New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-11

Complications Bet,ceen the Forces of Uncle Sam
and tie Southern ConfedeTacs-T Tie Troops at
Bromnscd cdye-The Crime Of a Collision et1lde7'
the Circumstances -Relatire Strength Of Both
!Sides-Otter Matters.
Special to the New Orleans Ctescentl .
BROWNSVILLE, March T, 1861.
Mi'. EdHo,-There are three points now situated
in the South where large forces are waiting ON
each other. At Fort Sumter in South Carolina, nt
Fort Pickens in Florida, and at Fort Brown in
Texas, the soldiers of the late Republic of the
United States are holding to ports which belong
to nations that do not yield obedience to the flag
which floats over their respective positions As
matter of course, canuot say what will be done
at SUMTER at Pickens, or at this place; but TINS IS
certainly to be hoped that there shall occur no
fighting in this quarter. The common fame and
the general prestige of our race could receive no
greater tarnsh than would occur If we fell to light
ing in the very sight of Pao Alto and Resaca de la
Palma and before the face of q foe whom VIC
have chastised into such respect for our rights,
and into such reverence for our superiority.
Nothing would Justify the United States officers
here in resisting the demands of the State of Texas
first and of the Southern Confederacy at last for
their refusal to carry out the orders Of ten Iwlggs
would but lead to their complete annihatlon by
the mere force of numbers. What purpose they
propose to accomplish by remaining here is
mystery to me; for the late republic will
| scarcely consent to pay six hundred men 10 de-
fend this frontier, when all their orders will have
federacy and when all the money they receive
will be subject to seizure in its transit to them.
We ought to have no objection to the sojourn Of
these soldiers here for they pay literally for what
they get and their presence is great consolation
to the few faint hearts who thought that the dlsso.
luton of the Union was the Inauguration of general
| ruin and damnation.
| However, as you will no doubt have seen from
the newspaper reports we are not altogether free
from apprehension that the first blood which Is to
mark the present revolution, if any such calamity
| is to happen, may be drawn on the Rio Grande, IN
| presence of hostile race The United States Of
| ficers and soldiers here have very contemplate
| idea of the undscplined forces which they say
| Texas has called into the field, and several very
singular hints have been thrown out as to the de-
sign of the garrison here, in the event the Texas
| officers at Brazos Santiago interfere with their
| means of communication with the sea. To under
| stand this, you must know Brownsville is twenty
miles from the coast, and the main pass tor com,
municaton with Washington is through the port
| of Brazos Santiago. which is now in the hands o
a large force of Texans under Col. Mcleod. Th
force is well fortified, and its batteries command
the sea approaches The soldiers of the Unitet
States. therefore, are here between two fires, for
large force of Texans is marching down by land Il
cut off their retreat by that way, while the road
the sea can only be travelled on such conditions
| Col. Mcleod may stpnate for
We have now at Brazos Santiago about six hun
dred effective infantry and artillery, while there ar
about three hundred cavalry, or more proper.
speaking Texas Rangers, at Camp Bnena Vista
other companies are looked for, and in fact, a.
officer remarked to me yesterday that if Texas dit
not stop recruiting, there would be ten thousant
men on the Rio Grande in very short time.
The Unites States force at present here numbers
probably five hundred men, and there are between
three and four hundred more marching upon this
place. The most effective portion of this force con
siss in the cavalry and the light artillery, both
which services are Of the flower of the Ameti
can army. Capt. Stoneman's command and thu
fyng artillery corps, which are here are both i'm
posing and dangerous, if they have mind to turl
their arms upon their countrymen; but as shal
not challenge the good sense OF men possessed o
SO much of all that is otherwise good, shall no
think for moment that such an event is at al
probable.
The steamer Mustang came down the river wit
three companies of infantry on Monday last I NJ
told that the cavalry and the artillery, rank an
file, are on terms of questionable friendship wit
the rank aud file of the infantry.
The artillery has been making preparations
move from this point as soon as the light batter,
= with four other companies of artillery, can reac
here from Fort Duncan. 1t is unknown to VIII,
point they move, they leave on the steamsh
It Daniel Webster, under sealed orders, to be broke
and discovered at sea- 1t is thought among tt
. I.officers that their destination is Pensacola
IL The U. S. army officers and the men are sellir
= off all their loose furniture in expectation ofmakin
,f some movement
n Col. John S. Ford is still here. He has acte
= yery discreetly in his management of affairs her
5. The Daniel Webster is at Brazos Santiago awal
vt ing to give transportation to the troops ordert
e away from here. .
, MANY desertions are taking place from Il
=, United States forces, If the Texas force won
II only protect deserters, half of Uncle Sans can
d would leave.
il The Arizona made good time, arriving off Braz
# at daylight Tuesday morning.