Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-09-19

FURTHER FROM THE RIO GRANDE.
Particulars of Cortinas' Operations at
Brownsville-Fight at White Rancho,
and the French Forced baek-The rebels
them to retire-A Union Reg i'm nt mixes
in the Fight-They Assist Cortinas to
Whip the Rebels-rhe Latter Severely
Punished.
Memphis, has arrived with Memphis papers
Of yesterday evening.
Sergeant F. S. Clarke, Of the 91st Illinois
infantry, furnishes additional Information
concerning affairs on the Rio Grande.
On the morning Of the 5th the French moved
out of Bagdad a force estimated at 5000, and
commenced the ascent Of the Rio Grande for
the purpose OF attacking Matamoras. They
met with but little opposition until they reached
met Cortinas with q Mexican force, prepared
to cont st the approach Of the French.
A terrific artillery duel ensued, when the
French were compelled to fall back in confu-
sion, closely followed for three miles, when,
coming to the chapparel, they made a stand.
Cortinas opened upon the imperial force with
the rebel commander at Brownsville, Colonel
Ford, came down the Texas side OF the Rio
Grande, with large drove off cattle for the
French, and seeing the Confederacy's friends
engaged with COrtinas, promptly espoused the
cause Of the French, and opened on the Next
can rear.
Seeing this, the Imperial army made an at.
tempt to turn the tide of the day, and charged
the Mexlcans with the bay onet, with the deter
mination to conquer or die, and were driven
back in disorder Under cover Of the Chap
peral, CortHas Their brought two pieces OF artil-
lery to bear on Ford, forcing him to retire.
About this time, the 9lst Illinois, at Brazos
Santiago, hearing firing on the Rio Grande,
were ordered to march to the scene, and ar
irving in time TO witness the repulse OF the
rebels, the gallant "Sucker" boys then pitched
into Ford, and drove him five miles, capturing
his camp equipage, and about thirty stand Of
arms.
Meantime Cortinas. succeeding in putting
the imperialists to flight, drove them to Bayo
del Rio He here shelled them. As his artil.
lery could not compete with their heavy ord
nance on shipboard, he withdrew his forces to
White Rancho, and crossed five hundred men
during the night Of the 9th, by the side OF the
American troops. No sooner had Cortinas
crossed the Rio Grande than he lowered the
flag OF his country-white, red, and greenland
hoisted the Stars and Stripes, which was
greeted enthusiastically with cheers by the
American soldiers as we'll as by the Americans.
On the 9th, Cortinas followed Ford to the battle
field Of Resaca de Ia Palma, where he BIZ
vouacked his troops for the night, while Ford
fell back to Brownsville.
Cortinas dispatched courier to Matamoras,
to order the forces there to prepare to move
Immediately. Early on the morning Of the
eth, five hundred Mexicans moved to the Rio
Grande, crossed the river, and came down
the Texas side, attacking Brownsville stimuli
taneously with Cortinas. The struggle for
Brownsville. was brief and resulted in the de.
feat OF the rebels, who were driven from the
town. Cortinas took possession.
The exit of the rebels was so hasty, that they
left their "rags" floating on the Court House and
other public buildings, but they were soon torn
down, and the stars and stripes hoisted, amid
can soldiers, who were almost as proud of our
starry banner as our own brave boys.