The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-31
Letters from the Army.

MaTAMoRAs, (AIexico) Jan. 10th, lsl7.
We have had for several days past specimen OF win
ter quite in this latitude and the Oldest inhab
liant egards this extreme cold another of the many
ills clearly racable to the influx of barbarans from the
northern hive" The last summer remarkable the
rivers beingialmost unprecedenedly high and cont
ing for long period. The people then predicted
extraordinary winter said that they
would not be surprised if the Rio Grande should be
frozen up in consequence of arrival The fact with
few degrees of cold might be realized for ice
considerable thickness, has appeared almost every
morning for the last week The natives bear very
i'll the cold weather their houses generally with
out hre places and their clothing not always abundant
But the most serious effect of the norhers" here
great mortality il produces among the invads assembled
IN the general hospital Many sent here in that low
stage OF disease wherein every attention and comfort
besides he greatest advantages requisite to
fall quickly and in large numbers, before the chilling
blasts OF winter. The mortality among the vol
unieers who have left their homes for service
IN this war, has been almost incredibly great II is
asserted that about hirythree per cent have fallen
battle, by exposure. and disease. In tswe behold
Their OF the evils of the system of volunteering for short
To say nothing of the relative efficiency as sol.
diers oil volunteers and regulars the former seldom
qure any OF these solderly habits which essential
TO the preservation OF health in southern climate The
single virtues OF discipline aud subordinaon of the
very highest importance in this view aone for the wild
excuses AMI unresrained indulgence common ng
the officers disposed sickness in ali its forms
uem, ana tney accuse country ana Climate OF oil the
horrors which directly duee their evil habits
While write, this 9th January, the Mexcans are
astonished and horrorsricken by fall of snow their
blankets are pulled tightly around them, and they 20
shivering about the streets. Americana" maio %
fro," runcho fio" their expressive explanations
We term the Me xcan, the "blanketed nation but to.
day behold of people nuturalized in
this respect II is singular how readily the Yankee
changes his manners and customs, But short time
here the American doffs his broad cloth and CATERS
for the f.nciiul deer skin The American saddle
or stirrup is of account" Tho overcoat bears
far lost their nationality to contemplate the
features Of swarhy senorita under rebosa with al
most the same satisfaction they might be expected to
woman, covered with an American bonnet. Oh Tempo.
ra! o F. q.
MArAMoRAs Dec 80 1886
Since the departure OF Gen Pattersons column the
22d we again receiving most alarming accounts of
towns ON the line of General Taylors commune atoms
Some excitement exists here, a, present, in
sequence of report that the Mexicans have assem-
bled in the interior Of Tamaupas large force, with
the firm purpose of attacking at this point One
count locates this force at Lnares and another ycto
ria its Dejghborhood All concur in representing its
numbers at about 1000 men, 1000 of which cavalry
The latter perhaps, the best troops in the world to
steal and plumber from enemy, especially defeated
one 1t now their object If nything serious is to be
attempted to dash into OF the towns occupied by u.s.
auder and rob as many possible and then escape to
their ranches chaparral retreats At Cana rgo the
plaza is strongly fortified and the work of few hours
would do the same for that of Matamoras
Col Curtis 81 regiment of Ohio volunteers, is station.
place without such fight as might well be expected
from Buckeye troops
The mail yesterday from Camargo brought us nothing
fromMonterey and Ssltillo. We assured, however
that nothing very important has transpired otherwise
the Mexicans here would have revealed by upmisak
able signs When nothing is observed unusual among
the natives there is surely no cause for excitement
our part for Mexican expresses rapid, that
comes by them far earlier than by messengers
The journey hence to Mexico said to have been per-
formed by their government expresses in incredibly short
periods When we first arrived on this river,
than four five days required dates of important
dispatches show to communicate with the city of Men
CO. An instance of this CELEBRITY exhibited week
since between Camargo and this city An express rider
leaving Camargo in the morning arrived here in the
evening of the day. The distance is about 100
miles, but in deviatng from the direct route, to escape
rancheros and robbers he probably rode not less than
lao miles.
In anticipation of whatever events may arise, requr.
ing large amount OF land transportation the quartz
master is busly engaged in preparing large wagon
train. Notwithstanding the disturbed OF affairs
the INTERIOR we have little difficulty in obtaining animals
for our use Money the patriotism OF the good
people Of Tsmaulipas o.. @.