The New York herald., 1863-03-28
INTERESTING FROM TEXAS.
AFFAIRS ON THE RIO GRANDE.
Practical Abandonment Of the Lower Rio
Grande by the Rebel Forces.
--~N>~~~~~<~~S~>.~~~S~--~~~e
REBEL TRADE THROUGH MEXICO.
HOW 1T is CARRIED ON.
The Rc0ccupation Of the Rio Grande
Urgently Called For.
HOW THIS CAN BE EFFECTED,
&e., &e., &c.
REBEL TRADE THROUGH MEXICO.
HOW 1T is CARRIED ON.

HOW THIS CAN BE EFFECTED,
&e., Ge., &c.
70 form correct idea Of the aas Of Texas particu-
u Of that portion Of the State bordering the
soutier and from which Ia divided by the Rio Grande
necessary 70 take into the geographical ma
srs d either portion OF the countries bordering
shas river ana the feelings Of the people regard
the rebellion Of the Southern States The two nearest ad
joining States Of Mexico Texas the Rio Grande
arc Tamaulipas and New Leon and Coahua-thc
sser being Stnc formed few years since by the con
sohdaon Of the two States Joint namos II bears
Shese two States are by far the powerful popula
ason and wealth Of any in that portion OF Mexico
confronting them for Lany miles there arc Texas
siac Of the river, but three military posts These arc
Post Brown, Rnggod Barracks and Fort Duncan These
e oid United States forts and the only posts per-
OsneAfy occupied by our troops 1t any time After the
Withdrawal Of forces through the treason ana trea
chery Of Gen. Twggs the rebels Of
these forts Fort Brown the mouth Of tho
no Grande was subsequently Tin July, 1892
~ the rebels for political reasons which will be here
Aser explained. At tho time Of withdrawal they
aismanted the fort seized upon the Mexican steamboats,
chen on the river In defiance Of the protest OF Colonel
ouroga, Mexican commandant At Matamoros, and by
thn means conveyed the heavy guns from Fort Brown
% Ringgod Barracks, higher up the river Since that
TINA the fort has never been occupied by mill
sasy force, although II commands the import
aat towns Of Brownsville and Matamoros on
either side Of the river, being but half mile distant
nom the former and than that from the latter
asd ~ defences fast becoming worthless The rebels
Aave now concentrated small force Ringgod Barracks
~ far from Rio Grande City In the month OF June
lnse some few guns thst had not been
were " in an ro Ia
hombproos were in bad order, and there
net . solitary sentinel 10 be seen in the fort
was formerly considered important post, and its
MEANS Of defence were considerable II surrounded
- wide ditch, broad glacis with and had
bcmbprcofs inside About yearago inormants
started covey Of quas the parade ground near tho
bombproo!s Tho other military posts, though dgnned
y the high sounding titles Of forts, possess little claim
% b considered such. They neither defended by
raed earthworks, ditch fosse The ground desig
nassd crely surrounded by picket fence enclosing
~ shantiss OF the officers and soldiers Last Summer
~ small rebel fnrne stationed Brownsville oonse
Svesco Of the visitation u yellow fever smsng in
habitants, removed to Ringgold Barracks
sAas time 10 this the whole Of the lower RIO 9rande has
bssn totally abandoned BY the rebel troops.
STATE OF OPPOSING PAKrIEs ON rKE RIO
GRANDE.
