, 1863-12-18

tflUlu VQr CWn loffeSpondeut-J
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9, 1869.
Gen. Banks return to this city, tlough OK
pectcd in military circles, took outsiders by
surprise, At the TING hc left, and as soon Us
it was announced that he was on the Texas
coast, there was an expectation that he would
remain there and finish up the campaign in
person. The object Of the campaign was
really tie seizure Of the mouth of tic
Rio Grando, and tie occupation Of Browns
vile. That being accomplished there was
TO occasion for the Gcneral-in- Chief to r.
main there, and he returned to the principal
point Of lis Department. His subordinates
that be left behind have carried out tbs work
by the capture of Corpus Christi, and more
recently Of Fort Esperanza. These two
points give US control Of the Texas coast
from the Rio Grande to the Colorado River.
The region thus fallen into our hands Is Of
more importance tha1.~ would at first he i'm
agincd., The control Of .Alatagorda Bay
gires us a region that is one Of the
productive of cotton. It is reported
.ttat the rebels hare recently gathered large
quantities OF nattn" an the. shores Of Mnsa-
.arda. being In anticipation Of the advent OF
some light draught. blockade runners from
Nassau. Our approach to that region WIS
90 sudden that they could not have had tirlc
to remove it, and the whole lot has probably
fallen into our hands. Being gathered there
with design OF running the blockade, its
owners will be unable to save 1t from con-
Gecatlon. It will go fur towards dcftayiny
the expenses Of the Texas Expedition, Is well
- s+r';n,r sa,.a-a h,o.,1 ot tho ;,1;n,t +,.,a.,
o1ona .hc Tcro. conat The ,ehc1 ormv in t,,c
s..1,ro.t ,.f,, a ~ ;+so1e sod1 +,s;tana1 g..
,x,nt ~ eycryth;nr that Ia M ;nd;ncn,nc "
rhe soil. The rou1e through the Rio Grandc.
us vel, as the nojnfs IN the coost
hare hitherto heen available FIR nj
their wants. . Nearly all the ammunition
nscd by tho rebels in the Southwest comes
from abroad. There are no manufactures
Of arms in the country west Of the Mississippi
II, and hut two or three points where ammu-
milton is prepared. For THE all the powder
must 10 imported, as there il no manutacto-
ry OF thnt precious article. Saltpetre Is 1ack-
ing ana ca1not be procured.
olatasoFda Bay is second only to Ga1res-
ton in Importance, and on some accounts Is
- N"@'~~"~@-
"oula aam1t US at once into the railway sys-
TEN ol Texas; but 1hls- Is oy- no means OF
great exteht. Unless INC signs 1aii, dalVes-
ION anu Aus11n Will soon oe4n our hands and
II VIII nor pe long a'ter tnelr captafe' before
sablne fass comes lnto our possession.
men these thinss arc accomplished
We shai. aase ic2as pretty
tAoiousns - oa1 eon..1'' A"e 'n'etiot
pe'taon - nos 'es, sa,aal. ~ 10, sAsep. nv ~
:? ai 40 tnc fopuiat1on - eoleelnea s "e
shaa p.vp..o ssuu sn aae.,1n .:s'tsa
.ue ~ e.e1I " een''n poit',u' 10 = aue'sas
lor luz 'oy"t sIeopie VI taae loean's ~ iaus
a.oula. II Is ~ taal scc'aon .nae eolslue."
ao1s Au.aps. -. ee.n"u ns -. ss...u, ....e
es'e1 ss"'s ~ a1.. l'Ne ~ U~4ts ~ l@'1e "
p'osse4oue so'noa's' ra'A NV ""'
e1oke OUT tEe5 at as't refused TO take part IN
it, anu held ont as long as possible
am told By an officer OF Zen. Banks stat,
fQAL flGFR 1fe now Two Or three Thousand