Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-11-25
THE CONDITION OF sRowssVlIlE.

F.F. Fem, postmaster of Brownsville,
has written letter to the Post Office De-
partment announcing the interruption Of
of the mail service by the bandit, Cor
tinas. in which he says:
" Cortinas is in camp about half &
league from here, with an uncertain
number of men, but he is known to have
several hundred. At least twice in
every twenty-four hours, and frequently
oftener, his scouts fire random shots
into town. Scouts of over fifty have
been counted from one house-top; and
his men are in sight most of the day
lowering about us. They have taken all
the stock for miles around to the other
side of the river, have robbed nearly
every rancho, and certainly every Amer
lean, within range of thirty miles and
they now command the country without
dispute up to within four hundred yards
of our market
The parts of the town best built are
barricaded, and into that the families are
all brought. Every man is compelled to
stand guard or patrol each night. The
apprehension and vigilance of the author
tiles may be judged from the fact that,
after being in the ranks ten nights out of
twelve, / last night remained in my
office to distribute the New Orleans mail
which was brought over from Matamoras
about sunset, and before o'clock was
arrested and sent to the guard house for
absence from duty, and remained there
under guard until midnight, when the
enemy's shots gave US apprehension OF
general attack, and / was released and
placed in the ranks. Every night men
are detailed to bring out delinquents, and
they open the doors of citizens by force
when necessary, and bring them into the
ranks ; and, sir, the necessity of this course
is so obvious that there is scarce q mur-
muir at the hardship. Every citizen of
standing sustains this proceeding, though
it has been applied to our first citizens.
This is emphatically war of races and
a war of determination, " D cath to
Americans" is the cry, and no quarter is
expected by prisoners. 1t is the cry in
! the streets of Matamoras, and it goes un-
!, rebuked. The band have been largely
+ reinforced lately from both sides of the
. river. In one band, ninety convicts es-
!, capped from the prisons of Victoria, Mexi-
: co, and Joined Cortinas.
m The sympathy of the Mexican people
A. and the active participation of the low
"a classes against US is not doubted by any
n one; and these facts cause us apprehen-
- sion lest they may come, as they can, a
r hundred to our one to plumber the town,
Of in which case all the population, save the
J. Mexican, would be exterminated.
We have held out thirty-six days with
out assistance, 1t is matter of anxious
a inquiry how much longer we can endure
IN the siege, and in what time the robbers
ne will be so armed as to venture upon our
m defenses.
oy make these statements in full, tina;
or every material fact may be placed al
your disposal.
The acting postmaster at Rudyyill.
II has just arrived; he escaped with his lif,
O. only. The neighborhood at Rudyvillt
ay is robbed. He tells me that nearI,
he every mail from here up, for the las
Oh three weeks, has been cut open and man,
ct letters taken. The mails have beer
Gu greatly delayed; and in one case tn
whole mail, every package, was taker
u out the bags sent on, and the package
- broken open, every letter unsealed, an,
=. after being soaked in water, were sent b,
III the next mail up.
| Private expresses to Rio Grande Cit,
,he on the right bank of the river, carr
ON letters for merchants at $40 per lettel
hes postage. This has been doing for
18th month