forms the ready excuse for scenes of bloodshed and works of woe . There might be , there was , true glory in the simple minded noble hearted men of ' 76 , baring the sword , and levelling the rifle in defence of their liberties , and tbe liberties of mankind , but there is no true glory in slaying hundreds of Mexicans , who merely stand in defence of their native land . We have one cheering reflection , some of" the American people are not blinded by this blaze of _gore-and-glory , they think as we think , and cry aloud against the iniquity of this war : true they are but the minority ,
bat" Wait a little longer , " they speak out in a good cause , and ultimately they will make themselves heard . At a meeting of the New York National Reform Association , the following resolutions were adopted : — Resolved , That this Association , strongly _disapprov . ing of all war except in defence of onr own homes aud the equal rights of our fellow citizens , do deeply deplore the policy that has _broufht an armed force of the Rvpublic in collision with the forces of ouv sister "Republic of Mexico , on a territory in dispute between the two nations _. Resolved , That iH the relations that existed between the two governments we can perceive no sufficient reason for perilling the lives of that portion of our fellow ci _» i . _lowcitizens who are so unfortunate as to be enlisted in the stand ing army .
Hesolced , That in thc present juncture , to unite the people in defence of the Republic , the People ' s Lands ought immediately to be declared free in limited quantities , to the use of tliose citizens who are unjustly deprived of a foothold on the soil . Resolved , That until the equal right to the soil be established , those ought to be foremost in the National cause , with their persons and property , in time of war , who hold the largest portion of the soil away from the landless . These are the principles of true Democracy , and in a democratic country , seed , like this , sown must bring forth good fruit . We shall conclude with quoting two excellent articles from two excellent papers , organs of that portion ofthe working men of America who have the sense to see that the social
arrangements of thc States require a thorough reformation , and that such reformation is likely to be re : tarded rather than hastened by wars of aggression and standing armies .
WAR ! ( From the Young America , ] Thus we are involved in a war of which no man can foresee tliecnd , or count thc cost , and involved thus most unwisely as it seems to me . Mexico was in trouble , and our rulers probably thought to take advantage ot her situation . Not a soldier should have been gent to the disputed territory till our title to it had _beenraade clear to the people , and all chance to obtain peaceable possession had failed . Ilad Great Britain brought her big guns to bear on one of our cities at the time of the Maine boundary difficulty , we should not , I think , have remained quiet as long as the Mexicans did at Mctamoras , " Do unto others , " and so forth .
But we are in for it , and must make the best of it . The President has done well to ask for volunteers , Andwho shall these volunteers be ? I venture the opinion that they should be the men who are enjoying , under tlm protection of the government , rights that are not enjoyed by their fellow citizens , and those who are enjoyiug privileges at the expense of such as are deprived of their rights . ' And who are they * The answer is plain : they are those who hold all the land and all the property , and particularly tho se who hold land which they cannot cultivate , and property which has been accumulated through tho forced labour of tho landless and destitute . —These are the men who should now fill the mnks as well as the offices of the army necessary to relieve those in peril and to restore
peace . And how should the money be raised ? Not by _borrowing on interest , and thus enslave our children with an army of pensioners . Should this monarchical plan be resorted to , the landless , whose children would be called to labour to maintain the pensioners should immediately raise the banner of Repudiation ' and vote for it under all circumstances ., This would be a sacred duty to their children and prosperity The _mcanw of war should be raised by a tax on ali the property of the country , every man pavinj ; exactly ; in proportion to what he possesses ! : Let these views be taken up and acted upon by the labouring classes throughout the country , and the war will soon be brought to a termination . : The House of Representatives voted that the pay of the volunteers the privates , of course ) should be ten dollars month
a : just what a Jacklander in this city would have to pay for house room for his wife and children , who , of course , would be at the mercy of capitalists for their support ! But the Senate , ( composed ot men getting eight dollars a day ) , reduce the price to eight dollars a month ! Of course they only expect wealthy men to volunteer , and it would look well tor them to set the example . It , after ail , there should be a deficiency of wealthy volunteers , Congress has only to declare the public lands free , and thus secure to every poor family thc opportunity of a home , and the deficiency would soon be supplied . The National Reformers have been for more _. than two years demanding this act of justice , and no more appropriate time for it could exist than the present . Through numberless ages the toilers have been the degraded tools of taskmasters and tyrants . Let this be so no longer .