From the treason Of Twggs, which to the Texas
10 rebel government had than 500 at
say timc throughout the whole region Of the RIO
0rands from It's mouth up 10 Fort Duncan. Aud at tho
prssent there than 900 stationed In
~ dstance Against these 800 robels side OF
there banded together the Mexican SIDE,
waiting tho OF armed and disciplined organ
hasion 800 loyal Texans, mpatentIy anxious for tho
time when they will be in condition to strike retri
butivc blow against those whs have driven them from
mono and country. Their superiority Of numbers, how
ever unavang from the want oil arms and ammunition
= few pistols and rifles comprise theG whole arma
uess for these there is deficiency Of powder
aaA caps diabocal outrage, committed by the rebels
h the rst days their unbrded fury, affords sad yet
glorious illustration Of the dceprooted loyalty Of some OF
~ Texan people Zapas county borders the Ao Graudc
greatest stretch OF boundary being hss river II
~ the part peoped by citizens Of Mexican descent
Snaay Of them born thcre, strongly attached 10 the
Union and iu flag. Just prior to the treason OF
Tw,ggs when NE first mut,erugs OF the storm began
70 DO hoard OF these ctzc.s or Zapata who had
been assured by officers that they would be
aAAed by tho United forces determined 70 cling 70
ahe Union at all hazards Our government did not
tain the of it's loyal oess by sending them
help This did deter them from eyincng their
loyalty and faithful amid the fathiess, they up the
ssars and Stripes THIS aew upon them an attack, go
crssly planned and suddenly executed ovcrpswer
g force Of rebel rangers After hard dght tho whole
body Of Union men, rst surprise seized their
arms, down. THIS bloody episode Of the rebel
ioa reached s terrible details the knowledge OF
tho Northern people indeed sll the facts known
70 nine tenihs of peops Of rcxas ill long afterwards
Tho which lett the Union msn much nj tAo
rcy Of the rebels though ouinumbcring them two to
suc be found the treason Of Tsggs his seizure
asd transfer rebel hands Of III tho gaverunc arms
and ammunition, and The purchase ny the Knights
sf the Golden Circle VI 81 the powder and caps
private sale M the State. The unsaspoctng
Iu,onisis werc Inns lett amast ent4re,y VITA
out the arst rsquireInsns Tor defsace. rms great
want thsy could renas,, Tor the reason that
1.-The powder subsequsn,y brought into the State has
en- purchased by the government tor tae army, and
y. for by the cotton oonibussd BY the planters Pea.
individuals, especially tbass suspected of loyalty 70
overnnsni Of ou- fathers, not pcrni,toi TO I'm.
o5 sale, or 10 buy smrnuniuOn. Notwithstanding
ant u thm great ,asscntts succc.Sli resistance
eesefui assault pa~tios tihe Texans on the McScsp
.ccrossed tbc river, rnaie loigment there, aat
aase rrsaacnt raids on -" reeeIs IN rexas sc,ier
scoai, ovorthro~ ing scat ascofs 'ad d-sroyiag sub
-sstsnce trains mo mos. a1s- of tnis Kind kss
grosly misreessnied ia the southern papers
and these Southern accounts have bcea very generally
". ci by the Northern preS. u was slated that ate
s4tnck maze On rsbcs force ypJ way rom
@NshpH 'Afsess 'aSo tie -h'"t~' 'W H'''' ~
3and " iexcans TINS gia f.ct u va. tte by
tAc Inign ctz1us or Texas. xho, drives from theli
hnncs, fcck temporary refuge Meas.-n SOFIA
torttof = ihat binc * 3co Who nave Iona
fn,,sucntly waited tor guecor frop g,wefBmen,
-rd tor the means v protecting tis.n-e'ves
We batG that me " ther nsnnber Captain atav,.u,
zap,ia fafter whose .aniy Cio couuss Z name. ia,
srcs come New orcqns = s.ish ahl trum IA sav
errmen. Ntcn the s,ate of trass tbe eio y, ~,
wac ar.t rencseied e. Gerefa saisr h4i Greer Al ,s
resolved uuet sending 4msni at saftrry Of !.
u,ct,e t,re rtr the protertiaa " tne fnAilef slile
I, ,.as not ucaaca IN hls ml'iiarr dltrirt g.a Dcae
rr,,cr been able carry n d-sigo, nra-n ndre,
onn,cers al The very least would have iaiaca whee,e