Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-06-05
Scene of the War.

Some of our readers may not be yet faml-
liar with the geography of the position which,
our troops now occupy On our southern from
interesting subject to every American we
will, therefore, state a few facts, which, in
the absence of more extended information, may
be interesting to some of 6nrfriends.
The Rio Grande del Norte, or in plain
English, the grand river of the North, which
the United States claims as the Western
boundary of the State OF Texas, rises in about
the 9th parallel of North latitude, and in a
bout 800 40 West longitude. 1t takes its
course thence fer distance of nearly 1000
miles, almost due South, forming the Yves
tern boundary of the State of Texas at :his
| point it changes its course and runs in South
easterly direction till it reaches the gulf Of
Mexico, into which it empties itself near the
Goth degree of latitude North from the equa-
tor It's whole course is estimated at from
| l 800 to 1000 miles. 1t is a rapid impetnous
stream. 1t is fordable at almost any point 200
miles above its mouth. Point Isabel, where
the American General had established De-
pot for the protection and reception of military
supplies of all kinds, is high sand bluff, a.
bout three miles from Brazos Santiago, and
some twelve miles from the Rio Grande. It
will be remembered that the Army of Occu-
pation,' as it was called, was encamped dur
ing the winter on the left bank of the Neuces,
or rather of Arkansas bay, into which the Neu-
ces empties, at place called Corpus Christi.
The Neuces is a stream which has course
Neuces river 10 the Rio Grande is about 40
miles, and Mexico says that, even supposing
she consented to She annexation of Texas,
still that this strip Of land lying between the
Neuces and the Rio Grande, was never inclu-
ded within the territorial limits of the State OF
Texas. 1t is notorious, however, that when.
in 1886. Texas asserted her independence she
) declared the Rio Grande to be the South ives
tern boundary, and thus was her independence
recognized by the United States, Great Bri-
tain and France. But to return. Matamoras
= is situated about 81 miles from the mouth O
the river on its left bank. 1t contains abou
5000 inhabitants. Opposite to Matamoras
and on the right, Or American, bank Of The
river Gen. Taylor has established his camp
The Rio Grande is about $50 yards wide a
this point. Gen. Taylor's entertainments art
: not more than 400 yards from Mattamoras
: 1t was between these two points. Point Isabe
= and the main encampment o. the army, tia
: the engagements Of the 9Th and 9th took place
/ The Rio Grande is navi gable for steamers an,
i other vessels of a light draught, up to Mata
IS moras-but the bar at the mouth of the river
= is very bad one, and has only six or seve
l. feet Of water at the best. Gen TayIor'S cam
extends some four miles along the bank Of tn
Rio Grande, and his main battery of Is gun
commands the city of Matamoras. The coun
a try between the Neuces and Rio Grande i
e represented as being, for the most part, ste
8 rile sandy desert. Along the banks Of III
=, latter river, however, for space of some tie
). or twelve miles the soil is said to be extreme
:, y fertile, producing corn, cotton, and sugar.