Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-04

Let me give you few notes Of what | saw OF
the other side of the river. After getting c
pass from headquarters, got into a boat ana
in few moments found myself in the ''Homc
Of the Montezumas." Hacks, in comparison
with which the vehicles of the Wis Stage
| Co. are golden chariots, were in great abun,
dance; and selsctinG one, the propelline
! power OF which was too small for mule and
rather TOO large for u rabbit, l took seat,
and, after ride Of about an hour and q half
brought up at Matamoras I wandered thro
this place fer about four hours in a vain ef-
fort to find something besides dirt The city
contains ten thousand inhabitants, but one
would scarcely credit the fact until he appre-
ciatcs how many people live under one roof
The Piazza is a bare piece Of ground, utterly
destitute Of vegetation, and surrounded b. a
dingy fence. On the east side Of this is the
cathedral, building Of considerable archi-
tectural pretensons, but which, at the time
of which speak, was used as magazine of
ordnance stores,--cann0n displacing the al
tar, bavoncts the crucifx. Soldiers swarmcd
the streets They are clad in pants and jack
ct Of brown jeans, and wear in their caps q
cockadc of the Mexican tri-coiors-red, white
and green. I met young looking man
dressed in a suit Of rich, brown velvet with
silver buttons, from each Of which there was
pendant heavy silver chain. This, was
informed, was Cortinas At his side, he car
ried beautiful dagger. Indeed, I met no
one without L similar oTaomeM
The politics of Mexico are so complex as to
exceed my powers of comprehension. could
understand that the principal division was
into the Church party and the Popular party;
also, that it was the Church party which in
clined toward the French division, but be-
yond this the subdivisions are Indefinite
A sketch of the situation of affairs at the
time of which write will serve as an exam
pie Of the revolutions which succeed each
other with the most fearful rapidity in this
distracted country.
The city of Matamoras is situated in the
district of Tampaulus. The Governor of this
district was Scrna, and Cortinas was Military
Commandment. Serna held his Office by virtue
Quoted on the approved Dexter principle, and
which was followed by revolution in which
Serna succeeded through the Vaccinations Of
Cortinas. Ring, the defeated candidate,
raised force and marched on Natamoras.-
Cortinas advanced toward him, but fell back
without giving battle The place was for,i-
fed, the streets barrica!ed aud battle daily
expected. The ferry to brownsville present
ed Il scen2 OF the utmost activity during this
suspense, for the citizens were busiy trans
porting their effects to our side Of the river.
Street encounters were frequent, and there
was some s>;rtnishing, but We we're doomed
to be disappointed about the battle. \ coun-
ell was held and compromise effected by
which Ring obtained the GoyecnorShip, Ser
na retired, and Cortinas was assigned an i'm
portant military cjmrnand. 1t is easy to fare
very lasting. It is about rs If we were to
make peace with the Confedcracy by agree
ing that Lincoln should be President, and
Gen. Lee Com1&andul-in-chief Jaurez Pres
ident Of Mexico, belongs to the Popular par
ty, and is cxerting himself to resist the
French, but his party is so badly divided,
though vastly the superior in number, by
icud5 such as the one described above, that
the end is most uncertain. Still, 1t is not to
be supposed thar Napoleon can secure q last