Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-11-25
The War on the Rio Grands.


A reeen, telegraph dispatch s,,tss that
|, was almost certain that brownsville,
Texas had been captured by the Mexican
bandits. under Cor,inas. aud that tbS Mex
lean population on both sides OF the Rio
Grauds were in arm, agaIn', the Amsri-
cans. Thes, statements, 10 10 to he hoped
are considerably exaggerated. but the pre-
,iou. account. we're eIceedinsly threaten
iDs. The Brownsville Flag (eItra) contains
the following detail. Of occurrences anterior
TO the capture Of the town:
-, appears that force bad been organ
lied In Brownsville for the purpose OF at
lacking Coriinas's baud II was composed
Of about 60 ranchsros and 20 American on
our side. and 80 Of the Ma,smora. inian.
try. under 1t. Col. Lurunca. the force
from our side being under the command OF
Cart. Thompson. They carried with them
a tour FOUNDER belonging TO the Mexican
forces, and four.pound hovriler belong
ing to Captain Kennedy. They arrived at
the rancho Of CoriinAs's mother, which
they found in possession Of about twenty
men WHO reiroa,cd after firing one or two
yolleys. During the firing, the cannon OF
the Americans reboundsl and fell OF IT,
carriage. Six or seven mounted Americans
went and r,iook the gun, but being unable
to rSmount il, and falling to get any assis'
.ancs from the infantry. they finally aban-
doned It.
" About this time, the roui Of tho attack.
ing party became general. Most all Of the
mounted men had left, the majority OF she
infantry followed, aud, a, last the few that
had remained with the li.il, howiilsr at the
CAROL. finding themselves unaided, and
o. few in number that they were unable 30
pu, the gun into tho river or destroy the
ammunition, a, they desired, LETT slso. An
tonic E.PiHAsa, aud Others got il into the
river AllerwArd. but Cortinas has aimee 30;
II out. The preparations for the eIpiii-
,ion we're miserable few bad percussion
CAPS for more than four or Eve charges
many OF the cartridges were found 20 b
too large Tor the muskeis, and at the close
Of tho attack. when an AtIomp, was made
to rally, i, va. found that there was not
enough ammunition for single round,
AsItis, Cor.inas won victory aud is Ia
possession Of two very slfeisn. pieces Of ar
tillsry, all the ann unilion belonging to
item, large kss Of rid. powder, aud some
provisions which were on the route whom
the eight took place. From the reports Of
Col. Lurunca End MIR. Thompson, Coriina'
bad some go or 300 men. but Others e',i'
mate hi, force. a, FAR less. But few Of the
bandit. were seen =, any one time. Cor
tina, will now DO able to greatly inersas'
his band, having artillery and the prestige
Of victory to aid him. On the 9th ult, h'
again stopped the United States mail com
ing irom Laredo, cut It open, examined
each letter in il, opening all but two, KEEP
tho mail rider until to day, and iher
sent him down with such OF the open let
ter, and way bill, as he did no, care to re
tain. This mail rider lols him eGAminin.
the contents Of the mail which had thai
morning arrived from Brownsville.
Some seventy ielon,, under scntcne'
IN the prison. Of Victoria, had bceursleascJ
by the populAee. and had levied their con
tribuiiou, on the rich VI that place. Thoy
have since recruited others. until !, is TO
ported that they have large band, who
are visiting and robbing the ranches, anc
they expect huAlly TO make their way ou
to MaAmoras and BrovnTillc The daily
and nightly watches arsinOsI unrsmisiingl
continued. Every citizen capable OF carry
ing arms is m quarters. and the two TWEEN
iy.four.pouud howittsn and nine.pount
NalENWaA1 al1 lf3sFfA ~ hhAHN ltsiAiAIH
points, which ars defended by barbados
while the entrance to the city is ob,iruetsC
by others. /, has been asccriained tba
CortinA' has been sending out hi' Seouu
in strong bodies, gathering up horses anc
driving oG cattle. IL was reported a, Ma.
Amoras that from thirty to forty OF the dos
rcrados, who escaped from the Victoria
prsOn had succeeded in joining Cortinn'''
band also that he obtained some $4,000
but 4. is not known how he 90, IL.
"The mails left for Corpu. Chn'ii Ant
Laredo in the morning, and return mai
should have cbms In from the former plac,
on Thursday, and from lho latter on Friday
but neither mail nor riders have come in
No doubt Coriinas has taken them. II
will be idle to send ib' mails hereafter IN.
les well guarded"
The intelligence Of the the capture oil
Brownsville BY Cortinas. /, eonGrmsd Tn,
city is sold to DO 10 ashes.