, 1863-10-21
AFFAIRS on. the RIO GRANDE.
Galveston and its Defcnces.


NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 10th. 1868.
The Mexicsn General Cor'inas, who some
years ago uas quite troublesome to Us on the
Rio Grande, arrived at Matamoras on the
10th ult. Els arrival, on being known or
the Texas side of the river, produced gteas
excitement, - it was alleged that he designed
raid on Brownsville, having beselged II be
fore. He was accompanied By 3 deAch neat
Of fcavalrJ attired In French uniforms, which
they no doubt procured by bush TAcklng the
French. His troops consist of some Of tac
most blood Thirsty vagabonds Ia Mc1lc,.
Cort11as' movements art closulY watched ,bY
the Texans, they evidently not fanc5ing his
appearance at this time .
On the 14th of September, company Of
Mex1csn soldiers went dosn to the river near
Matam otos to bathe, to get good wash pre-
paratory- to celebrating the anniversary Of
Mexican independence, on the 18th nit. They
proceeded to the river unarmed. They undresa.
ID sid we're enjoying 1hemselyes in the river,
when report WAS circnla1ed on tue Taxas
side that Cort'Das and his troops were cross.
ing In force. A company Of Texan sharp
shooters WEE rent to the 11yes bank, and sa,ls
ot4tnson1e commenced 1ring at the Me1icana,
killi' 6 FIVE, Wonndlng twelve or 1fteeu, and
driving the others hack to town.
The rebel force In Brownsville is numeri-
ca]ly small.
In Central Texas the rebel conscriptiou had
been enforced to the fullest extent Men Of
all grades, rich and poor, were forced into
fhe ranks. Among 1hcm wera Tlaoy Of the
original ead}Dg secesaioniats, who anticipated
that 1e3r civil services In behalf OF the re-
be1lion would cause them to be exempted
from service in the: army, The rebel con
scriptfog officers did not view it in that light,
and 70 all their protests and EXCUSES Tens for
nothing.
All tie cotton in the State had been setzsd
On rebel account. the net being excused az a
military necessity" It was being transports
ed to the banks OF the Rio Grande and thence
blockade runners, or exchanged for arms sud
munitions Of war, brought into the mort by
steamers and sailing vessels. The commer-
cial relations bttween Texas and and Mexico,
hatred between the citizens Of both sides,
are the same now Is befa1e tho rebellion.
The rebel military force In Texas west Of
the riTer Neuces ~as estimated at twenty
two hundred elective men, and the furce In
the enttre State at ten: Thousand men, two.
thirds cf whom are con.cripts, who would
abandon the rebel cause On the approach Of
United States troops. BY this 1t viii b. eyl.
dent that the rebel fighting material in Texas
is not Of the best kind.
The stronghold Of Texas is Galveston; 1t
SNOW gar1isousd bS four regiments Of rebsla,
der, but now under Col Lncket. The city is
vel! defended BY numerous and formidable
sand work casemated Notifications. Tue
principal work Is tie fremont street battery,
10 tue westward Of the city. There is also
heavy battery On the point Of Galveston is
land. at the entrance Of the harbor- At 4
Foint commanding the river channel leading
TO the city there are two batteries, respective.
u named Bankhead and Magruder. On the
opposite side there is aleo very formidable
tortiflcation. The armament Of the forts de.
fendibg the city consists OF forty guns, some
Of tht m Of modern English fabric. The guns
arc mounted On cars leading to the fortifca-
lions. and SO arranged as to be moved from
one POINT to another Els contingencies my
require, and also to be taken from tbs island
If NECESSARY. The novelty Of this manner Of
ccLccnt1auon Of fire, by the adoption of the
car process, IL clever indeed, to say the least
of 1t. The rebels firmly believe that these
guns hare sufficient cslibre to repcl any move
nent BY our army and naval forces.
In tie garrison OF Galveston great dissatis-
feciion existed, which led to open mutiuY,
Colonel Luckett's regiment recently threw
down their aEms, refusing duty, on the groucd
that they did not receive food sufficient to
keep body and soul together. TITO muttneess
subsequently seized the heavy battery ut the
point already mentioned, turned the guns on
the city AID Threatened 10 bomhard the city
unless food was furnished them. The menace
Waa successful and supplies Of food we're sent
to the garrison.
On tie i7th Of September the Union crews
Of the captured war steamers Clifton aud ST.
chem we've put to work Oh the Notifications
Of Galveston.
I The rebels hare cot eorporars guard at
Houston. The greatest torce Of Texas rebel
troops have been marched to the Lou1sllra
line, and are now uader the command nf Gen.
Dick Ta3 Tor md Gen. Green. Gen. Herbert
h,s resigned. He thinks the rebel cause is
either dead or dying, with no hope Of resuscI-
1aticn.