TIIE WAR ! [ From the Albany Anti-Renter . ] Wc can sec no good reason for waging a war with Mexico . From first to last it" has been aggressive on our part . The "Army of Occupation " under Gen . Taylor , was sent to tho frontiers of Texas , or rather into the Mexican territorv itself , for tlie very purpose of provoking a war , that the Gen . Houston's and Gen . Cass's , and a thousand other equally villanous Land Pirates , might " revel in the Halls of the Montezuma ' s . " It had no business in its position on the Rio Grande , which is not within the limits ol Texas , and for that reason alone it almost deserved to be captured , although we would not have had it left to suffer , but would have had it protected and withdrawn from its position as
* "Captain Of District" Is A Civil Execu...
soon as possible without further encroaching upon Mexican territory , provided that none but the piratical land jobbers and slave holders for whose sole benefit this demonstration of hostility was made , could have been summoned to do common soldier work , make themselves food for powder at eight dollars a nionth , and after all not find even so much " glory " in the service as to be thought worthy of being named in the bulletins of " killed , wounded , and missing . " In the name of the LANDLESS we protest against the prosecution of this war for the acquisition of new territory—commenced with tha atrocious design of " enlarging the area _ol'liberty , " by extending , strengthening and perpetuating chattel slavery , a system which , even if it be admitted to be / e «« degrading , poverty-creating and inhuman ,
man the " wages system ot slavery , is still a monstrous violation of natural right , and should be abolished as speedily as may be by some gradual plan of emancipation which would result in tlie colonization of the emancipated on the Public Lands . Toiling _Jachlandeia have nothing to gain by such a war . There are millions of acres of"lerritory , dearly purchased' by the blood of our forefathers , now unoccupied , which they dare not to cultivate , even to obtain bread , unless they have bought it from the Government , or from a speculator ; They have nothing to gain by any war , not undertaken to free the land , but to prevent any but slaves—slavts , weary of toiling for taskmasters who live in palaces . which tbey have not . built , fare _sumpteously on viands which they have not prepared , and are arrayed in garments which they have not manufactured , but which they have all , by force and by fraud , by every conceivable means of torture and deception , ( tlie la-h , thepillovy .
the branding iron , the stake , pious sermons in favour of "law and order , " and well thumbed folios of political economy , all full of political cant about tbe mutual dependance of the labourer and capitalist , and how much gratitude the former owes the latter . ) _wrung out of the unwilling labour of their chattels and hirelings—to prevent any but slaves from tilling it . - And to tbe toiling lack-landers , one and all , who may read this , we say , be not deceived by any frothy declamation about " patriotism" and "honour , " from the war demagogues . Take no part in this murderous strife . Let those fight for slave territory who would be the owners of theslaves . —Up , up , with the banner , " NO LAND . NO MUSKET , " and rally around it , and cling to it , till the ' whole boundless continent"is yours , and you are placed in a position where you may proclaim the JUBILEE OF FREEDOM , the INALIENABLE AND INVIOLABLE HOMESTEAD , throughout all the world , to all the inhabitants thereof ,
Official Despatches From The Army. The F...
OFFICIAL DESPATCHES FROM THE ARMY . The following ' are the official despatches from General Taylor , in which he details the important incidents ofthe campakn , from the Tthto the 12 th instant . The ¦ 'firs t , dated May 7 , at Point Isabel , merely states the arrival ef a detachment of re . _cruits , and announces his intention of marchine that day on his return to the camp , wliich he had left under the command of Major Brown . HEAD _QOABTEBS , ABUT OF _OcCDPATIOIf , _ ¦ ¦ ' Camp at Palo Alto , Texas , May 9 , 1846 .
