Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-27
The sIRGE OF mArAmoRAs.
'sH0fheT TTEce-FGiSssre Of Negotiation
No BesssFf Eses.

#. THE SIEGE OF mATAuORAs.
.snOsker 7THce-FaiI.re Of Negotiation
sFo KesssEf Veg.
2 From the Brownsville Flag, of the 18th, W,
CLEAN the following additional particulars rela,
! ting to the siege of Matamoras
The firing of the night of Wednesday, the
9th of November, was unproductive of serious
results, further than the destruction of more
property. On Thursday morning, the 2sth, a
truce was established, on account of the news
of a war between Spain and Mexico. The Fzag
says
Both forces Involuntary thought and suc-
gested a compromise Of local differences. in pres
ence OF the great national danger, and through
the mediation of Mai Fairfax Gray. G.. S &.
acting under instructions from Lieut. Col. Buchel,
OF Fort Brown, an interview was arranged be-
tween the contending chiefs.
however, after sundry notes back and forth.
the conference came to a dead halt under the
following ultimatums, which were respectfully
submitted:
BY CARAvAJAL.
/. That a general amnesty should be proclaim
ed by Gov. Serna to all but the chiefs Of the on
posite party, who were to be subject to such :
prosecution as the law officers might wage.
2. That the city of Matamoras was to be un-
cOnditionally surrendered.
BY GARCIA.
!. That C~aravajal should withdraw his forces
to Reynosa, and that a truce should be concluded
until the dispute could be referred to the govern
ment at the city Of Mexico, both parties agree
ing to abide by the decision of the national gov
eminent.
3. Or, that Garcia would surrender the city,
provided that he, as a national officer, should be
allowed to march out with all his troops and
equipments.
3. That both parties should set aside the late
election, and bind themselves to abide by the
result of another.
The diplomats having thus come face to face
with plain and sensible propositions, the nego-
tiation only required the yeas and nays, and
thereupon neither party would yield his ground,
for in doing so he was bound to give up every
thing. The conference ended right then and
there, just as we thought it would, for the dis
pute between Garcia and Caravaisl seems to be
one of life and death, politically speaking, and
cannot be compromised.
During the conference Gems. Garcia aud Cara
vajal met, Maj. Gray and Lieut.. Neale being
present. Both parties discussed the dispute with
earnestness and seeming honesty but what was
SAID we cannot report, as the major and lieuten-
ant kept away from the hearing of the parties,
lcSL thcy Suouiu De called upon 70 decide MANY
delicate little points, where they might have
offended one party or the other. Major Gray is
a lawyer and a man of the world, and therefore
particularly discreet in such matters.
When the conference came near its termina-
ton, without any favorable result, Gen. Cara
vajal very earnestly remarked that he had two
peace makers who would not differ, and that he
should proceed to argue the dispute with cannon
balls and torches, and that he would kill and
burn until the city was reduced,
Friday, at the appointed hour, the conference
broke up, the white flag was pulled down, and
the partisan banners raised upon the Notifications
again. The fight was to be resumed, and sure
enough the guns were opened at the appointed
time. The shots were slowly rendered, however,
and the reckless waste Of ammunition was
stayed. Sharp-shooters were the only parties
engaged in the fight, and for all the damage
done, they might have saved their trouble too.
Friday night the threat of CaIavajal was terri
bly, realized, for the horizon was broadly illumi-
mated by the lurii light which assembled from the
burning buildings in the doomed city. Away
off from US in the darkness of the distance. the
greedy flames and the impalpable smoke gave
token OF the fearful work Of destruction; and as
we saw the fOrked tongue of the blazing eonha-
grafton licking up and smearing its victim before
it swallowed houses and wealth, our eyes turned
away in sorrow that mankind should be thus
cruel and vindicitiye
From Friday night up to Thursday night, the
time when the Flag closes its report, no change
occurred in the relative positions of the com.
batants, except that on Sunday it was reported
that Carayajal had been reinforced by General
Martin Sayas, who also brought Caravaial a con
siderable amount of money. General Benevides
was also reported to be on the way to reinforce
Garcia. Of the truth of these reports, however,
nothing is certainly known, except that Carsva
jail did receive some money. On the night Of
Thursday, the 18th, a terrible fusilade was heard,
but the result of it had not transpired.
The Flag gives the following additional list of
houses destroyed:
The house Of Don Jesus Libra the house of
Mons. Etlenne Bres, with its stock of merchan-
disc; the restaurant of John Mount the house
Of Madame Kidder, with all the furniture and
goods two other houses belonging to Mrs. Kid
der, opposite to her residence; the residence of
Col. Macedonia Capistran; the residence of Col
Jose Quintana and one other, whose owner we
did not ascertain, together with some small sheds
in the suburbs.
Policy OF H BEsIEGERs.-As to the fu
ture policy of the chiefs, the Flag says:
We learn that CaravaJaI has relinquished the
project of taking the town by assault, and
las decided to strengthen his lines around the
plaza, and, having his enemies hemmed in, he
intends to establish a government around them,
and then wait for time to win the fight. He
will ~inaugurate municipal and State authority
in that part of the town over which he has con-
troll, and with his own police, carry on the gov
eminent Just as though there was no such spot
as the plaza. To do this, he intends to build
bUllet-proof walls across the streets leading
from the plaza, behind which he will mount
guards sufficient TO check the enemy from get
ting out. This done, he intends to establish a
custom-house, as usual, at the river, aud then
open a road so that travel can pursue It's legiti-
mate channels between MatamoTas and the
country. 1t viii then be matter Of delay only
how long ne will be left out Of the plaza-for
time will wear out the garrison.
The insiders say they are willing to this pro-
ceeding, for they have nothing to lose, but every
thing to gain, by delay their friends are raj
lying men and means in the interior; and that
by the time their reinfOrcements come along, |
Caravsjals troops will have become dissatisfied,
and viii desert. Change is the great faculty of
the Mexican, and many revolutions have been
successful amongst them by the simple peril
nacity of one or the other party.