Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-17
LATE AND IMPORTANT FROM TIE
RIO GRANDE.
Tn siege 81 Observation-Disclosures 70
fails.

faiJs.
The Houston Telegraph publishes a lengthy
account Of the siege of Matamoras, taken from
an advanced copy Of the Brownsville Flag o.
November -. The New Orleans Plraymc con.
denses the following from the iiag's article
emitting merely such portions as would prove
Of no interest TO the general reader:
We closed our paper on Wednesday last un.
der the din of arms, and Ia the light OF hasulig
guns and blazing buildings.
On Thursday last the fight was carried on
with great energy, the force of C~aravaIal making
some heaiwav towards the main plaza, Incl Is
the decisive point. In all Mexican towns the
! Plaza is the main point of defense and attack
I and while tha. Is held. the assaiiauts never con-
slider themselves victorious. In the instance
now upler consideration, Gen. Garcia Is the
commander of the city forces, and his headguar-
tiers are on the main plaza Of the town His po-
s.ti0u is fortified by barbados across the streets
leadiugiuto the square, and by 0reasJworks upon
the tops Of the surrounding houses. BY means
of these barbados and hTcastworks he has COM
maud ol am entire block of buildings ia every
direction from the plaza. and, as q matter Of
course, tne assaiiauts have not crossed the second
street from The square.
On the southeast corner Of the block TO the
south oI tAg plaza a new and spacious thea.er
was being built. This builIiug Garca has for
titled iu the most formidable manner, having
lo0p-holed the walls and bsuicsded the streets
on both sides. The tons 81 all the houses ada
cent are flied with sharp shooters to pick OFF
suagg'ars, ald 90 protect the battery Zone gum
below from assault. These d lenses euectually
! iuttmids all charges. for If the ass8UitinC party
could even take Che baTica8es. the sharpsbOOt-
.. La #H.H .r. 10 clio Lnrr-.H --nrr.H Isl. all F-En
hsl the teme-.ty TO attempt TO hold the posi-
ton. These sIarP-sh05tars are ont of danger,
being stationed behind heavy brick parapets,
lJJp-lolcd for mUsietTv. The Qualifications
around the thester are called The Malahoif.
On Thursday last q picked band Of Roj0s, 300
strong, made q splendid charge upon the Mala-
kof, but were rapulsed with considerable loss.
On Thursday the cavalry Of Caravajal made
their appearance IN front of Brownsville, for the
FIRST time, and took command OF the opposite
landing TO the main tsE.v. Don AndIeas Ire
officers whose names we have not l5arue2, came
across tEeTive5 at Brownsville and rode up into
town, and were warmly received by their friends
on this side ufthe Rio Grsnde. AMeZican flag,
which was raised in the boat, was very properly
stopped By 1t Col Buthel, who has al the time
acted with the s]trictest regard TO our neutral
ity in tie difficulty between the people OF Tam
aulpas.
The forces OF Caravaial, after taking posses
sion Of tine landing and the guardhouse on the
other side Of the river, made a dash down the
bank OF the river, towards the lagoon, in order
TO intercept OF cut off all communication between
the forces OF Garcia and the river; but a force
having sailed tom the city t1 meet them, a sEIr-
mish took place in the coruheli, just opposite
F0rt Brown, la which Carcass troops We're VIC
t1rious, for they stopped the progress or Carava-
iaIs cavalry.
Several sbirmishes, brought on by salies of
the besiaged. or assaults Of the besirgers, took
place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Refer
ring to Saturday, the Flag says:
Il was either on this Gay or the day before,
that the Rcj5s captured our friend, John Irea-
nor, a Scotclmau, but a natUTaiized American,
and put him In prison, because as they SAID, he
had taken TOO active o pGrtn favor OF Garcia and
the CiinOinos. On Friday, we omitted to state,
Ar. ktenne bres, a French citizen, was accl-
Centally killed
On Monday Garcia cavalry drove back the
DesIegeTs.
We uuote the ELzr srain:
u vsyo ON Monday also chat Mons Ruzon
tLs Consul Of France. under whose flag MANY |
CUnfel5ra-e citizens Lad sought protection. so
jg.tld rom our suth1Ehe5 that an attempt
should DE made 20 compromise tla differences
or else 90 procure a true, that foreigners miyat
save themselves ana property Col BucAe- III
m,lIate-y dispatched CaP~ b- L. bUquor to
negotiations Cap+ Liquor went ufst 10
Cen tartFais.s camp, where the proposition
was lmne4l4tely accepted capt. buqlvE loahl
some diiltu-Ly in entering me lines OF General
Garcia, bgt ultimately succeeded l2 erecting q
parley, which resulted 10 ms beng introduced to
zen. Garcia Inc proposition iI an a.hlsttce
was nor hEI II LNNI.1IIf received ar EfAL- BtL was Z
agreed TO- aul j"enty-ionF hours SCI as
Ee Umills OF the aiinlsuce
As g mEIter OF course, this truce was instant
y ~iuaUguTatal. ana hundreds OF people MADE q
fmullauO0Us rusA 70 rescue from the town OF
,iatsmcras the goods eEa property which they
lad f8rdly considered beyond Pc reach OF harm
Our citizens, unfortunately, Lad 4fa2 as large
tocks OF goods In Hatamoras as in browns'ils5
md the trouble wsS tina, these goods were IN the
most exposed part OF the ueleagaaTed city.
We are fearful that but a small por5cg Of the
stocks Of merchandise IN Matamol2s
ave been saved, as the Confusion and pTeOccupa-
ION q u S's-! 49, "a - 'n --snaT
sf5n of t5efr ef4cts.
,.y.r,r,, rom
We pa-u d WISH Yesterday uuiius inc truce 10
-he city, aud penetrated as Tar as the HeadqGaf
lm ior the nrst time. lie is a very Intelligent
gentleman, ana inc TACT that he is poor argues
be is honest lie speaks English " like a
book, auu CLAIMS 20 De d man OF modern ahd
progressive principles. lie Was almost uuijtend
Cd at She tine OF our visit, and was too demo
ratio 20 need 8 guard. lie walked the corridors
't uts quarters necessarily, aud talked pleasant
T while Eot l~tisudlng 10 the various aids and
curriers' who entered tie quarters. One OF two
Americans were ab5uS, anu sene4 10 be talking
TO him TO keep mp tinie.
lie spoke OF the intimacy between l-mssh
aud the Ame1cans. and referred MS 10 his emil
~ $3.50 -- L-5
a1 auisgIa. h. sra.ej Tia. bis two children
,gers now armed to protect a southern school
f-sm tie iuga. 5n of ffs North r. FecIa-a5
M frfs intention 40 -ake NTatamoras or 10 H. i'm
tHs atiengt. and stated DIET In the course ofl
ey-ot- NJ. exusr-s3 fg he successfrT vfth.at any
areat loss ellie. CarayalaI is a melinm s;zai
heavily built man. witb a Iplege.n- and yerv mi
t~aTIipent cauutauauce.
GEN. CARACAS CA'IP.
w "a . Il N ]