Sir , —I have the honour to report that I was met near this place yesterday , on my w . _arch from Point Isabel , by the Mexican forces , and after an action of about five hours dislodged them from their position , and encamped upon the field . Our artillery , consisting of | two 18-pounders and two light batteries , was the arm chiefly engaged , and to the excellent manner in which it was manoeuvred and served is our success mainly due . The strength of the enemy Is bellved to have been about 6 , 000 men with seven pieces of artillery and 800 cavalry . His _Iops is probably at least 100 _k'lled . Our strength did not exceed all told 2 , 300 . while our loss was comparatively trifling ,
four men killed , three officers and 37 men wounded , several cf the latter mortally . I regret to say that Major Ringgold , 3 d artillery , and Captain Page , 4 th infantry _,, are severely wounded , Lieutenant Luther' 2 d artillery , Slightly so . The enemy bi _» 8 fallen bock , and it is belle-red has repassed the river . I bare advanced parties now thrown forward in his direction , and shall move the main body Immediately . In 'the haste of this first report , I can only say the officers and men behaved in the most admirable manner throughout the action . I Bliall have the pleasure of making a more detailed report when those of the different commanders shall be received _, am , Sir ,
Z . TATLOR , Brevet Brigadier General , U , S , A ., commanding The Adjutant-General , U . S . Army , Washington , D . C .
Head Quabtebs Abmi of Occdpation , Camp at Resaca de la Palma , 3 miles from Matamoras , 10 o ' clock p . m _., May 9 , 1846 . Sir , —I bave the honour to report that I inarched with the main body of the army at two o ' clock to-day , having previously thrown forward a body of light infantry into the forest which covers the Matamoras road . When near the spot where lam . now encamped , my advance diecovered that a ravine crossing the road had been occupied hy the enemy with artillery . I immediately ordered a battery of field artillery to sweep the position , flanking and sustaining it by the Sd , 4 lh , and Oth regiments , deployed as skirmishers to the tight and left . A heavy fire of artillery and musketry was kept up fir some time _, until finally the enemies _batterim were carried in
_suecassion by a squadron of dragoons and the regiments of infantry that were on the _groand . He was soon driven from his position , and pursued by a squadron _of-dragooni , a battalion of artillery , 3 d infantry , and a light battery , to the river . Our _victoryhjB been complete . Eight pieces of artillery , with a great quantity of ammunition , three standards , and some oue _huudredprisoners _, have been taken ; among the latter , General La Vega , and several officers . One general is understood to have been killed . ' The enemy has recrossed the river , and I am sure will not again molest us on this bank . The loss of the enemy in killed has been most severe . Our own has been very heavy . [ Sere follow tho names of the officers killed and wounded . ] The extent of our loss is not yet ascertained , and is reserved for _n more detailed report . The affair of to-day may be regarded aB a proper supplement to the cannonade of _jeBterdaj ; and the two taken together , exhibit the coolness and gallantry of our officers and men in the most favourable light . All have
dona their'duty , and done it nobly , lt will be my pride , ia a more circumstantial report of both actions , to dwell upon particulnr ' instances of individual distinction . . Ii affords ihe particular _pleasux-e to report that the field _viork opposite Matamoras has sustained itself handsomely during a cannonade aud bombardment of 160 hours . But the pleasure is alloyed with profound regret at the loss of its heroic and indomitable commander , Major Brown , who died to-day from the effect of a shell . His loss would be a severe one to the service at any time , but to the army under my drd' _-rs , it is , indeed , irreparable . One officer and one non-commissioned officer killed , and ten men wounded , comprise all the casualties incident to this severe bombardment . I inadvertent !; omitted to mention the capture ofa large number of pack muleB left in the Mexican camp , I am , Sir , & c ,, Z . TATLOE , Bt .-Brigadler-General Commanding , Tho _Adjutant-Generalofthe Army , Washington , D . 0 .
Head _Qiubtees , Abkx op Occupation . Point Isabel , ( Texas , ) May 12 , 1819 ! Sir , —lam making * hasty visit to tbis place for the purpose of having an interview with Commodore Connor , whose squadron is now at anchor off the harbour , and arranging with him a combined movement ' up the river . I aTail mrself of the brief time at my command to report tbat the main body ofthe army is now _occupying its former position opposite Matamoras . The Mexicau forces ar « already disorganised , nnd I shall lose no time in investing Matamoras , and opening the navigation of the river . I regret to report that Major Ringgold died the morning of the lith inst , , of ths severe wounds received in the action of Palo Alto .
