Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-14
THE "TRIP TON or !lEXIClNS 1T
BROUNSTJJTE

THE RRJPTION or VEXICANS 1T
BROWNSVILLE.
The latest intelligence from Brownsville, Tex
as, is to the effect that Cortinas, with five hun
dred men, took the city of Rio Grandc on the
24th ult., killing a number of citizens. Suisse
quently body of troops and rangers from
Brownsville, attacked Cortinas, and re.took the
place after hard fight, capturing his guns and
sixty of his men. Nine Americans were killed
and sixteen wounded: among the latter was
Capt. Ford, who led the attack. Cortinl fed
"over the river
Below is letter from Frank F. Fem, Esq,
Postmaster at Brownsville, who is well known
to many of our readers. After reading his
graphic, and we venture to say truthful, account
of the Eruption of Cortinas and his marauding
invasion, one would very naturally think that
the President had better let the Mexicans in
Mexico fight their their own battles, and give
little of his attention to the condition, sufferings
and necessities of our own people, who are le-
Ultimately entitled to the protection of their own
government. But to the letter.:
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS,
Dec. 23d, 1859.
TO the Editor Of The Vermont Phunir =
Being a subscriber to your paper and ~a,i,,
of the neighborhood in which it is published,
and observing great disparity in the state
ments made of the invasion which has engaged
our interest for nearly three months, have de-
termined to send you statement of some of
the facts connected with this affair. Our town
has population of about 200O of which about
300 are Americans, native or naturalized. 200
foreign residents whose home is Europe, and
the remainder Mexican. The country altogeth-
er has some 1000 inhabitants, all but 900 or
700 of whom are Mexican. There are no, 500
native and naturalized Americans within $50
miles of here in time of peace. The country is
about two-thirds thick rhaparral through which
no person unacquainted in the country can find
his way at all, but every footpath Of which is
known to the Mexican settlers. This chaparra
is composed of thorn bushes about 20 feet high
and growing as thick as hawthorn. 1t is i'm
possible to pass through it, but it does no. COW
er all the ground; there are natural paths md
pockets all through it, running, turning widen
ing and ending in all forms and directions. So
you see how completely tits formed for ambush
and surprise, and how every nook and bveway
can be made a Thermopyln by men who are
acquainted in it. This sort of country is shared
with prairie about two to one, and occupies
the whole Rio Grande valley, country as large
as all New England except Maine. 1t comes
up to within half mile of our City Market.
the centre of the twsn.
Now for the invasion. On the 2Sth of Sent
the people Of Brownsville found the town occu-
pied by about so armed men. Sentinels were
on every street corner and parties were COM
hitting murder here and there, wherever thew
found man they had marked as a victim.-
They killed five and then quite to our relief
moved out about six miles from the town and
encamped There they have remained ever
since, committing depredations and repulsing
any attack made upon them, sending threats of
obstruction to town and appearing about and
firing into the town daily for a month. This
band has been frequently re inforced until it
now doubtless numbers 600, with as many more
ready at short notice to join Cortnas who is
their leader. He has taken from an attacking
party two cannon, and he uses them with skill
he has closed all our mail routes save that with
Brazos, and for while he had that route guard
ed. He has taken fifteen carriers prisoners.
and doubtless hundreds of bushels of mails
have fallen into his hands, which he has taken
and, after examining torn them in pieces and
thrown them aside. He has burned all the Amer
lean dwellings in the country and driven away
thousands of cattle. He has devastated the
whole country for region of fifty miles square.
In this he has the sympathy of all the Mexican
race. lie carries the Mexican flag, and shouts
''Death to Americans" and "Live Mexico."-
He sends out proclamations addressed to the
prejudces of the Mexican people, declares his
purpose to reduce the country west of the
Neuces River to Mexican sway, and calls upon
all his countrymen to secure that result by ex-
terminating all Americans. When he by am
bush and surprise murders an American the
corpse is mutilated in the most savage and bru-
tal manner. He gives no quarter and buries
no dead.
There are not fifty Mexican men within 100
miles of this place, on either side of the river,
! but what sympathise with him. He is supplied