Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-01-15
Affairs Across the Mississippi.

|
| Hon 4. NJ. Branch, member of Con-
gress from Texas. has arrived at Moilbe,
en- route for Richmond He left Alexan-
dria on the lGth at which time they had
adyces at that point from Houston, thirty
nine hours old The Noble .4drefttseg
publishes the following intelligence furnish
ed by him:
The enemy were at Matagorda, moving
along the coast in column about 5000
strong. accompanied by their naval force.
Their immediate destination was Ve1asro
which they were expected to reach about
The 6th, but it was doubtful whether they
would succeed, as Magruder's force was
ample to meet them The General himself
was in the saddle, and The Texans mindful
Of the days and deeds Of 1885 and SO,
were turning out to a man.
Velasco is at the mounth Of the Brazos,
in close proximity to the Southern extrem-
ity of Galveston Island, and the object of
the Yankee movement is to flank Calves
ton.
About the time that Mr.. Branch left
Alexandra the Federals fell back from
New iberia. Mouton's division was at Al
exandria. destination uncertain, but sup
posed to be Monroe. Walker was at Atch-
atalava.
Kirby Smith left Shreveport with Price,
who was moving on Little Rock with about
$4,000 men, The enemy at Little Rock
are said to be 5 900 strong, the rest of
their force, some 1000. being at Pine
Bluff. They have increased their force at
the latter place since Marmaduke's raid, in
which he captured 1856 negroes and 800
horses and mules, and burned their COM
misary stores, with loss of only II men.
The Yankees, it will be remembered. re-
ported this as arepulse of Marmaduke
On Saturday, 10Th, Capt. Adams, Of
Capers's command, with 50 men, surprised
party Of Yankees and negroes on Bmpf
river, killing 40 or SO and capturing II
prisoners and 90 odd horses, arms, &C.,
with the loss of one man.
Judge Field, from the Indian Nation.
who accompanies Mr.. Branch, informs US
that Cooper was returning towards the Ar
kansas river. with two Texas regiments and
force of about 5000 Indians, composed
of two Choctaw, two Creek, and two Chero-
kee regiments and a battalion of Seminoles.
The Cherokees and Creeks are mostly ex-
n,sstriatcd and have taken refuge il the
Choctaw nation, but maintain their posi-
tor
These gentlemen experienced much diff
Guilty in crossing the river and in getting
through the bottom on this side, where
they We're obliged to lie out two nights
The Yankees destry every boat on the river,
down to a dug out, and threaten to burn
the house of every man that puts anybody
across. They crossed in boat that was
hauled seven miles in a wagon, their horses
swimming and while it was on its return
a gunboat and transport passed down. run
ming slowly. close to the shore, and keep
ing sharp lookout.
They confirm the report we recently pub
lished Of the depredations Of the >river pi-
rates styled the ''marine brigade" They !
lately made a descent on Bruinsburg, where
they seized quantity ofsalt and 200 pack
ages of tobacco, which they distributed
among the negroes, and ended BY plunder
ing everybody, the negroes included. whom
they robbed Of their blankets:
Adams command recently captured a
Lieutenant of this gang Of thieves, who had
his handkerchief full of rings and brestp;ns.
The impression Of our informant is that he
escaped