Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-07
Latest From Brownsville.
FLIGHT or coRTlEAs.

We have received a copy of the Brownsville
Flag of the 22d, from which We take tie SUBJ
joined article:
EVENTS THEY HAVE TRANSPIRED.-On
the th of December, 1859, about midnight
the three companies so long heraldcd as COM
ing from Fort Clark. two of artillery and one
of cavalry, came under the command of Mai.
Henfzelman. They proved 10 be of the best
material in officers and men, but rather few
in nnmbers-the fault of the commander Of
the Department or OF the Secretary OF War, or
both.
On the 6th, party of thirty of Cortinas'
men took a youth prisoner, within halt a
mile OF the plaza, and took from him his
saddle and bride, releasing his horse because
it was worthless, and himself be cause be was
Mexican.
Some days afterwards news was brought in
that a cart, containing about two thousand
dollars worth Ofgovernment property. cloth
ing, blankets, ammunition, aud which had
been lett behind to come in at leisure-it was
an OK cart-h;sd been taken by one of COrti-
nes' band, and soldier of the u. s. who had
been left to guard it had been killed.
On The l4th. Necessary preparations hav-
ing been completed, and the rangers under
Tobin having reported to Major Heniz.Iman
their readiness to cooperate. the military
started up to find and attack Cortinas. There
We're l42 regulars and 125 rangers They
started about 5 o'clock, A. NJ, aud after a
march, quite fatiguiDg TO the artillery men
who were on foot. of thirteen miles. they came
upon body OF the enemy, some two hundred
strong, opened fire on them with two 81
pound howitzers. which was answered by the
cannon of the enemy; in about an hour the
latter was silenced and the regulars on one
fI. nd ha hn had
on the other. [they had been deployed as
skirmishers,] rushed up to capture the piece,
but the Mexicans got it away; were pursued
as soon as the rangers and cavalry could get
their horses, but the former found themselves
amhuscaded and dismounted to clear tie chap
paral, when the enemy got off with their can
non, which was then some distance beyond.
A wet mortimer Game up, and the roads be
came very bad. so il was thought best TO re-
turn. as one of Capt. Tobin's men was wound
cd, MORALLY as il proved-David Thurman. of
San Antonio, aud one or two others, and two
Of the regulars, all of whom needed assist
ance. So they returned on the 18th. 1t is,
however, not to be forgotten that as they
started back they heard bugle blast of de.
iiance with cheers close 10 their side, but in
the woods whose authors a well directed
search failed to discover.
The loss of the enemy is unknown, except
that seven were found dead. Cortinas him
self, with the major part Of his forces, was
absent with the latent to surprise and attack
Col. J. S. Ford. of the Texan Rangers. who
arrived at the place Of conflict with fifty men
on the l4th. nnt too late TO participate.
Go The 10th, Capt. Heron, OF SegGin, with
forty men, who had gone to Rio Grande City
and thence "a Edinburgh. came here via Salt
Lake and Taylor's Crossing on the Arroyo
Colorado.
TN the 18th. in the night. a courier came
here from Point Isabel. announcing that
COTtinas was lowering around that place and
TobbiHg the TancboS near there on the river.
On the 18th. one body Of rangers under
Capt Tolrin. another under Capt. Ford. and
the United States cavalry. Capt. StOueman
started out TO ScOur the lower country. In
the afternoon news came that COTiinas had
concentrated his forces about thirty miles
above and was ebOHt To march up the river.
On the I9Ih, this news was coniiI med, with
the addition that he was burning the ran
chOs a. he went and that be declared his in
tehiion 10 plundvr and then burn Edinburgh,
Rio Grande City and Rome. Expresses were
seat for the rangers and cavalry To return,
aud during the day the Cavalry and Ford
rangers came iu. The former reported find
ing one man, a Mexican, hanging at Paio
Alto. whom they buried.
On the 2OIh TObin's Tangers returned, re-
porting the country clear. Cortinas has
bail Left and all was quiet. An expedition
was fitted out aud started up The river yes
IsTdsy. IL is intended A. an exiingGisher.