New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-15


D. H. twenty or twenty five horsenan were .een on
the other eide OF the Rassca, Immediately in the rear
Of the city, evidently part of the enernys force; the
alarm was given, and the families living on the out
skirts few to their lodging places in the center while
the men, many Of whom were asleep, or necessarily
employed in ordinary labor hurried TO the barrcades
where they remained until morning. the enemy
firing, and not reappearing during the night.
On Thursday il was ascertained that Cortinas had
been sending out bis scouts in strong bodies gathering
up horses at the various ranchos from less
time, and driving the cattle of with them. II
reported at Matamoros that from 30 TO 90 Of TIE des-
persdoes escaped from the Victoria prison. had creased
the river the evening before, and joined him; also,
that be had obtained some q, 900, but no knew
from whom, or how. The mails left for Corpus
Christi and Laredo in the morning. and return mail
should have come in from the former place Thur
day, and from the latter Friday, but neither mails
riders have come in. No doubt Cortinas has
taken them and the riders. He il extending his opera
tions toward the coast and Is evidently in command of
all the roads.
"At daylight on Friday morni X, one Of the two
mounted picket guards the outskirts Of the town saw
q man skuking in the bushes, with gun pointed at
bis comrade. Our friend fired at him instantly, but his
horse and that of his comrade took fright at the report
Upon returning no signs of the skulker to be
found. During the day of Friday, bis scouting parties
reported to have been seen at various points not
far outside the city, but special alarm occurred.
About dusk, Mr.. Francis Campbell, Deputy Sheriff,
printer by trade, who came from Natchoches, La,
and has sister and other relatives in that town whose
and q half above town, went up TO See them de rode
a good horse and was armed with Sharps r1ne ana
six-shooer A Mexican, who came a day or two since
from Goliad with party OF horseNrders, having rea-
tons IN Ramiren0, went with him. mounted also on
good horse.
" They had hardly got into their houses when
party of ten heavily armed bandits surrounded the
house took Mr. Campbell prisoner took his horse and
arms. robbed the Mexican of his horse, saddle and
Bride made prisoners also of four well disposed Mex
leans living at Rsmreno took their horses and arms
and carried them all, except the man from Goliad,
up toward the camp of Cortinas. The gentlemen
from Goad represent the unfortunate man from their
place worthy ofall confidence. The families OF the
prisoners are in the greatest distress ,
" This brings us down 10 Saturday morning, with
bitter norther and closely beleagured town TO com
fort us; no help within our reach, and that which is
promised wholly insufficient for our necessities"
PRIVATE BROWNSVILLE LETTERS.
Special Correspondence Of The Picayune.
BROWNSVILLE, Nov. g 1859.
We have lately been feeling of the rigors of
beseged In addition TO the particulars furnished
by the newspaper here. | will add that the enemy
have been for several days encamped about mile and
half above here, while small parties range through
the country gathering up all the cattle and horses be-
longing to Americans and driving them oil to the
ranch of Cortnas. They have made several fents to
attack but have come quite near enough for our
hOwitzers.
To the honor and credit of the authorities Of Maa-
moros and of their troops il should be said that they
have been prompt in rendering us and ever since our
renvasion by the lawless men under Cortnas. In
deed the only blood shed side on the 18th wa
that of the soldery of Mexico from Matamoros.
We receive no mails from Laredo or Corpus Christi,
20 that we have no communication with the interior OF
Texas, and your mail came up for safety ON the Next
can side of the river The newspaper mail has not ar
Tived.
We hope for Rangers in a few days, but can have
no knowledge when though Cortinas, OF course, has
full information.
The troops ordered by Government cannot reach this
Dlacs for months.
It Is reported from above that all the Mexicans with
few exceptions on this side the Rio Grande almost TO
the Nuecs have Joined Cortnass party but there are
not many of them comparatively with him.
How Cortinas is sustained is the mystery: Many
think in Matamoros that he is agent of the Republic
cans. But with his talents as roboer ehief ana the
national hatred of the Americans he can easily get
aid am convinced, however, that the authorities OF
Matamoros have given none. Yours, L..
r. ST. am sorry TO say that Mrs. Woodhouse, wife
of H. Z. Woodhouse esq, merchant, OF TINS pace
died day before yesterday of pure fright and exhaus-
on having become thoroughly impressed with the De-
lief that all would be destroyed and that no hope re-
NAMED She died on the steamboat GramPns, on ner
ST. Col. Loranea and the Mexican troops are Still
with here.
We are indebted to mercantile firm of this city,
engaged largely in the Rio Grande trade for the fol-
lowing extract of letter from their branch house at
Brownsville, dated Nov /:
lowing to the bad state of affairs in the interior,
and more probably on account of bad roads, have
! no news from Northern Mexico. Three or fonr con-
ductas are expected for next week, bringing together
| about $3,O00,OOO.
Affairs here are rather worse than when we last
| wrote We are besieged, and our communications
| with Texas interrupted COrtina's band have stopped
and opened all the letters by way Of Corpus Christi
twice the Laredo mail thrice and would have stopped
the Arizonas mails from ewOrleans if they had not
been brought up on the Mexican side of the river
eve are still alone without any assistance from the
United States Government or that Of Texas. We are
in constant ALARM barricaded, guard all night with
| every new and then few shots exchanged with the
enemy who come TO the outskirts Of the town TO pro-
| woke us. =
"The extra of The Flag will give you an idea of
| our situation.
| eve lost the battles two cannon were taken from
! u.s. but no wounded on side. On the part OF our
| Mexican auxiliaries, five were wounded and two
killed The other parys loss could not be ascertained
We are anxiously waiting the arrival OF the vol
unteers from San Antonio, but have no news of them
except that they have been ordered to be raised at San
| Antonio In the mean time, we expect an attack
hourly and the writer as well as all other Americans,
keeps his arms about him day and night, as We have
| about three alarms day-morning, noon and night.
| FIRES.