The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-08-17
ICprrespopdcnce Of the Courier

BROWNSVILLE, Texas. July 26.
EDITOR CoURIER-Thinking a short ac-
! count of affairs on the Rio Gran6le would
not be entirely devoid of interest TO your
readers, 1 respectfully submit these few
lines for their consideration:
Previous to the arrival of Gen. Weitsel,
18th corps (colored) at Brazos, in the mid
die Of June, there was only enc brigade of
troops in Texas, and it merely occupied
Brazos, Santiago Island as u garrison until
The 2sth of May, when the brigade advanc-
cd from the Island and occupied Browns
Vile So 81
Gen. Steele commands the army of the
Rio Grunde, which consists of one division
of the 18th corps, and the 25th corps with
the exception of one division which is at
Galveston. This army, which numbers
about twenty thousand muskets, is dis
| tributed as follows: One division ut Brazos
Island, one division at GAINESVILLE, at the
mouth of the river, nine miles from Brazos,
one division at this place, and one division
has gone up the river and will be distribu-
ted as garrisons along the border, as high
up probably, rs old Fort Bliss. The object
of so large an army, at this time on our
| frontier, can only be surmised. 1t may he
storm is brewing, there is certainly a
black cloud looming up in our South-wes-
tern horizon. The opinion here among the
military ia, that there will be no rupture
between this country and France, but on
tho contrary, that Napoleon will make
every concession he possibly can to pre-
vent it,. The artillery turned over by the
rebel General Slaughter, to the Imperial
lists at Matanoras, on the occupation OF
Brownsville by our forces, was lately, on
the demand of Gen. Steele, delivered into
our hands. - .a' . r,!..7 =.
The Rio Grande is narrow and n very
crook cd stream, it is said to be so crook ed
that the birds, in endeavoring to cross it.
get lost and frequently find themselves on
the same side they started from. 1t is nav.
igable for small steamboats, only. The
Quartermaster's department has four OIL
five transports chartered to transport sup.
plies for the army from GAINESVILLE, to
which place they are brought from Brazos
in wagons. .f.. IS,
Brownsville is dingy, delapidated look
ing town, which before the war, contained
perhaps twelve hundred inhabitants, ba,
now contains less than six hundred. 1t is
ninety miles by the river from it's mouth
but only about thirty across the country
Matamoras, opposite Brownsville, con-
tnins about five thousand inhabitants, q
majority of whom are very ignorant and
lazy, and quite Il number of them are a.
black as our negro soldier. Many of these
Mexicans are soldiers in the Imperial ar.
my, under the Mexican General Mejia
who commands at Matamoras. n.' ..n.
The Liberal forces in the State of Tam
aulipas, under Negrete and Cortinas
seem TO be in state of disorganization
and may soon degenerate into guerrilla
bands. The American Consul at Mata
moras, says Cortinas is nothing more thar
a highway robber have seen number
of his men in Brownsville, and their ap
pearance will certainly well sustain tina
reputation; they are the most ferociou,
and villainous looking fellows ever saw
.'r Yours Respectfully, .'-..# ..
s. III. HARPER,
| Capt, 10th U. S. G. Infantry.