It has been quite impossible as yet to furnish detailed reports of our engagements with the enemy , or oven accurate returns ofthe killed and wounded . Our lo » 8 is not far from three officers and forty men killed , and thirteen officers and 100 men wounded ; while that of the enemy has in all probability exceeded 300 killed ; more than 200 have been buried hy ut ) on the two fields of battle . n I have exchanged a sufficient number of prisoners to recover the command of Captain Thornton . The wounded prisoners have been sent to Matamoras , the wounded officers on their parole . General ! a Vega and a fewother
officers have been sent to New Orleans , having declined a parole , and will be reported to Major-General Gaines . I am not conversant with the usages of war in such cases , and bog that guoh provision may bu made for these prisoners as may be authorised by law , Our own prisoners have been treated with great kindness bv the Mexican officers . I am , Sir , & c , 2 . TATLOR , Bt , Brig-Gen ., U . S . A ., Commanding . The Adjutant-General of thc Army , Washington , D . C .
: The following account ot the actions ol thc 8 th and Oth , appears in the New York Courier aud Enquirer . It is dated Camp , near Matamoras , May 38 : — : We left this plaee nt 4 p . in . on the 1 st , for Point Isabel , to bring up our train of supplies of provisions and ammunition , leaving the fort garrisoned by 560 men under Major Brown , We went sooner than ' we intended , as we were fearful the enemy would attack tliat place . We marched until two at night (' JO miles } , laid down on our arms until _fivo a , m „ and left for Isabel / reaching it at twelve m . On the third , the enemy threw over the Rio Grande about 6 , 000 men , opened his batteries opon the
tort , and remained in waiting to fight us on our return , which we were well pleased with , Tliey kept up ' the bombardment until we relieved thc garrison en the _cvt ofthe 6 th , having thrown 3 , 000 shot and shells into the work . Our excellent engineer arranged his defences so well , that only two were killed and two wounded during the whole time . Unfortunately the gallant Brown was killed while we were fighting our hist battle , and about two hours before we routed the ' _.-aemy . On the 7 th wc started back , with a train of over 300 wagons , containing a vast amount of property , ar . d expecting to light for its protection . About 1 p . m . on tbe Sth . when about fifteei .
Official Despatches From The Army. The F...
_milesfrom'Isahel , the advanced guard siiw a pnfty o ' _Mexican cavalry in the skirts of the _chappural . Our liii » of battle was immediately farmed iu the prairie , with our right resting on tho obapparal , which first approaches our _vond at tbis point . "We advanced , and soon became convinced that the Mexicans were in front in great numbers , and they were in position for battle . Wc were immediately formed in the edge of the wood on our right ; and as about 1 , 000 of the enemy were advancing in battle array , dispositions were made for his reception . We soon found that this was a feint , and that tlie main body ( 6 , 000 ) were off to the left of the advancing party , and that tliey had some pieces of artillery . We again formed our line in the prairie , supporting our right flank upon tbe wood , and moved forward several hundred y * rds towards the enemy ' s advance . As noon as our train had
arrived and been parked , we moved to attack them , with MnjorBinggold ' s battery of artillery on theright , Captain Dunoan _' s battery ( the one I belong to ) on the left , and two _18-pounders in the cen're . Having arrived' within 800 yards of the enemy , he opened his batteries and poured a terrible fire upon us . We waited patiently for a few seconds , in order to seethe numbtr and effect of his guns ; and then our batteries played briskly and beautifully for about two hours upon his columns of cavalry and infantry , and caused him to fall hack . Our batteries gradually advanced , supported by the infantry , who unfortunately was not within musket range , and were exposed to a galling fire without an opportunity ot
returning it . The 8 th infantry and Captain May ' s cavalry being on the left of Duncan's artillery , suffered very severely in this part of the action . About 0 p . m . tbeprairie took fire on the left , from our battery , and extended along our whoie line , so that the two armies were concealed from each other , and the cannonading ceased for about half an hour . We had moved forward our whole line , and were occupying the ground tbe enemy held at three o ' clock . —General Tornijohn , with a large body of lancers , attempted to turn our right aud get to our train , but was repulsed by the Oth infantry , and a portion of Ringgold ' s artill- rs . During the suspension of the firing , the field was cleared of tho dead and wounded ;
carriages removed and repaired , and ammunition supplied and water procured for the men who were suffering much from thirst , as the whole prairie was in a blaze and the day was intensely hot . Our whole force having moved to the right , a severe cannonade was opened from all tbe enemy's guns upon this ' portion of the field , and did a good deal of execution' —Major | Riuggold , a moft accomplished officer , was mortally wounded , and his horse shot under liim , while supporting this part of our line . This furious onset was evidently made on our right to draw us there , while the enemy ' s right wing was moving , under the . dense volumes of smoke which rolled past us , to tumour left . Happily they were discovered , and our battery , supported by the 8 th Infimtry and Ken ' s Cavalry , moved round the burning giass , and opened one of the most destructive fires of
