Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-19
AFFAIRS ON THE RIO GRANDE.
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN,.
BRowNsyuLE TEXAS, SEPT. 90, 1858.


BROWNSVILLE, Texas SEPT %, 1853.
No doubt you have been painfully anxious as 70 the
fate Of poor devils down here the Rio Grande men
aced you Of the North win have u.s. by the bloody Next
but let you that we ourselves are not
scared at ALL and for the very best reason in the world
that there is danger The Mexicans quiet lambs
indeed they much frightened than were
represented to be- The arrival Of few fresh companies
Of troops and lot Of big guns has astonshed them
not little and the general belief is that they are TO be
annexed The two hundred and fifty Mexican troops that
have been IN Matamoros for the last year two still
there, and signs of reinforcement visible. The
truth Is Santa Anna's exchequer is at low ebb and
unless Uncle Sam steps in and fills his pockets for
other slice Of territory he will have employment enough
to maintain himself without attempting TO cross the Rio
Grande. All his wel-matured plans for augmenting his
army have utterly failed His popularity is the wane
and before six months, year ut the furthest, has
passed. you will him shot exile. But, whatever
internal changes may take place in Mexico the feel
ing Of hostility towards viii still exist amongst the
mass. Along this frontier and particularly in Tamauli
pas, however, think this unendly feeling is on the de-
cline Ii has powerful coun.eractng force in their self
interest.
The wealthy and more influential portion the inab-
tants and feel that if they under Govern
ment there would be greater security to life and proper
ty, that life would be infused in their Rip Van Wrinkle
country and If the country between the Sierra Nevada
and the Rio Grande annexed tomorrow, five hundred
of our troops would hold without the fear of pronun-
ciamiento within its whole extent but we do not want
it, and long may be before eagle drives his Mexican
brother from his prickly-pear perch
The troops put in motion by the Secretary OF War are
rapidly taking up their position along the Rio Grande
by last accounts nineteen companies Of infantry had
pitched their tents in the vicinity of San Antonio
svats from the northern frontier Of Texas to various
points on this river The 9th infantry is to garrison IN
nnggod Barracks opposite Camargo, the 9th IS to gar
rison Lorcdo and the list Eagle One company of
the 4th artillery is also at Ringgod Barracks, COM
pany OF the ID artillery at Loredo and another company
of the same regiment Eagle Pass The garrison of
Fort Brown is composed of three companies Of the Attn
artillery and two companies of the It'll infantry.
Ordering additional troops to this frontier is an excel
lent move but to throw up regular Notifications and
to have the Rio Grande brstng with is running
the thing into the ground Before had crossed swords
with the Mexicans and when they thought themselves
our superors this thing not done and now after
have driven them from every battlefield matter with
what odds they upon it, to shut ourselves up in
mud forts looks very much if had changed places
Not an ocer in Texas approves Of this burrowng ys
tem 1t originated in Washington and to them be the
credit.
The monotony of this good town has been most agreea
bly, broken in upon by General PERsIrER SMITH, the
Commanding General of this line who arrived at Fort
Brown short time since from Corpus Christi Visits
OF etiquette, salute &c. have been exchanged between
the officers of the sides of the river and amongst
them the best feelings of harmony exist. Gen. SMITH,
IN return for ciyiites received in Matamoros
elegant entertainment in Fort Brown, at which Colonel
CRUZ, the commanding officer of Matamoros, with be-
tween twenty and thirty of his officers made his appear
ance Toasts speeches, and champagne the order
of the day. officers who in days gone by had met at
Monterey, Buena Vista, and in the Valley of Mexico
where balls were flying thick and fast met face to
face, where corks the most deadly missiles. To
judge from appearances the latter meeting much
more agreeable than the former l have exhausted my
sheet, and must therefore close.