Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-01
From the New York Express
-EiPonTANT FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

FRENCH AND FEDERAL TROOPS TO CONFRONT
EACH OTHER ON THE RIO GRANDE.
We learn by the steamer George Washington, which
arrived to-day from New Orleans, that much excite
Dent existed there among the rebel eympah and
heir friends, in reference to the great military aud
naval expeditions about to depart from that point. 1t
s understood that the flower of Gen. Grants army re-
Gently operating at Vcksburg, is would be embark
ed this important expedition, the destination OF
which, it has been given out, Mobile, Ala. The
bel sympathzers, however, who usually wise above
what is written, unwilling to accept this Mobile
theory They quite that the expedition is CO.
ing in just the contrary direction and that Mobile -
IS only used by the Federas blind to put the
bells off their guard In short, they quite certain
that the expedition will turn up not Alabama the
mouth of the Tombigbee, but in Texas ct the mouth
of the Rio Grande. They likewise certain that the
movement was to be marked by great celebrity they
say OF the troops had already gone forward and
would be Texas soil, the nucleus of a great
my of occupation there before the George Washing
on could reach New York The further talk among
those wonderfully wise rebel sympathZers, was that this
concentration OF Federal troops at the mouth of the
Rio Graude was III consequence OF an anticipated rup
ture Of friendly relations between France and the Uni
ted States that certain demands have been made of
the Fench Emperor in respect his recent operations
in Mexico which, if not satisfactorily complied with
will be Immediately followed by the invasion of that
country by the army OF Gen. Grant that secret
derstanding contemplating some such invasion exists
between President Lincoln and the fugitive Mexican
President Juarez that, finally, war between France
and the United States growing out of these compica
lions, is inevitable, etc.
We give these reports for what they are WORTH and
we leave it to the intelligence of the reader to apprase
them at their actual value. II there is really n oun
daon FOR the statement that the destination of the New
Orleans expedition is the mouth Of the Rio Grande,
however, cannot orbear remarking that the rebels
with their accustomed penetration, have discovered the
fact, Notwithstanding the pains taken to put them on
the Mobile The proof of this knowledge we have
in the latest advice from Brownsville Texas, published
in the express few days ago, which stated that Cen
eral Bee the rebel commander the Rio Grande, had
ordered the removal of the custom house Browns
vile, to Rome, place about one hundred and fifty
miles above. We not aware that the Confederates
have any military force in that quarter to oppose our
troops but if they had the real Importance o. the
movement lies rather in its Immediate relation to France
than to the Southern Confederacy We have inform4-
ton that the French having already taken possession
of the seaport of Tampico, about TO dispach-if
they have not already dspatcheGa military force to
take possession of Matamoras step which will bring
them face to face with the Federal army OF occupation
aware, is Mexican town on the Rio Grande, few
ries above The junction with the Gulf of Mexico.
Immediately the river is the State of Texas,
the of Brownsville being in that State and
pyrg the relation to Matamoras that Jersey City does
to New York. This town has oil along been held by
the above mentioned rebel General Bee and since the
war began large contraband trade has been carried
on between tie two towns European merchants using
the Mexican port nominal port OF entry. 1t has
been almost impossible for US to prevent the trade,
the Rio Graud a neutral liver, and cannot be block
AIDED, while Matamoras is under friendly flag, and
cannot be occupied Under the Mexican flag indeed,
Matamoras has been source OF annoyance to the Uni
ted States and may be that the army of General
Grant has been is be sent to Brownsville to stop
that annoyance and put end to the contrab and
traud, How far this proceeding is likely to compro-
n Use our friendly relations with the French Emperor
OR how soon!tmay result collision with his soldiers
on the opposite side of the river, problems we do
not at present to discuss The time for their
mary solution, however, is clearly not far distant.