Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-03-16

Pfobabl0 YAllugo Of tho French B.
pedluoos

trson the New York Ezpssss. Maash is.l
By On arrival Il New Orleans on the
lst Infant, from Vsss Crus, W hare
dates from that port, to the 3lst Of Feb.
ruary.
TIE French military forces invading
Mexico are in . state Of entire insctioD,
and wholly unable to assume the Often.
sive, until they receive large reinforce
ments. The prevailing impression at
Vera Cruz among persons whose oPin-
ions are entitled to rsspect il, that the
expedition Will prove q complete failure,
and the invaders DO driven frem Mexi-
can soil, usless 4 very large addition, say
Of At least $4,000 men, is made to their
present effective strength. The Official.
ties Of the position have evidently vastly
surpassed the expectations ofthose plan.
ming The details Of this attempt sgaisst
the Mexican republic, for thus for the
meaus provided have been siugu'srly
inadequate to the magnitude Of the work
undertaken. Some Of the French Off,
GERS express their extreme disgust at
the ~hole enterprise, and are BY. 70
means slow in tho declaration OF the
wish that they we're well out Of the
whole aff.i,, The climate has had an
extremely facilitating effect upon the
physique and moraee Of the army. They
appear disriri,ed /; are sadly wor BY
the enersst,ng influence OF continuous
tropical heats; have no vestige Of the
sigor, dash, aud abandon transferring
the French soldier.
The forces occupying Vera Cruz are
largely composed Of negroes. These
are brought principally from Narti-
niquc. Trey arc usually employed on
guard duty IN tho city, and wherever
there is o necessity Tor eoutisucd expos.
ure 10 the sun. White soldiers are rare
" .een on duty at Vera Cruz under the
present authorities.
Tho inhabitants Of tho city Weld obs.
| dience TO the martial law Of the French,
aware that resistance would be Wholly
Intellectual except to their own injury.
The merchants would BE- glad to see its
removal, yielding to its power reluctant.
ly and without showing any tendency TO
forget the csuss OF Mexico. On the
other hand, a portion OF the Church
party ssems more kindly disposed to-
wards the invaders; but among this fac.
ton there 10 much national feeling, asd
much concealed hostility towards
France.
The bulk of the French army 10 At
and near La Pusbla, something over .
hundred miles from Vera Cruz, on the
road TO Mexico. Betseeu this body
aud Vera Cruz, their base Of supplies,
the country is infested 9Th gserrilla
bands OF Mexicsus. we'll armed, and
mounted on the ewift mustangs Of that
country. These rapidly moving troops
attack and capture eli trains Of supplies
sent inward for Puebls, unle.s they arc
escorted BY . strong force. These guer-
rilias can often be teen from Vera Cruz
itself, suddenly advancing and disappear
ing Tor the purpose Of accommodating,
and discovering any prey that may be
wrested from the French. On tie 18th
inst, they spread apart the rails on The
railway leading towards PaebIa, at . dis
tance Of some half a dozen miles from
the city, and, having in this way thrown
off the track . train Of cars from Vera
Cruz, partially laden With supplies for
the army At l., Pusbla, they plundered
1t OF all its freight. One man stopped
TO d tend the property and was shot /;
the Others escaped unframed. A com.
psny or two Of cavalry more than halt
black, and mounted, some on mules and
some on horses, we're sent out TO recov.
er the goods and attack the guerrills.,
but nothing was accomplished.
Vast sandy piains lie between Vera
Cruz and La Puebla, across which 4
loaded team canno pass, the only avail.
allie means Of transportation being pack
mules. Az already stated, this iuefi-
cient method Of conveyance can accom-
plish nothing, except when acc. mpsuied
by q strong escort. To avoid these an
noyances OF delay, expense and capture
the French are constructing q railway
across to La pucb'a. The Mexicans are
sLrewd enough to allow this work to 60
on unmolested, convinced that it will re-.
main to the enduring advantage Of the
state, though 0 intended for their in.
jury. Indeed, the gueriillas are careful
to interfere with DO one but the French.
and those rendering them assistance.
The French occupy beth Iuspan and
Minatitlsn, az well No Vera Cruz. At
M'natitlan they have collected a large
amount VI cotton. AT Tuspsu the force is
believed TO be email. They are we'll sup.
piled with torres at Vera Cruz. Flour
sells there at nine dollars per barrel, and
potatoes ut five dollais. Corn aud oats
ere plenty.
r. A(.-.s-t NJ