Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-04
Our Army on the Rio Grands.
A sPECK OF WAR WITH MAMMALIAN.
AN INDIGNANT FRENCHMAN.

A correspondent Of the Herald writes from
Brownsville. Texas, under date Of June Goth, ss
follows
"A report has reached here from the coast that
the power OF the United States will be represented
on the Rio Grande by q force OF not less than
seventy thousand armed m9n. The report has
gained extensive circulation aud credence among
on classes and colors On the opposite side OF the
river cur watchful neighbors regard il with mani.
feat anxiety, a, seem free 70 confess that il is
ominous Of a threatening storm. By them the
report Is discussed both in private and public cir.
ces wiki great ea-nestness and depth"
A vEBY FRESCHY LETTER FIoN FRENCH OF.
FICER.
An affair which occurred on Sunday evening
June n, has added 10 the ser sstiOn on this sub.
ipct On the evening that day two officers Of the
French Leg while going from santa Cruz 10
n ,tsmo.os. dismOuu ed from the. horses on the
west bauS OF the Rio Grande, and while remOunt-
ing were dred "a by q sentinel from General z.
r. Browns comm nd 10 whose challenge they
had deigned no reply. The French eommandant
OF the Legion, on hearing OF the affair wrote TO
Gen. Brown the following insulting letter, Of
which no notice Was taken
MArAMORoA June IL, 1885.
GENERAL: One Of your soldiers, stationed above
Brownsvile, fred on two Of my officers when
coming from Santa Cruz.
You have no diplomatic character, no letter OF
credentials-nor ].
therefore wnte to you simply as private ludi'
yidusl, in order TO express my utter contempt FOR
the Esnton offence committed by one Of the men
BARON De BRIAN.
Commander Of the Det achment Of the Legion.
After waiting IN vain for a reply, the Baron de
Brian-WhceVer be may be, and he claims 70 be
an old French sodisr-in Veiy unniilitary style,
sent letter Of explanation 10 the Matamoros
papers in which be endeavcrs 70 impress on the
citizens Of MatamOroS how supreme Is his con-
tempt for the General Bro wn who will not notice
l,im. The letter, after explanations covering the
above circumstances, conc uceS with the follow
iDg very Frenchy and unmilitary observations:
The eoaulettes Of general are sacred In his
sight They represent q career full Of dig nifty
AMI hon red by srduOus service. They are the
GROWING rev. ard Of forty years Of self-denial and
devotion All the European generals and many
in tie New World. have these glorious claims
thrs the cOmmandant has felt htpFy and honor
ed by being placed at the service of his Excel
lency. General Meja. If these officers who reckon
40 many years OF service and can point 10 such
ri ilni records should receive from any subaltein
a Letter in more or Jess violent terms, they would
treat IL as 50 much wastg paper. The cowardce
OF rasc Atty OF him who would have had the i'm
pudence % write il would deserve nothing more.
But il a man, taken Oat Of some shop one knows
not which is imprOvised general from one day
70 another, and without even the most triaing
N mary export IN MS hlstoTyt pitteuus 70 ClAlm
. superiority over persons who have seen twenty
years Of service and campaigns why then, in
truth, but little notice should be taken of him,
unless one might cause himself 10 be aroused
once or twice at night TO have a hearty laugh
over him. In fact 10 feel yexed at him would be
disgraceful 70 so many officers, who the world
over, respect the military hierarchy, and who
form a kind Of brotherhood among themselves.
The eveling method OF proceeding must be used
"a method which those persons abuse, when they
attempt TO place themselves on footing with
those Who have grown grey under the harness, af-
ter molly devoting their Whole life.
This IS the reason why the commandant, who
rsveeaces military servic IS and will never Permit
them 70 be prost tuted, has written somewhat cav
alierly TO Mr. Brown, as an individual.
A sPEcE or WAR AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE
The general impression now prevalent here
among all classes is that If the French authorities
are disposed 70 act In the sp rt OF Mr. De Brian,
there will, ere long. be serious trouble between
/ the Government Of the United States and that OF
MAMMALIAN. Such being the general belief, very
many are preparing 70 meet the threatened hos.
tilitieS. Many who become prominent as seees'
sionsts are making their way out Of the State as
fast IS possible.
GeneTsl hejia is still in Matamoras. BE is q
very willy and deceitful individual His protesta.
tons Of friendship for the welfare Of the United
/ States cannot DO relied upon. His sympathles
were" unquestionably with The rebels, VIII ON he
aided up to the latest moment by all means in his
/ power. Like some generals who were In our own
/ services, be knows how to cotton" not merely to
men, but 10 profitable result.