round shot and Shrapnel shells , that troops were ever exposed to ; and in a few moments from 1 , 300 to 1 , 500 infantry andcavalry , who were formed twice for a charge , were in full retreat . Each of our shells contained 7 * balls , and they supposed our infantry wore firing , and opened a brigade of infantry upon us . We soon dispersed them . We killed a great many horses , and destroyed one band of musicians by a shell . At this _juneturo our batteries on the right were charged by theene my ; S id the troops who had just put the enemy ' s right to flight , were called to support our own right . The battalion _ut ; der Col . Childs formed square . . The enemy advanced , delivered his fire , wounding Lieutenant Luther , 2 ud Artillery , and then retreated , receiving in return the fire of the square , and a charge ot grape from the 18-potmder . As it was now long after sunset , and quite dark , the enemy's
fire ceased , and we encamped for the night upon the ground where we were , and which the foe held at 3 p . m . The battle began at 3 o ' clock , and closed at half-past 7 : and our army behaved in the most gallant manner . Not an officer or soldier flinched ; but on the contrary , they were cool and ardent to be led to the fight . Our little army has covered itself with glory . We mourn the loss of many brave men—Captain Page was mortally wounded by a six poutid shot . Major Ringgold died soon after the battle ,. The 8 th infantry ( General Worth ' s regiment ) lost 22 killed and wounded . Our battery had four men badly wounded—one slightly wouuded ; four horses killed—one wounded , _andtwocarriagesiiijured hytheirshot . TheBhot
flew thick and fast , and my horse came near being shot under me . I then dismounted , and a 12 pound abet passed within three inches of my face , and cut _downf-mr men behind me . I was never cooler in my whole life , and was satisfied that it was no boy's play to fight _Mexicaus , for theirartillery is capital . Our whole force was only 2 , 800 , and 10 pieces ef artillery ; and our Infantry and cavalry was only brought into action in small numbers , on one occasion . Our Iosb does not amount to 50 , while thatof the Mexicans _wasSOO and 400 wounded . Their dying prisoners / their officers , their ojoial _rtjMi't ? , and their masses , prove that tbey had 7 , 000 men , aud 12 pieces of artillery ,
In the battle of the next day , Oth , we captured nine pieces' —6 , 9 , and 12 poundt-rs—dismounted one on th _« 8 th , and they carried two to _MatamoMS in the night . Geu . Arista , one of the first generals in America , wa » present in person , and took a very strong position . AU was of no avail ; and Mexican masses , although well directed , could not prevail against American character . We had few m « n ; but'they were good and true , and achieved results most glorious for our arms . Such was the battle of Palo Alto , or the battle of the High Trees—and , taken in connection with ' the results of the 9 th , furnishes a bright pace in the volume " of American history . On the 9 th at dawn of day , the enemy was seen moving slowly off to the right , and appeared to be taking up a new position . We determined to give them battle again , and moved out into the plain in line ' of battle . We
soon found tbe dead and dying in numbers . Boxes of ammunition , muskets , _dresB capg , swords , lances , dec ., strewed all over the field . We found their hospital , whieh exhibited proof of the terrible fire of our guns , new made graves , and limbs , & c . We halted , 6 ent parties of observation in advance , buried the enemy ' s dead , took care of their wounded , and started at two p . m ., for Port Brown . We had yet nine miles ol dense cbapparalto pass through , and only one narrow defile to move in , which afforded the enemy a number of strong positions for disputing our advance . At three , our advance was fired upon , and the armies engaged immediately , and fought for three hours . The battle of Re-aca ' de la Palma , or the Palm Ravine , wliich resulted in the entire aud complete rout of the foe , the capture of one general , a number of ofliccrs , nine pieces of ordnanse / iOO mules with
their saddles . & C ., all their ammunition , supplies , bag . gage , arms , _ilsc , and enabled us to sleep ° 6 n the banks of the Rio Bravo . Our loss i 6 about 150 in this battle . The enemy's , including those drowned-in' the Rio Grande in the retreat , not far from 1 . 000 . They are completely broken up . This wa 6 tlie finest Mexican army that ever went into the field . Tbe troops caino from the city of Mexico , and were well equipped and foughi' well ; but not quite as well as ours . Iu the second battle we only had 1 , 700 ; men engaged and eight ; ' pleeea" of artillery . Our batteries were 60 yards apart , and were in a complete hailstorm of grape and canister-shot . . The trees were cut and the limbs stripped off their branches and leaves . It literally rained lead and iron , until We charged their guns nnd captured them . We lost a aumber of officers , and a great many wounded .
