The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-18
IFrom the Atlanta (Georga) New Ep,l
Letter from Ex-Governor Ishan
fi G.. Harris. NJ nDtH I7TT

Letter from Ex-Governor Isham
q. Harris. q N'iN vt
Through the Kindness of Mr.. George w.
Adair, of the firm of Clayton, Adair a.
Purse, we are permitted TO- make the fol-
lowing extracts from letter recently re-
ceived from Hon. Isham G.. Harris, iEx-
Governor of Tennessee, who is now at
Cordoys, Mexico. The letter is highly en-
tertaining. -,
coRDovA, MExIco, Noyemberl2 'e5. "a
GEORGE w. ADAIR,
MY Dear Sir: fingered near Grenada,
endeavoring to arrange some business mat
ters, until the 14th May. la the mean time.
| had skif built and on the morning of
the l4th l embarked, SOME six miles east of
Greenwood, and SGT sail for the trans Mis-
sissippi--the party consisting of General
Lyon, Of Kentucky, MYSELF and our two
servants. We navigated the back-water
for one hundred and twenty miles, and on
the morning of the 2lst, Just before day-
light crossed over TO the Arkansas shore.
/ crossed at the foot of Island No. rs. lust
below the mouth of the Arkansas River :
proceeded westward as far as the back
water was navigable, and on the morning
of the 22d left my frail bark, bought
horses mounted the party, and set out for
Shreveport, where hoped to find an army
resolved on continued resistance TO Federal
rule; but before reaching Shreveport |
learned that the army of the trans- Missis-
sippi had disbanded and scattered to the
winds, and all the officers of rank had gone
to Mexico.
Having no further motive to visit Shreve-
port | turned my course to Red River
County, Texas, where portion of nv ne
groes and plantation stock had been car
ried some two years ago. reached there
on the 9TH of June; was taken sick and
confined to my bed week. On the 18th of
June, with my baggage cooking utensils
and provisions ont pack mule, L set out for
San Antonia, where i expected to oyertake
large number Of Confederate, civil and
military officers, en- route for Mexico.
Reached San Antonia on the 18th, and
learned that all Confederates had left for
Mexico some ten days or two weeks be-
fore. On the morning of the 9th / started
to Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande. the
Eederals also holding all the crossings of
that river below Eagle Pass. reached
Eagle Pass on the evening of the 3Oth, and
Immediately crossed over to the Mexican
town of Piedras Negras. On the morning
Of LIST of July set out for Monterey ar
rived there ON the morning of the 9th.
Here i overlook General Price and Ex-
Governor Polk, of Missouri, who were
starting to the city Of Mexico the next
morning, with an escort of twenty armed
Missourians. I'M /
AS / was going TO the city, and the trip
was a long and dangerous one 10 make
alone, decided 10 go with them, though
was literally worn out with over 800 miles
of continuous horseback travel. / ex-
changed my saddle-hOrse, saddles, &C.. for
an ambulance; put my two mules 10 it,
gave the whip and lines 10 Ran, bought me
a Spanish grammer and dictionary. took
the back seat, aud commenced the study OF
the Spanish language. We made the trim
at easy stages of about twenty-five miles
per day, and reached the city of Mexico on
the evening of the 9th August. The trim
was one OF the longest most laborious and
hazardous of my life, but j will not tax
your time or mine with It's details, many of
which would interest yOu deeply II was
there 10 give them TO you. NM, ~
Our reception, upon the part Of the Gov
ernment ofiicialt here, Is all that we could
have expected or desired, Viewers invited
10 an audience with the Emperor at the
Palace, the far-hmed Halls of the Monte
snmas. At the time fixed, we called, and
were most kindly received by the Emperor
and Empress, and were assured of their
sympathy In our misfeFtunes, and OF their
earnest hope that we might find homes for
ourselves and friends in Mexico The EN-
press was our interpreter in the Interview,
She speaks fiuently, the French, spanish,
German and English languages, and Is, In
all respects, a great woman. l If'
We overlook at the city Of Mexico, Gem
eral Maguder Commodore Manry, Cover
nor Allen, of La, Judge Perkins of La,
Governor Reynolds, of Mo, and Governor
Murrah aud Governor Clark. of Texas, with
many other and lesser Confederate lights.
On the 9th of September the Empress pub
llshed a decree opening all Of Mexico TO
immigration and cOnOlization, and COmmo-