Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-14
The Brownsvillo Insurrec,ion.

1t is now n month OF more since news reach
ed US Of an alarming state ofthings at Browns
vile, in Texas, on the north bank OF the Rio
Grande. On the 2Sth of September that town
was attacked by band of flibusters, headed
| by one Cortinas, a person of Mexican blood,
but whom the annexation of Texas had made
citizen of the United States, and whose fol-
lowers were principally persons OF the same
| class. Except a narrow strip on the Rio
Grande, the whole Of that southern district of
| TeIss is a mere desert without inhabitants,
and the people of Brownsville, Fort Brown,
being without any garrison, proved no match
for their assailant5. The invaders took mill.
tary possession of the town, killed five of the
citizens, broke open the Jail and released the
prisoners. In this emergency, the good people
OF Brownsville appealed for aid to the Mexi
cans of Matamoras, on the opposite side of the
river, who lent them a body of Mexican troops
as temporary garrison for Fort Brown. A
Mexican officer, after paTley with the assail
ants, persuaded them to quit the town They
enoamped, however within twenty miles of it,
two hundred strong, and though, upon being
visited by the Mexican officers they agreed to
molest Brownsville no more, no reliance was
placed upon this promise. Indeed, within
few days their number had increased to four
hundred, and was daily receiving accessions-
Their object appeared to be general punder.-
Fears were entertained that thew would burn
the town, and the more timid inhabitants, in a
great state OF alarm, were flying to Matamoras.
The bolder had entered into u military organi
cation for sell>defense, and, meanwhile, had
dispatched messenger TO General TWiggs,
commanding the U nited States forces ia Texas,
then in San Antonio, asking for assistance
The General replied that the forces at his dis
pOsal were quite insufficient for the Indian hos.
tiliues in which he was engaged and he could
therefore do nothing. This indeed was a case
in which it was the business of the State Of
Texas to defend its own citizens against the
attack Of outlaws and robbers. But If any aps
plieation was made to the State authorities of
Texas, it does not appear to have been attend.
ed with any success. More recent accounts
which come down to the 81 instant represent
the people of BTownsyil,e as in imminent dan
ger, On the gath Of October, they had march
ed out with 100 men, cannon, and howilEer
IN hopes OF dlsperslng the outlaws, but had
fallen into an ambufcade, and put to flight
with the loss Of their artillery, nine men killed.
and four wounded. A general panic prevailed
at Brownsville, and the steamer which brought
these accounts brought an application to the
city OF New Orleans for hundred men to as-
sst in the defense of the place Il aso appears
that IN agent dispatched to Washington with
an account OF their desperate condition, had
reached that city, and, in consequence of his
representations, telegraphic orders have Just
been dispatched to Baton Rouge and New Or
leans for the embarkation for Brownsville of
company of United States artillery stationed
at the former place.
1t is certainly extraordinary that the author.
tiles of Texas should have dcne nothing for
the suppression of this local insurreotion, but
should leave the good people of Brownsville to
send all the way TO New Orleans and Washing
ton tor assistance. Texas is one of those
States which has clustered considerably about
dissolying the Union, but, if her efficiency in
the matter of this Brownsville affair is to be
taken as a criterion, she is hardly yet in no.
sition to set up for hersslf--N Y. Tribune