The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-22
LATER FROM THE RIO GRANDB.

COrtinas' Last MOve-The Rebel Colonel
Ford Attacked and Defeated-C0rtina
Forts Brown and MOnIgOnery-SOme
Account Of COrtinas-Dismay of tie
Rebels, &c.
New ORLEANS, September 12.-News has Just
come, via Brazos Santiago, which is considered
reliable, that few days ago Cortaas divided his
forces into two bodies, and leading one himself
and placing the other in charge OF his brother,
Colonel Jose Alonzio Cortinas, crossed the RIO
Grande in the night, above and below Browns
vile, surprised the Rebel Colonel Ford, and after
a sharp engagement, captured the town, as well
as Forts Brown and Montgomery, and raised the
American flag.
Ford, with his discounted troops, retreated to
Ringgod Barracks, one hundred miles above,
leaving COrtinas, with superior force, ia possess
sion of Brownsville and its dependencies. It is
to be noted that COrtinas has guns in his posses
sion, which, if mounted in Front Brown, and in
the river battery of Fort Montgomery, can com
mand not only Matamords, but the approaches
10 that city from either below or above, and
which would occupy an almost identical position
with regard 70 Brownsville. It is also TO be borne
in mind that, owing to Cortinas' having imposed
an assessment (by no means onerous though It
was) upon the movable property in Matamoras,
the Rebel traitors there had sent large proper
tion OF their goods over TO Brownsville, in order
that they might be protected by Ford
word in regard 10 COrtinas. IL is the fashion
with all Rebels and Rebel sympathzers TO Witty
and abuse him on all occasions. For example,
observe an article that appeared in the PicdytHle
about ten days ago. Ii is well known that he has
been for years and Is, the mortal foe of the lead
ers of the Rebellion in Western Texas, and that
If they could capture him they would show him
no quarter IL Is also well known that he gave
every protection he could, while in command in
Mexico, tU all loyal Texans who sought refuge
there, in order TO get into our lines.
The writer has personal knowledge OF thi'
fact, and of the additional fact that when divers
citizens of Brownsville were about to raise tbs
American flag there (Which they did, after Be
had fed and before the United States force
arrived, he was applied to, and asked whether
in case the flag was raised and the Rebels wer
10 attempt to take il down by force, he wOul
protect II and the lives and property OF American
citizens with it, he promptly replied that h
would do so.
1t is amusing to witness the efforts that Reb'
sympathizers (of which there are plenty in thi
city) make TO decry Cortinas. He IL an America
citizen, having been born in Texas, upon pOr
tion OF the fhty-nine SitiO grant, still owned b.
his mother, awarded 10 Don Salvador de L.
Georges one OF his maternal ancestors, for distir
guished military services, by the Crown Of Spar
nearly a century ago. He is a brave man, an
can make no terms with the Rebels. lie is
Republican, and will never draw the sword pr
sented him by General McCernand in matutC
nance Of any other cause than that Of free Gov
ernmcnt. In these times are the services Of sue
man 70 be thrown away and himself sacrificed
-NetC York Tribune.