The New York herald., 1863-10-17

D. B Barton, from New Orleans the 10th inst ar
rived At this port yesterday.
MIR. Edward Henderson purser will please accept
thanks for tho prompt delivery Of letters and papers
Mr. Charles II. FarreiIs Dispatches.
New ORLEANS, Oct. s. 1868.
Interesting Nevs from, the Rio Grande and VicIniy-
Maeamoras stu J,occupied By the French-Sennent Of
the Citizens Ma he Inteior of Teras-The Ct.i-
Gems and The RebI officials Opposed TO Each Other-
Strength and Locality of the Rebel Army in Ieras-Au
the Cotton Ssised-0ortinas Rsaivus-Gaueston and It's
Defenca-rhe Blockade Rannr Sir Robert Peel
Formidable Fessel-Se1:ures BY our Gulf Fleet, dc.
Your correspondent had n lengthy interview to-day
with Mr.. T. Haggart brother ulaw OF Judge David
son. OF New York city He had just arrived from the Rio
Grande district, having left Matamoros via Galveston,
and Sabine Pass the 17th ut At the time Of hu de-
parture from Matamoros intelligence from San Louis
Potos the present capital Of the Jaurez government Of
tho Sd ult. had been received Matamoros yet
cupied by :he French there any indication that
such event likely TO transpire. The French
troops at Victoria, moving towards Monterey appa
rsnty with the intention Of cutting Off that city, at the
same time accomplishing the submission OF Tam aupas-
Monterey being the principal town in that State When
my informant left Matsmoros there French YES
sels In port Restrictions had been removed
The sentiment Of the people Of Matamoros regarding
decidedly of pacific character The citizens have
dea OF opposing the French The archives Of the State
however, have been removed place OF safety. and
all vane property got ready for instant removal at the
lrst intmaon Of the approach OF the French. large
portion OF the community perationists but they
are too feeble In moral physical strength to form State
tho basis OF acuescence to
rule. The Mexican people tho line locking with
great anxiety for the occupation Of Texas by United
States troops Disturbances continually occurring
between Texan rebels and Mexcans the line Of the
Rio Grande. The principal point OF these hostile demon
stratiops Is noar Matamoros
Major Benderus, OF the Texan rebel army, with bat
talon of troops recently crossed the Rio Grande into the
Mexican territory, at point Cearrara for the pur
pose OF capturing Zapati, who In command OF
body Of Mexican troops, alleged to have been n the
ploy Of tho United States government The rebe! major
in his official report OF the pursuit. writes that he
ceeded in taking Zapa and captured him and all his
followers Zapati refugee from Texas. Before this
event the movements of Zapat were well known by the
Texas rebels who acquainted the Mexican authorities
with the facts Zapati arrested, put n close
nement but adroily managed to enlist the sympathes
OF his entire guard, and wit h them escaped.
The Mexican General Cortinas, who some years ago
quite troublesome to tho Rio Grande, arrived
ut Matamoros the 10Th ut His arrival, on being
known the Texas side of the river produced great
citement, as It was alleged that he designed raid
on Brownsville, having beseiged II before. He
accompanied by a detachment OF cavalry
attred French uniforms which they doubt procured
by the French His troops consist Of
OF the blood thirsty vagsbonds iu Mexico. Cortnas
closely watched by the Texans, they cv
IDENTIFY not fancyiDg his appearance at this time.
On the l4th Of Septemberia company OF Mexican sol
diers went down to the river Masn to ba,hc,
get good preparatory to celebrating the ami
versary Mexican indcpcn iancc, the 10th ut They
proceeded TO the river unarmed. They undressed and
were enjoying themselves In the rver when report
circulated the exas side that Cornas and his troops
crossing in force. company OF Texan sharp
shooters to the river bank, aud cremoe
commenced firing at the Me excans, killing Ave, woundiug
twelve fifteen. aud driving the others back town.
Tho rebel force In Brownsville is numerically small.
In Central Texas the rebel conscrPtion had been
forced the fullest Men Of all grades, rich and
poor, were forced into the ranks. Among them
many the rgna leading secessonists who anticipated
that their civil services In behalf OF the rebellion would
them to be exempted from service In the army
Tho rebel conscrptipg officers did not view It In that
light, aud 50 all their protests aud for
nothing
All tho cotton in the State had been seized on 70.
rebe, account, the act being excused 'mitary
necessity" II being transported the banks the
English blockade runners, exchanged for arms and
munitions Of war brought into that port by steamers
and sailing vessels. The commercial relations between
Texas and Mexico, Notwithstanding fact OF mutual
hatred between the both sdes the same
now an before the rebellion.
Tho rebel military forco in Texas west OF the river
reuces estimated at twenty-five huadred effective
men, and tho force in the entire State at thousand
men, two-thirds Of whom are corscripts, who woald
abandon tho rebel the approach of United States
troops BY this win be evident the rebel shtiug
material In Texas Is not OF the best kind.
The stronghold Il Texas IL Galveston; s now garri.
soncd by regiments OF robos, recently under the
oommapd u General aasruder, but now under Colonel
Luckc,,. Tho city is VOL defended by numerous and
formidable sand work cssemated fortNcatons The
principal work tho fremont battery to the west,
ward OF the city There Ia also heavy battery on tho
point OF Galveston Island al tho entrance OF the harbor
A. point commanding the river channel leading 10 iho
city there two batteries, respectively named
Bankhcad and Magrudcr Ou the opposite side there Ia
also a very formidable fertilization. The armament OF
the defending city consists OF eory guns some
Of them Of modern English fabric. The guns are mount
cd leading the foriidcacs and gcd as
to BE- one point to another as contingencies
may require aud also be taken from the island n no
oessay Tho novelty OF tins of concentration OF
e, by the adoption Of the process clever indeed
say the least It, he rebcls firmly peove that these
army and nava forces
In the gar sou OF Galveston great dssats action ex
SOD, which ed 10 open mutny. Col1nel Iurkctte rcpi.
inent recently threw down their arms refr slny
duty, on the ground that thcy did not rr,eiye toad
subsequently seized the heavy battery ,t ~. %
already mentioned, turned the EGns ou the cily and
threatened W p1moard the city nness food was furnished
them. Tho menace nj aud supplies OF lood
sent ~ the gsrrsn.
Ou the 17th Of September the Union crews of tho ran
mr. ef nlf.nr Al q aNI.
on the lortincati MS of Galveston
The rebes hsve not corIoral's guard at Ious,on
The greater force OF Texas rebel troops have marched
o. the louisiana line, and under the command OF
Gen Dick Taylor aud Gen. Green. Gen Herbert has re-
signed He thinks the rebel cause is either dead or
dying. with no hoTe ~ rosusctstion.
The people q Tcx,s are daily expecting the occTra
ton OF the state by rinon troops but rather than
have sucn an eveat they would wiliingly