On thc 13 th of May , after the battle of Rescadela Pulma , General Taylor visited Fort Polls , where he consulted with Commodore Conner . A joint plan of co-operutiou was determined upon between th « army and ths fleet . On the 11 th General Taylor returned to his fort , opposite _Mat-tmoras , with 700 men , mounted on the horses and mules captured from the enemy at the battle of Rio Grande .
_( Jrom the New YorkfferaU , May 31 . ) _Lalest Intelligence rnoM xbb ' Smt op Wab ,- » The steam-ship Alabama arrived at Hew Orleans on the 22 ud instant , in forty-five hours , from _Stobos de Santiago . She sailed thence on thu 19 th inst . Official _intulligenct had reached Point Isabel , of tbe capture ofthe Mexican town of Burita , without opposition , by Colonel Wilson , with four companies ' of regulars and three companies of Alabama aud Louisiana volunteers . It appears that General Taylor was to cross the Rio Grande on the 18 th inst ., and invest Matamoras . 2 . 000 Mexican'troops bad
been sent to march out of that city , and as no canhonad . ing had been heard at Point Isabel , it was supposed that the Mexicans had evacuated the place , and allowed General Taylor to take quiet possession ofthe houses and squares , lt is said that General Smith nnd his troops had commenced their march to thc Island of Boca Chios , to cross the Rio Grande at its mouth , and _thenadvanoa up the river , on tho Mexican side , to form a juncton probably with General Taylor ' s forces as they cross opposite Matamoras . It is reported that tbe Mexicans are' in a starring condition .
The Mexican FEo ' m . — -The population of Mexico Is estimated at 9 , O 00 , O 0 O though it probably does not exceed 7 , 000 , 000 . Though it contains several mixtures , tho greater portion are _aboriginal _Indiau . « . Amongst th _» rest are European Spaniards , Creeks , or natives _descended from Europeans ; Mustejos , or descendants of Whites and Indians' _Zambasor descendantsof Negroej and Indians ; _Muhittoes , or descendants of Whites and Negroes ; mixtures of these varieties , ' Negroes , and a few Malays from China and the islands of tbe Indian Ocean , especially tho Philippines , a ' Spanish colony . The Negroes are not numerous , as slavery was never extensive in the Spanish continental colonies , and was
abolished on the separation of Mexico from Spain ; iii 1810 . In character , the Indians , who constitute seveu . tenths of the whole population , are intelligent , docile , peaeeful , _i-ather industrious , and very ingenious iu mechanic arts ; especially those of painting , carving and moulding . _Thty . are gentle , kind , and hospitable ; . nnd though intern . * _purate , like all the American Indians , north or south , they exhibit no violent or ferocious propensities when intoxicated . They exhibit capacity for improvement under good government , and would quarrel with no government that protected them in person and propi rty , and en . coura ; . _-ed them in developing their resources , mental _wod physical .
Tue _Uanciieros or Mexico . — -The Raneheros , part uf the material of the Mexican army , are _h-dr * Iudiun und half Spanish In their extraction ; gaunt , _sliri . wHeJ , though muscular in their frames , and durk _xnd s narthy _visaged as they are , these men are the Arabs of » he Americas continent . Living half of the time in the saddle , for Ihey are unrivalled horsemen , with lasso in hand _Uiey traverse the vast plains in search ofthe buffalo aud wild hOl _|» . The killing of these animals and the preparation and _salfof their hides aro their sole means of livelihood . _i Tbe ' r costume generally consists " of a pair of tough hide "" eggiM , _tvith sandals of the same material , bound together with
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 20, 1846, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_20061846/page/7/
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