The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20
THE RIO GRANDE REVOLUTION.

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the opinion thar Gener&l Caracajal viii nate
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slege, mrse-s- NJ receive, re,niorce.$o,,,4 -
On the 25th of October Caravajal issued Il
proclamation to the people of Matamoros He
denies, IN the most imperative terms, that it is
his object to secure the Independence of the
frontier States. and then to annex them to the
United States
The letter which follows says the New Or
leans Delta is from most reliable source, and
gives a history of affairs on the Rio Grandc up
to October 90
BROWNSVILLE, TExAs) Oct %, 1851
The invaders have been bcseging Matamo-
ros for nine days and with little intermissson,
the firing has been kept up all the time; but
so far they have gained nothing The people
of Matamoros with Gen. Avalos, have behaved
well in the defence of their town against their
liberators
On the 25th at night they set the town on
fire, and rs soon as the fire got well under
way. they made u furious assault, but failed
IIt was then that the American consul and
others were wounded in saving goods.
The commanding officer of this post has
been very active doing everything III his power
to prevent armed parties from crossing into
Mexico He had one of the Government
steamers with an officer. twelve men, and
piece of artillery. ON board, with orders to 80
up and down the river, and prevent if possible
any armed bodies crossing from Texas into
Mexico. lie had also guard and piece of
artillery mt each of the ferries; yet ! learned
they crossed at different ranches where they
could find canoe, and swan their horses over.
Il look upon this affair in no other light
than an invasion OF tho Mexican territory by
an armed body of Americans. Carayaals
| whole force do not believe exceeds five hun
| dred mcn-thrce hundred and fifty or seventy
five of whom are Americans The organ OF
| Caraya al, the Rio Bravo, reports his force at
| eight hundred men.
II think large majority of the people OF
Brownsville and its vicinity are in favor of this
| invasion. | am told-and no one | believe,
denies it--that their quartermaster and pay
master both stay in Brownsville, and that the
invaders are furnished with provisions, arms
and ammunition. from that place. They have
their hospital on this side of the river, to which
their wounded are brought.
The citizens of Brownsville who are dis
posed to regard the laws are oyerawed by the
hberatorS on the other side. Some few, who
have been bold enough to express an opinion
against the open violation of our laws have
had their lives threatened, and | think they
have cause to fear
The force at this post is much too small for
the present emergency. If these people are
successful, think the people of this town will
have to call on the military for protection
against the patriotic HbcrdtOrS who are now
laying waste the city of AIatamoros
"October 29-l have this moment been in,
f. al L. 81 t. bo.
asccrtained from IA friend in Matanoros that
the loss to the 2sth, ON the side of the invaders
was three killed and twelve wounded on the
Mexican side, six killed and seven wounded
| think this can be relied on"
1t has heretofore been mentioned that Gene
raj Avi,los had ordered all Americans to be
shot down who were seen in the streets, which
is thus explained by the correspondent Of the
Picayune:
During the hardest of the fighting General
Ayalos ordered every American in Maiamoros
to confnc himself to his store or dwelling, at
the same time commanding his troops to shoot
down any one who might be seen in the streets.
The cause for this was his belief that NIL tho
Americans were sympathzing with Caraya jail
and ready to afford him relief should nm OPP
portunity occur We learn this verbally.
"Thc plumber taken from the peaceful in
habiiants liz deposited within the territory Of
the United States.
Carayajal declares that it IN utterly false
that the forces under his command have at
tackled or destroyed private property by fire or
in any other manner. The torch was applied
by the enemy. He also publishes in the Rio
Bravo copies of the propositions made 10 the
auxiliary forces (the Amcricans) under his
command, and the oath taken by them upon
their acceptance, to disabnse the minds Of the
people Of calumnies circulated by the enemies
of himself and the cause which he maintains
His only aim, he says, IL TO free the people
from IN ustice and oppression to see extended
over his whole country just and equal laws,
which will protect the lowest IA well ~ the
highest citizen in {" life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness
II is easy to see that this revolution, ~ it is
called, IL sustained by Texans. We have no
doubt that our Government is doing what it
can 30 preserve orir neutrality; but there is
clearly settled purpose ON the part Of the
Texans living along the frontier, 10 battle all
it, efforts We suspect that Caravajal has al
yscrs in this country, who are working for
annexation and Slavery Extension. His long
letter To Captain Phelps, of Fort Brown, def
ming his position and policy, and indicating
his acts was mover written by Mexican. II
il purely American document in style, tenn
per, illusions, and arguments.
ELEVEN DAYS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA.