New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-04
uNvasvON OF TEXAS.

the general understanding Ill IeBiru lO IL
is of very limited character. As subject Of
much Importance and interest, we have taken
some trouble to get the most accurate knowl.
edge upon it possible, and especially from Texan
refugees whose familiarity with the topography
of the country, the nature Of the coast, and the
character of its harbOrs, entities them to be
heard with respect.
For the sake of convenience, we divide the
routes into that State into four, that if taken,
would probably prove successful, and three of
which the best that can be said Of them is that
they might possibly prove so. or these the
first, or probable routes, are:
/. BY landing on Matagorda Bay.
9. by landing between that bay and the
mouth Of the Rio Grandc.
3. by landing at Galveston.
4. by advancing from Little Rock. through
Northern Texas.
The possible routes:
/. By way Of Red River into Eastern Texas
9. From San Francisco, California, via t.
Paso, into Western Texas.
3. From New-Oreans, via Berwid's Bay,
across the Sabine River, into SOUTHEASTERN
Texas.
Probable Route No. IA column OF troops
landing at Port Lavaca, on Matagorda Bay,
would dsembark immediately on the main land,
with the same depth Of water as on the bar al
the entrance of the bay. say ten or twelve ieet,
aud thus avoid transhipmcnt and hghterage
oyer shallow bars within the bay. The military
TO the entrance OF this bay are
much less than at Galveston. The two gun
boats that were lost in the ca de sac OF Sabine
Riyor could easily have silenced the batteries
n, Pass Cavallo. because once within The bay
they would have had ample room to maneuyer,
which they had not in the narrows Of tho Sa-
hine. and which was tie cause of their loss.
Troops once landed could Immediately march
over hard roads to Austin, the capital Of the
state, a distance Of 40 miles, and thus hold
all of the State west Of the Colorado River.
This occupation would bisect the populated
portion of the State. The population OF Texas
lies east of the 99th degree of longitude. except
a smell aboriginal Mexico-Indian settlement of
the FL Paso Valley. The 99ih meridian crosses
the Colorado a short distance above Austin.
The advantage Of this occupation are these:
1t would be in prairie country, where gyerrIlla
opera;ions against the base Of supplies and
Austin could no, be carried on. II would be
in u friendly country, aud could recruit loyal
men more than sufficient Ia cover the losses
inciaeu, 10 war. Il would be- in a healthy
country. /, could draw ample supplles Of frcsh
beef. horses and mules, and the grass of the
prairics would furnish forage better than hay.
/, xould cut off all forces the enemy might
have west Of the Colorado. and render their
capture or destruction certain. II would eicc'
tually cut of the con,raband trade with Mcxico,
from which source the Rebels draw thcE arms
and ammunition. Nearly all Of the irnnspor'
iation of Texas il engaged in hauling cotton T.
the Rio GTandc from West Tcra- and IN hring-
ing back supplies of arms and ammunition by
landing a, Lavaccn, and pushing up the eonn-
try 10 Austin, these large trains might be cap
iured But if an advance is made into Texas
from the east these trains will be brought Mp
by the Rebels a. they may need them and thus
facilitate their movements, which might other
wise be seriously crippled by their capture II
would take the mail-roads u the state conccn'
tra,jnr al Houston in the rear, Instead Of n
front. where they are protrac,ed by shallow
waters. ba,terics and foriilcaions. II would
have as a basis Of supplics and reinforcement
the open sea, which Is ours beyond dispute.
And /, would enable the mon men 20 reoTgan-
ize the Government OF the state under The
Constitution Of the United States.
Probable Route No. 2.-Ofcrs tho sam,
advantage "a No !. except that The force.
would have a longer land march to accomplish
the same results.
ProJqJk Route No. 3.-A landing could be
effected on Galveston land; but then 20 eci Il
The mainland would require rcshipment By
lighters OF light draught TO cross The shn!loT
bars al the mouth of the San Jacinio Ryr
(Red.fsh and Cloppcrs bars, and when oTr
these the stream nanows greatly and cOdld 'c
easily obsiructed; and, besides, Qualifications
and batteries have been erected 10 prevent such
a landing. There is no, more than four or i've
feet on Red-hsh and Choppers bars. md,
besides. all the railroads Of Texas conccnirai at
Houston, on Buffalo Bayou, which cmpties nto
the San .Jacinto River. and these roads aiord
facilities TO the Rebels in concentrating neir
forces to oppose a landing. The ioriiiicathns
NJ the throat Of Galveston Bay are mich
stronger than any others in Texas, and void
require more gunboais and heavier mcialto
overcome them. These distractions oyorcore
as they probably could be, still the army