, 1863-04-03
IMPORTANT FROM MdTAMCRAS
AND TEXaS.
How the Rebels GetsuppGes Across
the Frontier,
SEVEn}T-FtVE TRADING VESSElSAT
MATAM0RAS.

Correspondence Of the y. T. Evening post1
New ORLEANS. March =. 1868.
Inc latest adrlces from Matamoras are up
to the 9Th inst.
There were, on the 9th, seyenty-flye vessels
lying outside tae bar, unloading or waiting to
unload About one.thiru Of these were Amert-
can vessels. Fourteen bore the American
lag, but there Wire 4 large number Of north
ern vessels there under British colors. Light
eEage across the bar is still very expensive.
~ Tie ordinary lighters from s1.50 to $2 is
charged per tarrcl, merely for crossing the
lar, with similar charge from the bar to the
city. -Four steamers are nov employed in
this business, two Of them crossing The bar.
me Others taking goods up the river. They
transport merchandise at lower rate, say S,
for tie Whole distance. Labor is very exnen-
siye:: The Mexican 1aborers earn ffty cents
per hour, when they are willing to work.
Another steam lighter has Just left New Or
leans for Matamora5. 4 storrhouae is in pro-
cess Of construction ct the bar, to acconltno-
date VESSELS unwilling to wait for 1;ghtcrare.
Much Of the cotton arriving ut Matanor:ls is
unginnl and Impressed, and several presses
have just been established, and others are on
the way ,hi.her. In fact, everything is in
progress to afford accommodations for very
large trade.
Great quantities Of goods are shipped to
Matamoras from New York, under bond to
be landed in Mexico, and, believe, to he sold
to Mexicans only. Such precautions amount
to just nothing. Mexican houses buy for shin
mcnt to Texas orto sell to Contetlera' agents,
The trade to Matamoras is not to be regarded
As entirely contraband, but il is very largely
sn anu there seems to be no efficient means
II CHECK this smuggling, except by closing
the doors through which it is carried on FIR
the benefit Of rebels, Jews and unprincipled
Northern men: Foreign shippers are argcly
interested in this commerce.
Every days delay adds to the cost Of doing
nj +
ft'r itS Interest 10 do. The Rio Grande and
the Western Texas frontier should be occu.
pied by the Unicd States at once. The men
are here and at MataMoras who are fitted in
every way to take ciarg: OF all expedition t.,
accomplish this object, and who will do it, if
the Government will hut give them its coun-
tcrancc and 4 small assistance in men, equip
ucnts and funds,
The rebel furce OIL the frontier has been
strengthened since this matter las been a-i-
tat,.d at thu North. Gen. Bee, in co.nma:ll
at Fort Brown, has been reinforced, 1t is cur
rcutly reported, until he now has some six
or seven thousand mcn. He is deficient in
horscs, owing to the scarcity OF forage, hut
his troops arc usually yrry well armed, how
eyrr poorly they arc fed and clothed.
Accounts from Galveston direct. hy way Of
;iatamor,ss, and from the blockading fleet.
liz the number Of rebel troops in thc town ii
ahuns 1000. It Is no doubt fact that wood
c,s guns had bren mounted quite extensively
TN the Notifications at Galveston, which arc
now generally replaced By something uf i
sterncr character. Every extrtion is n,ade to
render the plaee lnpregnab1e. It cannot be
captured by any such force Us drew Its tirc Oh
the last day of February.
a new plan Of operations it is said is to be
adopted Involving expeditions to clear tho
rebels from Atchafalaya and Red Rivers, thus
cutting of the encnay's supplies from Texas.
The rebels have strong fertilization at Butte
In Ross, and it Is report ed that the ram Dn+an
of the Vests located there
The failure Of Banks to attack Port Hudsun
was owing to the fact that Farragut started
his feet at night instead OF just before day
light, eight hours before the time agreed upon,
thus preventing Gen Banks getting his artil-
intrcnchments. Gen. Banks and Gen Grover
are reported to have been within 600 yards Of
the cnrn'y's batteries the night thu feet
passed Port Hudson.