Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-11-24
YANKEE INVASION OF TEXAS.

The New York Herald" of the 10th gives
long account by its correspondent, OF the
arrival Of Banks and Dana's force in the
Rio Grande,. together with q map of the coast,
the rivernouth, Brownsville Matamoras and
the adjoining country. The expedition had
encountered storm, in which the steamer
Union and two schooners went down but NO
lnss Of life. On the ID November the expo.
di;ion crossed the bar Of the Rio Grande, and
seized the mouth of the Boca Chica. They
found two deserters, who gave them the infor'
nation following, touching the force of the
Confederates and its disposition
Three regiments, which they said were on
the Rio Graade few weeks ago, had been
sent to Galveston and Sabine Pass, and that
Colonel Luckett's regiment of cavalry was
ordered to proceed to Houston nearly two
weeks ago.
Sabine Pass, they said, was expected to be
1aily attacked, and only a week ago it was
reported that five or six Yankee steamers
were of the mouth of the river. Two or
three days before they deserted report was
circulated that ten thousand Union troops had
landed, but the day following this statement
was corrected.
On Matagorda Island, near Saluria, there
is a largo fort called Fort Espcrauza, mounting
nine guns-cne ten inch columhiad, six 24-
Founders and two l2-pounders. Capt. Feraon
is in command. Two companies'ot infantry
and ono Of cavalry, az well as company OF
conscripts (also cavalry, are reported encamp.
Cd in the neighborhood.
Ger. Magrudcr, they say, s.now at Hous-
ton. He has orly two thousand troops (cav-
alry) there, the remainder of his army being
scattered about at various places. the most
being ut Galveston and Sabine Pass. AT the
former city there is also regiment Of heavy
artillery.
There is formidable fort near Brownsville,
on the Rio Grrnde, called Fort Brown. Brig
Gen. Bee is in command. Since receiving
this news learn from another party that
General Beo has been superseded, and Briggs
der General Slaughter appointed to the COM
mand.
As no attack was expected in this neigh
borhood for some time, all the rebel troops
have been sent away to other points, leaving
only small force to garrison the fort.
The correspondent afirms it to be untrue
that the French have occupied Matamoras, On
the Mexican side of the river. There are no
French soldiers there.
The latest date is Nov. 4th.
STARTLING NEws-THE REBELS CALCULATING
FORT BEowN.
We hnveiust received official news of the
greatest importance.
The government buildings at Fort Brown
were burned to the ground yesterday by the
rebel garrison, preparatory to their evacuatlng
the fort.
FIGHTING IN THE STREETS OF BROWNSVILLE BE-
TWEEN THE UNION MEN AND sEcEssIoNIsTs-
THE TOWN ON FIRE
From the same source we learned that aboul
this time three O'Clock on Tuesday aftornoon)
squad Of sixty rebel cavalry, which had wit
messed the landing of the soldiers under the
guns of the Monongahela, at the mouth of the
Rio Grande, dashed into Brownsville and
commenced setting fire to the buildings, with
the intention. of destroying the town. The
property holders and Union men resisted
them, when the secessionists joined the cavel>
nv, and bloody street light took place, which
lasted all the afternoon, the buildings burning
in cvery direction around them. The fight
was still going on when ahe messenger .lelt
for the purpose of communicating the nows to
the generals commanding.
Tho Fifteenth Maine, which was IN the sd-
vance at the time, at once received orders to
march without delay, and by daylight to
morrow morning this regiment, with others IN
supporting distance, will be in Brownsville.