The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-19
NEWS FROM THE RIO GRANDE.
The Trade OF 0fMafamoras..Cou.
traband Carxoes.sd0vements
OF the Rebels on the Rio
Grande, &C., &C.. t.t-
ouR NArAMoRAs CORRESPONDENCE.

/ oCk MArAMoRAS CORRESPONDENCE
MArAMoRAs, July %, 1858.
Reliable b9formatioa-M Ma.amoras Really a
Confederate Po't- Ca,trabdnd Trade Be-
ttceeR Nee York and Natamoras-A
Seamer Eagaged IN u-Occypation Of
1eras-The Rebels at Bro,cnsrile, DC
As reliable information from this part OF
the world is scarce with Northern journals,
avail myself Of an opportunity to send
you some points from this part Of Mexico,
or rather of the so-ealled Southern Confed.
eracy; for it is nothing else, the trade Of the
place beins that Of supplying the rebels
with all they need, receiving cotton in re-
| turn. The merchants are all in the South
ern interest, and are rapidly accumulsting
wealth through their eontraband traffic
There are now on the banks Of the Rio
Grandge thousands Of bales of cotton, piled
up awaiting transportation across the river.
A number of men are engaged in the buis-
ness, who have rope ferry for the purpose,
using large scows or fatboats, whereby
they are enabled to transport largo num-
ber Of bales every trip.
There is firm in New York who are
largely engaged in contraband business
with MatamOras, They have one vessel
that has made them moro money than all
the rest of their ships put together. On
her first voyage from New Orleans TO Mata.
moras she carried cargo Of conirabands
goods;her cargo from Matamorls 20 Havana
was cotton; her cargo from Matsmoras, on
her return trip. was contrabands, accor-
ding to the orders OF Mr.. Savage, the Uni
ted States Consul at Havana, and consisted
Of arms, ammunition, clothing, liquors, and
other articles Of like nature, aud | am in
formed by some of her crew here thst h,y
were ashore, SO as not to able to bear wit
ness against the steamer Melville in case
of an investigation before the United
States Consul at Havana on her return to
that port Her captain, 50 l am informed,
kept his vessel five days in the port Of Ha.
vana, in order TO have an opportunity 10
take in the arms, he being interested in the
venture about one hundred thousand dol.
lars, that amount being reward for con
senting to take a cargo Of such anature.-
- few days after the arrival Of the Mel
vile of tho mouth OFF the Rio Grands, d
French trigate captured small Eoglish
brig with contraband goods; bat the Mel
Vile was safe, her cargo having been taken
outls soon as she arrived by lighter
steamer, called the Bravo, belonging TO
wealthy firm Of New Orleans. This boat
bad the Melville's cargo on board eight
days before il could bo landed, according TO
Custom House regulations. On her way
up the Rio Grande there was much excite
ment on the rebel side Of the river. Ma
gruder's troops gave cheer after cheer for
the captain Of the steamer Melville and
the steamer Bravo. Captain Richardson.
formerly captain Of the Bravo, and good
Union man, was obliged to hide behind the
plothouse for fear Of being shot by the rcb
els on the Texas side Of the river. They
called loudly for him, saying. "Where -
that damned Yankee son OF bitch?"
If permitting trade of this kind Is puitiDs
down rebellion, why should like TO know
it, Why eas our government 50 long dc
layed the invasion Of Texas Troops
could be landed on the coast between tho
Rio Graude and Brazos, and stop put to
all this blockade running Contraband
trade at Matamoras would be broken up,
thereby causing the rebel army OF Texas 10
suffer for the neccessaries Of life, and much
be done towards crushing the rebellion"
Confederate money is worth but fourteen
cents on the dollar in Brownsvilc, and
there is no prospect at present Of il reach
iug higher figure.
The Coniederates have commenced to for
tify Brownsyille; but as there are but Few
troops there the work goes os but slowly.
A few regiments could readily get possession
OF the place and hold it, The majority Of
the rebel troops that were there have been
sent to reinforce General Dick Taylor In
Louisians; the few remaining arc only Tor
the purpose Of defending Brownsville end
the mouth Of ,he river. There arc o few
companies OF cavalry employed on picket
duty along the coast.