New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-30
Later from the rio Granas.

The steamship Arizona. Capt. Smith, arrived
yesterday from Brazos Santiago, which port she
left on the 25th Her manifest, including specie,
list, will be found in another column
From the Brownsville Flag Of the ed we copy
the following intelligence
Capt. Ricketts,, U. s. A., who has been dam
gerously ill for some days past, we take pleasure
IN noucng, Is fast recovering his health. Doubt
less he will soon again be seen, not only on duty
but wherever duty calls.
The Arizona,s mail arrived last night With Il.
came Col 5: A. Lockridge with portion Of
twehtyhve friends, the residue Of whom will pro-
baby be up to-day. The Colonel comes to take .
part Si735 al
On the 5th of December, 1859, about midnight.
the three companies SO long heralded as coming
airy, came under the command of Major Hentzel-
man. They proved TO be of the best material in
officers and men, but rather few in numbers, the
fault OF the commander of the department or the
Secretary of War, or both.
On the sth party Of thirty of Cortina's men
took youth prisoner within half mile of the plaza
and took from him his saddle and bride, releasing
his horse because it was worthless, and himself be-
cause he was Mexican
Some days afterward news was brought in that
cart containing about two thousand dollars worth
Of government property, clothing, blankets ammu-
milton, and which had been left behind to come in
at leisure, lit was an OK cart) had been taken by
one Of Cortinas bands and soldier of the United
States who had been left behind to guard Il had
been killed.
On the l4th, necessary preparations having been
completed, and the rangers under Tobin having
reported to Maj. Hentzeman their readiness to CO.
operate, the military started up to find and attack
Gortlna There were AZ regulars and l25 rangers.
They. started about o'clock A. NJ, and after q
march, quite fatguing to the artillery men who
were on foot of thirteen miles, they came upon o
body OF the enemy some two hundred strong,
opened fire upon them with two "A ID. howitzers,
which was answered by the cannon Of the enemy;
in about an hour the latter was silenced and the.
regulars on one side and the rangers who had dis.
mounted. on the other, (they had been deployedl
as skirmishers,) rushed up to capture the niece
but the Mexicans got it away, were pursued -
soon as the rangers and cavalry could get their
horses; but the former found themselves ambus-
| caded, and dismounted to clear the chapparel,
when the enemy got off with their cannon, which
was then some distance beyond.
A wet norther came up and the roads became
very bad so that it was thought best to return as
one OF Capt; Tobin's men was wounded, mortality,
as 1t proved-Dayid thurman, of San Antonio, aiii
one or two others, and two of the regulars slightly
all of whom needed assistance. So they returned
on the 18th. 1t is, however, not to be forgotten
that as they started back they heard bugIe blast
of defiance with cheers close to their side, but in
the woods. whose authors well directed search
failed to discover. a
The loss of the enemy is unknown, except that
seven were found dead. Cortna himself with the
major part of his forces, was absent with the in
tent to surprise and attack Col. J. S. Ford Of the
Texas Rangers, who arrived at the place of con-
Hct Will my lheH Oh tle Ian, Dut TOO late to
tcipate.
On the 10th Capt. Heron, of Seguin, with FORTY
men, who had gone to Rio Grande City, and thence,
to Edinburg, came here via Salt Lake and Taylors
crossing on the Arroyo Colorado.
On the 18th, in the night, courier came here
from Point Isabel, announcing that Cortina was
lowering around that place and robbing the ram
chOs near there on the river. ~ s
On the 18th, one body Of rangers under Captain
Tobin, another under Capt. Ford, and the u. s.
cavalry, Capt. Stoneman, started out to sceur the
lower country. In the afternoon news came that
Cortina had concentrated his forces about thirty
miles above and was about to march up the river.
On the 18th, this news was confirmed with the
addition that he was burning the ranches as no
went, and that he declared his intention to plumber
and then burn Edinburg, Rio Grande city and
Roma. Expresses were sent for the rangers and
cavalry to return, and during the day the cavalry
and Ford's rangers came in. The former reported
finding one man, q Mexican, hanging at Palo Alto,
whom they buried.
On the 10th Tobin's rangers returned reporting
the country clear. Cortina had been within three
miles Of Point Isabel, but had left and all was
quiet.
An expedition was fitted ont and started up the
river yesterday. 1t is intended an extingusher.