The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-23
THE BAGDAD AFFAIR.
New ORLEANS, Jan. q. 1868.

New ORLEANS, Jan. q, 1865
Brownsville accounts of the 18th inst. give i'm
partial and statement of the capture of Bagdad
which is as follows
A party OF one hundred and twenty-three, mostly
colored soldiers, belonging to the One Hundred and
Eighteenth United States coloed infantry, under the
command Of Colonel Reed, crossed the Rio Grandc at
GAINESVILLE and divided into three squads.
At four O'Clock the morning Of the 9Th instant the
first squad entered Bagdad which they surprised cap
turing about four hundred prisoners and four pieces Of
artillery.
The second party proceeded to the ferry where an I'M
peral guard of ten men were stationed. The officer
commanding this guard held his post bravey firing his
revolver at the attacking party whereupon he was shot
down. and the others belonging TO the guard surrendered
In this affair one imperiaist killed and another
wounded.
The third party proceeded to the quarters OF Col Rec
post commander Bagdad and took him and those with
Him prisoners Colonel Rice subsequently escaped, but
was retaken.
squad Of then detailed 10 take the impe
rial gunboat Antonio and fired on her, killing sergeant
and woundng several others The Antonio fred at the at
lacking party, killing two and woundng one OF them.
Tho attacking party then fred two shots from
bowtzer at the Antonio, one Of which passed through
her Just above the water line.
On the morning of the 9th instant a French frgae
Is ng outside shelled the place Shots afterwards
freely exchanged between the liberal howtzers on the
beach and howilzer boat from the rgae. No damag,
done by this firing beyond creating panic among
the citizens OF Bagdad who crossed the American
bank the Rio Grande taking with them such OF their
Naluables as they could hurriedly carry or
A detachment OF two hundred men from the One Hun
dred and Eighteenth colored infantry was sent over to
protect the American citizens remaining In the place.
Ths detachment continued guard there until the
.tuU nj Tho INIT w hen
sixth coored infantry relieved them with instructions
1t is sad, TO withdraw case Of an imperial attack
The French mail steamer lying outside the bar LEFT i'm
mAdIatcly after the affair, probably for Vera Cruz
Bagdad was nearly deserted and plumber aud pliagc
was unintcrruptedy kept up by Its captors large
amount OF the stolen goods crossed over the river
to GAINESVILLE Those which arrived at Brownsville wcic
scssed and returned to the proper owner.
After wranglng several days with General Escobe
DO regarding the command Of the liberal forces General
Crawford left for New Orleans twhere be has since ar
rived, seeking reinforcements and supplies.
small force OF liberals terrifying Bagdad with
potion bales.
Three French transports arrived at the bar the 18th
inst
Oencra Mejia has commenced building earthworks and
mounting guns whereof two are slxtyf Founders,
bctwcen Matamoros and the river commanding Browns
Vile He has notified General weitzeI that f attacked
from tue Amef1Cen hlCc OF tue MO open
hre and that likely Of the shots will lodge in
Brownsville.
General Giles A. Smith Immediately sent over to
ascertain what the intentions OF General Mea The
result OF the meeting between the two is unknown
II believed that the ammunition OF the begeen,s
has been removed three miles from Brownsville.
General wcitzel has ordered the rebuilding OF old Fort
Brown which Is being mounted with thirty FOUNDER Par
rots long ponioon train also being rapidly put in
good order.
General Meja apprehcnds another attack, and is
making another forced loan He bctrays much uneasi-
ness Of feeling Several of his gueriss, In attempt
ing to desert by crossing the river, drowned
American citizens visiting ,atamoros looked upon
with suspicion and dsirusi, and United States officers
and not allowed 10 cross the river.
the 14th Inst General weitzel reviewed the United
sstcs troops In Brownsville, all OF whom were in excel
Sent health and spirits
The GaivssteM Bustin OF the 9th inst says that al
engineer and pontoon train embarkng thence for
fhe Rio Crande