The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-08-11
BIDDEFeRD, Me- FRIDAY MORNING,
nj, vicinity, a 4. mono BY. lish. draush. boats

this vicinity. as mono bpt light draught boat
can cross the bar at the mouth OF tho river
Il will be rccollected that Gen. Taylor land
ed his troops here. We passed in marching
to this place. but four miles from the battle
fields of Palo Alto aud Resaca dc 10 Palma,
I visited Bagdad, Mexico. ayillagc near the
mouth OF the river and opposite Clarksville,
Texas I, is product of blockade running,
having been built since the war commenced.
Being conceived in sin and brought forth 10
niquity, and true to its instincts, OF course
il il not especially noted for Its good morals.
II contains a mixed population Of Mexicans,
Texans, Yankees, French and Spanish. There
are three thousand in this living compound,
residing in one-story houses, part Of which
are built of mud. with thatched roofs.
Brownsville. Texas, is situated on tho
Rio Graude, 35 miles from its mouth by
land, and about 100 by tho course Of thu
river. Before the war Il contained 10000
inhabitants, and some quite fine buildings !;
but the dread scourge Of war has decimated
the one and so n,arred the other, that at tho
preseet time it cannot boast OF more than
three thousand human beings. part Of
whom live in houses partially torn down.
The streets are regularly laid out. and a
foundation Ibid for city. This eventually
must become quite city, for the river being
navigable two hundred miles above it, tho
soil on the high land fertile, all articles of
export must find their way here. Old earth
works and forts remind one of Taylor's vigor.
Gus camp,ign, en- route to Mexico.
Matamoras, a Mexican city directly oppo-
site Brownsville, is bustling, stirring place,
containing ten thousand inhabitants, who
live by cheating, stealing and robbipc. and
Of course people living by such means
must naturally bo q suspicious class. Like
Bagdad. it has a mixed population, and FROM
certain indications in complexion. one would
reasonably conclude that Cupid threw his
darts at tvcnturc and made some strange shots,
for here We see all shades, This is place
to be endured, but not sought4Mtr6r, except
by the lovers of wine and fast women. The
Imperialists have three thousand French
troops stationed here, and ut tho present
time look down upon Yankee officers. They
are evidently little nervous in consequence
of the close proximity OF Cortinas, whose
headquarters are said to bo about nine miles
above us on this side Of the river. r..s
July 18TH. have delayed finishing this
letter, a. there was some prospect OF fight
between our hostile brethren in arms. Cor
tinas visited General Steel to-day and asked
for loan of three hundred muskets and
some artillery, saying he designed to attack
Matamoras in few days. General Steel
respectfully refused to comply with his re.
quest. Cortinas' men pass our camp daily
to Brownsville. ...u ....
When Kirby Smith surrendered he sold
some artillery to Macmillan. A demand
was made for it by Uncle Sam, which was
honored at call. and last week returned to
this place.
Twill not weary your patience any longer,
hut will write again soon and give you what
little information I can CLEAN from this
sterile country. ...|r. ..#
Yours, very respectfully,
AsrRAGALUs.