The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-08

IMPORTANT FROM TIE RIO GRANDE-
STARTLING REPORT = 5000 MEXICANS
MARCHING ON BROWNSVILLE-THE TEX
ANS F0RTIFYING OLD FORT BROWN.
The following extra from the office of the Calves
ton NeOs, dated Saturday evening, March 3Oth,
with which we have been favored, furnishes start
ling intelligence from the Rio Grande and indicates
the probability of stirring events in that quarter
The steamtug Union, Captain Healy, chartered
by the Texas Commissioners to assist in bringing
up the ordnance, ordnance stores, &C., at Brazos
Santiago, left the latter place last Wednesday eve.
ming and arrived here this afternoon after oar tri
weekly was published. Captain Healy furnishes
US with variety of interesting intelligence.
The schooner Shark arrived at Brazos last Sat
urday, 23d inst, taking orders from Gen. Nichols
to Sergeant Greer, Ordnance Sergeant in charge
at Brazos, to load the schooner with as full cargo
as could put aboard, of cannon, she'll, shot, &C.,
and dispatch her to Galveston.
Sergeant Greer left the same day for Browns
vile, to communicate this order to Col Ford.
On Sunday evening, oath inst, the steamship
Star of the West, from New York, arrived off
Brazos Santiago and anchored. The sea was too
rough all the next day for her to communicate
with the shore.
The steamship Empire City, from New York,
arrived off the island on Monday evening (25th)
communicated with the Star of the West and left
Immediately.
On Tuesday, the Star of the West sent surf
boat to the island, but had communication with
the main land. where, at the mouth of the river,
two hundred United States Infantry were camped
waiting to disembark.
On Wednesday morning 9th, the steamship
Coatzacoalcos, from New York, arrived off the
island, communicated with the Star of the West,
and left at once. The pilot at the mouth of the
river, then went off with the Star of the West the
pilot asking the captain of the latter steamer if he
(the pilot should carry his dispatches ashore for
him, to which the captain replied that he would
take them back. Shortly after the Star of the
West got up steam aud lett.
On Monday, 26th, Sergeant Greer returned from
Brownsville. Col Ford gave him orders to pre-
pare all the heavy guns and ordnance stores to be
shipped at once for Brownsville, on a steamboat
that the colonel would charter and send down for
them.
Col. Ford stated that he had reliable information
from merchants and other responsible citizens in
Matamoras, that Gen. Ampudia, at the head of
5000 MeXicans, was 60 miles off, marching on
Brownsville. Ampudia had sent out expresses far
and wide, with placards and hand-bills, announc-
ing that Texas of right belonged to Mexico; that
she had no longer the support of the U. s. govern
ment and army; that now was the time to take her
back; ard he called on all good patriots and SOL
ders to come to his standard for that purpose. He
was receiving reinforcements in large numbers and
rapidly.
The Union had some difficulty in making her
trip, from lack of fuel. There is none at Brazos,
at least no coal. Yesterday morning, about l
O'clock she passed, in twelve athoms water, the
Pass Cavao Light, and nothing could be seen of
the three steamers from New York, which should
have been anchored there if lndianola were their
destination. The Union arrived off our bar early
this morning, but anchored, the fog being dense.
She fell in with the Gen. Rusk, and after awhile,
the latter steamer towed her in.
COL Ford intended at once to place his Texas
troops, some 400 in number, in old Fort Brown
which he would arm with the heaviest artillery.
The steamboat he said he would charter for Brazos
to bring up the guns and munitions there, had not
arrived when Capt. Healy left,
Sergt. Greer told the latter he had sent an OIL
cial report o. the whole affair to Gen. Nichols, at
Col. Ford's desire, by the lighthouse schooner
which also left Brazos on Wednesday. He request
ed Capt. Healy to communicate the intelligence to
Gen. Nichols. The General is in Austin, and the
Captain has handed over Quartermaster Reynolds
papers to Gen. Sherman, also giving him the above
news.
Capt Powers, of Beaumont, with GO six months
Texas troops, was in command at BraZos Santiago,
with some fifteen heavy guns and mortars, mounted
in the entertainments the Rio Grande regiment
had made.
Major Waller was at RinggGld Barracks, and had
sent word down to detain the Shark, to receive the
stores, &C., he had collected at Fort Duncan and at
Ringgold, for transportation here
Captains DonDely and Edwards were on the road
to Ringgo!d with their companies.
Our own opinion is that Ampudia would like to
make raid on MatamOros, and perhaps Browns
vile, seize all the valuables he could and then
leave.
LATER FROM INDIANOLA-TROoPs LEAVING.
BY the arrival of the Texas from IndiaGola, we
learn that the U. S. war steamer Mohawk arrived
off Pass Cavallo yesterday. The Coatzacoacos
lett last night with 600 troops. The Empire City
and the Star of the West were lying at the Pass.
translated from lie Pays, Of Paris, March 20.l
How EUROPE WOULD REGARD A BLOCKADE OF THE
SOUTHERN PoRTs.-The British Minister to the
United States has notified President Lincoln that
the British Government would not recognize block
ade of the Southern ports, unless such blockade
We're complete and effective.
No political significance must be attached to that
fact. 1t was very natural that England should not
cesire, by recognizing the blockade, to show any
hostility to the Southern States, and by species
OF intervention, more or less direct, close those
ports against herself and ALLEVIATE the sympaties of
that people from whom she receives the greater
part of the cotton which supplies her looms
In like manner, 1t is rery probable, has been also
announced, hathe other great PoUerS, inspired by
TIE Ike purely commercial considerations, t0iU fotloic
England's example.
1t does not belong to them to NEEDLE in the in
ternal affairs of the United States. They allow the
various confederated parts to settle their matters
as they think proper. There, elsewhere, they
will respect the principle of non intervention. Only
in recognizing the blockade, they would necessari-
ly take part acih the Northern against the Southern
States, and ,goud commit political act instead of
continuing themselves to taking care of their CONNER
cal interests.