Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-16
WHOLE NO. 1896

the veteran troops and incorporated with the
rebel army west Of the Mississippi, in order that
they can take a part in the campaign Of this
summer. This will raise the number Of troops
in Lieutenant General Kirby Smiths department
TO forty-seven thousand men.
WHERE DID THRr GER THEIR ARNsi
should have mentioned that Of the arms
supplied to those newly raised Texas regiments,
none came from the east OF the Mississippi In
deed, when the organization OF the Home Guards
began, they had no arms except few old and
unserviceahle flint lock mnskets. The whole ten
thousand men are now armed with new muskets
OF European manufacture. The muskets were
sent TO Texas by the Confederate agents in Eng
land. and they reached Galveston and Valasco
In three cargoes. in vessels that ran the bleek-
age The last cargo, containing four thousand
muskets. arrived at Valasco only about two
months ago, and the vessel came very near being
captured. She was attacked by the blockading
feet off Galveston, but escaped under fog, and
ran into Valasco. There, however, she ran
ashore on a sand bank, and would have been
captared had il not been for the rebe, batteries
on shore, which beat off her sssailants ill she got
ahoat again. She finally ran into port in tri-
umph, aud discharged her valuable freight safely.
OBJECT OF THE SUMNER CAMPAIGN IN TEXAS.
The objects which the Confederates hope to ac-
complish by this summer campaign in Texas
partly indicated above. The needs OF their large
armies now in the field require more grain and
provisions, more cattle and meat, and more
horses than they can conveniently get east of the
Mississippi. They do not positively depend on
the productions of Texas. They could get along
without them. But if they can secure them in
the manner above indicated-if they can make
the teeming productions of tins immense State
available, il will give them an advantage in the
campaigns OF 1854. the effects of which in their
favor will be almost incaculable.
Bus the Confederate leaders have another and
a deeper object in view in this Texas campaign;
one which relates to Mexico. and which touches
their relations with France The commerce be-
tween Texas and Mexico. rather between the
Confederacy aud Mexico, has never been aban-
doned during the war Considerable quantities
of cotton have been sent through Texas, across
the Rio Grande, into Mexico. and European goods
to large amount have been sent back in the
same way. But the route long. tedious and
expensive. Now that Maximilian is about to
ascend the Mexican throne, with his dominions
extending TO the Rio Grande, the rebel leaders
see the advantage they would derive from having
the undisputed control of that river down to its
mouth.
1t is believed at Richmond by those who ought
to know. that secret treaty, or an arrangement
of some kind equivalent TO treaty, has been
negotiated Paris between the Emperor Napo-
leon and Mr.. Slidell, on the basis indicated in my
letter of April l6. The South will require to
have possession of Brownsville and the mouth of
the Rio Grande in order to carry this treaty into
full effect; and il seems that their plans laid
with that end in view. Will we be able to battle
those plans2 Or will the Administration look
tamely on and see the fraternization of France
and the rebels across the Rio Grandef