The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-13
INTERESTING FROM THE SOUTH
s..- WEST.
Interview Between a Mexican and
an Illinois General.
Gen. McClernand and Gen. Corti-
mas Exchange Visits.
of the Missouri Democrat.

Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat.
Pass CAvALLo, TEXAS, April 10 1864.-The
soldiers had somewhat recovered from the ex-
element attending the arrival at this port, of
Major General McClernand-Our old General,
under whom we fought SO many hard battles
and won SO many proud victories-when he
and his staff took ship for Brazos Santiago.
The trip by stage from Brazos Santiago to
Boca Cuica, and thence to Brownsville, would
be of much greater interest to the agriculturist
than the soldier. At the mouth of the Rio
Grande lies quite fleet of merchant vessels,
watching for cargo of cotton probably, and q
French man of-war. Another was said to have
been here few days ago, and sent out a yawl
to take soundings of the entrance to the river,
and having on the bow for protection piece
ofartillery.
On April Sd q general inspection was made
of the Notifications stOre-hOuses, hospitals and
camps at Brownsville. On the following day
review OF the troops at that post. under com
mand of Gen. Heron, came off, much as hun
dreds of other reviews have. to descriptions of
which you are referred for the proper amount
of commendatory adjectives. 1t had, however,
one distinguishing feature, in the presence of
the famous Mexican General, Juan A. Corti-
nas-nOW Governor Tamaulipas-aud his mill
tary staff and ministers. Though he might be
suspicious of placing himself in Texas yet
with natural confidence in a brave man. he
u unhlJ aCCepleu lue luEltdIlON OI Gcn. NC
Clernand.
After the review, they all sat down together
to splendid dinner, provided by General Nc.
Clernand and staff, where no efforts had been
spared to please the eve or palate Here
shone brilliantly the peculiar grace and cour-
tesy of Spaniards, unsurpassed among nations.
Though some spoke only Spanish, and others
only English, yet there were none of those SOL
emn pauses, or dead locks, or even drags, that
often infect dinners where all speak one Ian
guage. Gratifed by the attention paid them,
confident that they were properly appreciated,
the dinner passed off with tOasts and speeches,
social conversations in pantomime between in
dividuals and cordial good feeling and viva
cious enjoyment on the part of ALL
Gen. COrtinas and staff were then escorted to
the ferry, and crossed over into Mexico, with
hearty cheers from the Union soldiers.
Soon after, upon invitation. Gen. McCler-
nand went over to visit Matamoras. The ar
tillery belched out its noisy welcome. and all
the church bells joined in with happy clangor,
to tell how glad and proud they were to recOg-
nize in the visit of one of her chieftains the
friendship of the great republic. After short
visit he was escorted back to the river by Gen.
COrtinas, not. however. until he had accepted
an invitation for himself and staff to formal
dinner on the morrow Onagain crossing the
river the General was received by an escort of
cavalry and accompanied by the Governor to
his palace, there to be saluted with salvO of
artillery. In the evening all proceeded to q
grand bali in the hall of the Custom House.