Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-22
LETTER FROM THE RIO GRANDR.
THE SIEGE OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ASSAULT.

NN1 A--e- -
Our Texas exchanges bring us news Of a final
assault on MatsmoTas, and the defeat and dis
persion Of the Carsvsisl party. From theIHous-
ten Telegrqph's Brownsville correspondence we
take the following account:
BROWNSVILLE, February "a, 1862
Once again the affairs Of our neighbors in and
about NaismOrOs have awakened some little interest
Yesterday morning jt wGs announced that NidaGrris
forces were absolutely and beyoHd doubt on the march.
and would soon ach ths scene Of action. At the in
stance, therefore, Of GOV. Scrua- OF Tsnauipas, who
reached Gen. Caravsials quarter several days since, the
latter determined 10 change his past policy aud TO storm
the city. His sympathisers on this side Of The creek
thereupou became unusually oucTant and gaseous going
so far s. 20 say the general had finally concluded TO take
the piszs by storm todsy, ort1 raise the Eeigs the next
This had no much the appearance OF an intention 20
try 10 do something. that Of course we were all upon the
g4j ti5s for the opening Of the bal-some going so far as
70 set M tho whole NIGHT. Well sr. sure enough. as
had been announced. 81 O'Clock this morning the most
tremendous cannOnsdng and lire Of musEery com
meuced that we had yet heard, indeed the whole Of his
force seemed 20 concentrate in the attack. Il grew louder
and louder, neroer ana hercer, and grsduaNy seemed 10
approach the main plaza Foo five or AK hours the firing
was inosssant Snd very heavy but about 9 o'clock il
seemed 10 cease, or A. the wind changed around 10 the
north we could hear bat little more Of Il. A mon
nov and then announced that whatever the result was,
there were still some beligerents holding out.
But little q the details Of the fight could be learned
on this side until ?. n. to-day, though rumOrs of DIES.
perate fighting and greztloss Of lie We're very numerous.
At RbO1t that hOur E0me OF the wounded were brought
over, and the following is a gst OF the many statements
going the rounds Carayajal having succeeded in brbiug
the officer and men stationed at one Of the principal bar.
ucades, at a Preconeerted signal attacked on three sides
at once. His Non, after bat a feint at resistance, being
admitted into the inside Of the bsrHcade, some made
themselves masters Of the adjoining houses. In the
meantime the attacking parties on the othor two sides
were occupied In a desperate Eandtohsnd encounter,
and fought with such gallant determination that the in
sidofS had their hands full
The Roios, who had obtained an entrance az the be-
trRyci bsHicajo, gradually worked up through the
houses and ysris on their side toward the cathedral,
which, st about 6 O'Clock A. ~, they sucCeeded in getting
possession Of together with much OF the ammunition and
stores belonging 70 the Crnolnos This, however, 30 Ear
from dampening the ardor Of the beseged, served 70
awaken them 20 increased activity, and in q short time
they succeeded In regaining possession Of all the houses
through which the RQjGF had passed together with the
betrayed barrcade; thus cutting of all rvinforcements
from the 80 or 20 men now thsmselve+ besieged in the
cathedral. The accomplishment Of this drew of 10 many
defenders from the opposite side Of the pihla a. 50 enable
the Roos 10 make Roadway on that side, and to ebtan n
fOOthOld in some OF the houses. Thus matters stood till
about SA o'clock, when the CrinOliuOs managed TO con
struct a breastwork & Of bales of wool, (sbout the size Of
cotton balesD and to place in it one Of their ~siXpound
guns, immediately in front Of the main entrance TO the
cathedral. 4 few fires tom this piece soon knocked them
Che dOor) into fragments, when the building was charged
and re~tsken-DeaTly ali OF the unfortunate R0jos being
impaled upon the bayOnet.