The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-10
The Numbers, Intentions and Expec.
tations of the Liberals.
CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
&c. &c. &c.
Brownsvalle Correspondence.

This frontier presented Out Few attractions W the
correspondent, whose constitution requires excite
mcnt, movement change. The weather was hot,
tho mosquitoes active and vigilant and untring.
The cisterns were for the most part empty, ana
the Of the Rio Grande and dsagresab!e TO
the TASTE while visions OF living springs bursting forth
from everlasting hills constantly oated tho mind
melting tantalizng remembranccs Under these CIR
cumstances IL will not be wondered at that eagerly
cepted invitation given me by Colonel Whittcsey;
Inspector General the departmental staff, to accom-
pauy him trip up tho river 10 Rnggold Barracks
the headquarters OF the Second division Twentynfth
corps and to other places IN that vicinity with the init
nation that should circumstances justify II the trip
might be extended to Monterey.
A careful perusal Of the newspapers will show
tho news from and via Monterey uncertain
and various the changes Of kaleidoscope.
Tho contradictory reports and rumors had been
aAoa all apparently we'll authenticated and II useless
in every other respect demonstrating with grca. force
that certain portion OF the human is awfully given
to lying This owing In the first place 10 the diff
aculty Of communication between that city and the
frontiers in the second to the jealousy With which the
authorities regarded the local journals the frequency
with which the mails were captured and examined,
rendering correspondents fearful of speaking In refer
political AFFAIRS and in the third place to the
wishes aud BIAS of the various parties reporting
facts or rumors. 10 WISH Monterey IN person,
therefore, to learn in reference to the con
dilion Of the country whereabouts, the wishes
Of the people, the condition of the anagonstcal forces
which rendering poor exhausted Mexico desert
and dcscation and the state of the business interests
interesting to great portion OF your readers
tainy prospect calculated to excite pleasing emotions
in the breast OF professional correspondent.
Fortunately, the wouldbe tourists OF great
nation whom both parties In Mexico to tho highest
extent DESTROYS OF concilating. and while little
danger might be- anticipated during the journey from
lawless wandering maraaders yet were well assured
that the authorities upon both sides would render
every assistance In their power and win say this
point the result fully justified our expectations.
PASSPORTS.
Upon intimatlng our intention those gentlemen
passes we're rendered us b. General Mejia and senior
Robes, Minister OF Public Work. then in Matarloros;
and in addition Colonel Whttcsey furnished with
letters 10 prominent officials and others Monterey
speaking their Kindness and attention. Thus provided
for upon the imperial side, we made the requisite pre-
parations in the way OF mosquito bars eatabies &c,
and upon the I'd ult. at an early hour, went on
board dirty stern wheel river craft, called the Tampco
which after moved away from the levce bound for
Ringgold Barracks.
consisted of Colonel Whil,lcscy, Mr. Henry At,riii
portly Enciishman temporarily residing in Maamorcs
as the representative Of British irm your correspon
dent and two friends whose names omit Of defer.
ence 10 their modesty The incidents Of voyage,
though numerous, sufficiently disagrceahle.
Owing to the scarcity Of transportation the river and
particularly OF drawing little water 70 enable
them to navigate the ryer upon this point, every
pecy, rendering the passage long and tedious and not
entirely free from danger On the present occasion we
had moved but y few miles against very strong
rent when the boat struck bar upon Which lay for
| two days and half exhibiting during this time
greet TO say, but very little Christian or any other Kind Of
patience.
There were large nuiaber .. passengers on board
among whom were Don Francisco de Leon, liberal Gov
of Tsmanlpas Seniors Gomez Gonzales and others
liberal officials Of some character II difficult 10 de
| line what. In despite Of the gloomy condition
Of affairs IN their country these gentlemen, who
arc evidently philosophers, were extremely cheer
and French wh aency, laughed 'G merrii a. the
| various anuoyances 30 which were subjected, were
evidently impervious TO mosquito bills and, in word
seemed entirely devoid Of and anxiety In CONVEX
saton they professed themselves san2une OF the ut
mate liberation Of their country from the foreign inva-
der which IL 10 be brought about, they ssy, through
the ntcn,osition OF our government to whom French
| nhnence upon this continent would always be menace
They say tsnd correctly am well satisied thai The
cause and that could they BIZ assured Of the counte
nance.of the United States and furnished with arms
| and ammunition, they would rooD rise In numbers
sunicicnt 10 drive Macmillan from the country. II 10
my Intention however ia another portion of this letter
% 70 he sr 81
6hG After remaining upon tho bar on which we had
struck for two days and half a. stated, we finally sue
ceedod u getting Oh and proceeded journey On
reaching Ednburg Colsnei whittiessy left US for the
purpose q inspecting the troops then intending 70 pro.
morning Of the 5th ult having been five dsyg upon
| trip which should have taken us less than three
% Won move nm the river becomes higher and moro
undulssnSan agreeable change from the undertaking
level OF the banks the coast The character Of
the vegetation however Is much the samc, being made
up Of the chspsni and the rank underground through
which glide The SCORPION tarrsntuls centipede AND
variety OF deadly serpens After passing Edinburg nu
m erous cucampmenis wore observed the American
sds whs the opposite shore was seen an occasional
liberal picket or paIole the only evidence Of hs, save
occasional wreath ~ smoke, indicating that some
miserable half breed woman preparing her meal,
consisting NJ The inevitable tortaid species Of gridde
made from corn which the housewife takes IN lis
nlural slatc bruises and orushes and with water
thus constituting tough, tastesss cake, the ordinary
food Of tho lower orders throughout Mexico sa
| RrSgooiD BARRACKS
are situated one and half mile below Rio grsnde City,
and Rave been used ~ military post since the Mexican
war. Prior 10 tho rebellion small force wa stationed
here for hc prevention Of smuggling and ~ defence
against the Indians The barracks are At present me
headquarters Of Brgsdier General Richardr Jackson,
corps. Extensive gardens bad been laid out
sss ryer or and were to al
when once his st Of vegetables had come 70 nasu
rty he would make further calls for them npon the
seasons Of tho year and implanted At Intervals they
would be ready for use at all times fresh nom the earth
s second N Brownsville, the most important place IN
the American side OF this frontier II has population
Of nfsesn hundred or two thousand who che6, en-
gagged in the lucrative but laudabe occupation Of
smuggling Indeed, there is little II any buslness done
save trading IN contraband goods; and pcrscns re-
ton Of the people BY bis In eludng the vigilance
Of the custom house ohcia. II need not, perhaps be
stated that long practice has made many Of them very
| intelligent and highly respectable
We remained hSre and At the barracks for three days
10 enable Colonel Whtesey 10 complete hts inspections
The condition OF the troops found 10 be admirable,
and called forth many encomirms from the inspecting
onlcer Among othef places VIC visited the hospitals,