Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-10-18
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FROM MEXICO,
Attempt to Capture matamOras.

Attempt TO Capture MatamOras.
Brownsville, Texas, advices of Sept. "a,
give an account of an attempt made to
capture the city of Matamoras by the
American corps under command of Brig.
Gen. Ford. assisted by the gunboat Chinaco,
Capt. B. S. OSbon. The object was to re-
place Gen. Tapia, the loyalty appointed
Governor of Tamaulipas, prisoner in the
hands of Col. Canales, the usurping COM
mander of the city and pretending Govern
or. The troops were to seize the treasury
and to pay themselves the sum long since
justly due them, and return the balance to
such officers as Gen. Tapia might designate.
The command consisted of about IT'S mer-
leans and 30 Mexicans well armed, and the
reinft rcements from citizens and Texan
volunteers should have swelled the force to
800, to be supported by the gunboat
Chinaco. mounting one 12-pound rifle and
smooth-bore hOwitzer, which had no
crew except eight men, detailed to work
the guns. Though Captain Osbon deemed
the vessel totally unfit for actual service, he
consented to act with the party.
At the time of starting a fearful storm
prevailed and the gunboat was driven
against the Mexican bank, becoming i'm
movable. She was finally got of and re-
turned to her first position. In the mean
time troops advanced and seized the Plaza,
!. the Department Headquarters, the Custom
House, and were stormlng the Jail when,
from some unaccOuntable cause, the order
was given to fall back, when the troops re-
treated OIL double-quick for the gunboat,
where General Ford was lying i'll. The
troops were embarked and the gunboat
steamed to position directly opposite
Brownsville. The shOp-keepcrs at Santa
Cruz furnished the troops with liquor, and
they became intoxicated and uncontrOlla-
Bile. The enemy gathered on shore, when
Captain Osbon cast off the lines and
headed for the American banks. Ca
males sent word TO the American
commander, General Brown, to have
the Chinaco removed, as he might have
to fire into her, and General Brown ordered
Captain Osbon to move his vessel above or
below town, or into American waters, say
Ing that If she was not moved inside of ff-
teen minutes he would cut her adrift. The
engineers refusing to work the boat, and the
men being in the condition they were,
Captain Osbon sent word to General Brown
that he would surrender the vessel as a
Mexican gunboat to the authorities of the
United States, leaving them to decide who
was justly entitled to her-Canales, a
usurper, or the Juarez Government. The
flag was hauled down and Captain OsbOn
walked ashore. Canales, on learning of the
surrender, demanded the vessel but GEN
eral Brown refused 10 give her up. Arms
belonging to the troops were taken by the
United States authorities, and the men went
into camp to await developments.
Though the expedition tailed, Tapia was
released,
General Remington also afterwards made
An unsuccessful attack on the town, and
his force Is now encamped with General
Ford.
Gems. HoningsOn and Ford Join Forces
Capt. OsbOn makes a Formal De-
mand for the GunbOat ChinacO,
which Is Refused.
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, Sept. 25.-The
forces under Major General Remington and
Brigadier General Ford, of the Mexican
army, have Joined and are in camp near
MatamOras, awaiting supply of arms and
ammunition, as well as the junction of
forces under COrtinas and Drevino, which
are said to be marching this way. When
the organization shall have been completed
they will at once proceed to attack Canales,
who is buslly engaged in making prepara-
tions to receive them.
To-day Captain Osbon, of the Mexican
navy, made formal demand for the gun
boat Chinaco from Gen. Brown, command
ing U. S. forces here. The General, who
has evidently committed several serious
blunders in connection with this gunboat
question, informed Captain OSbon that he
should continue to hold the ChinacO until
he received instructions from higher au-
thority. Gen. Ford also requested that
arms should be surrendered to him, which
was also refused.
There can be but little question that if
hal 81, 81,
Captain Osborn would have run the fire OF
the forts of Gonzales and Joined military
forces, and together they would have Oper-
ated to decided advantage. Capt. Osborn
has had too much experience under Adj
mlral Farragut in running batteries to
have hesitated for an instant to run those
of the usurper Gonzales. Yet it is not inn
probable that before daylight dawns to-
morrow the Liberal forces will march upon
the city of Matamoras.
Everything seems propetious for the sue
cess of the Undertaking. Heningson's
forces already hold some OF the outer forts,
and both parties have thrown out strong
picket lines. A large guard is stationed at
Farcy and chain of sentinels extend along
the river bank from Santa Cruz down to
Casa Mata, an old casemated work near the
lower landing place. 1t can't be long be-
fore something decisive turns up.
General brown Relieved.
BROWNSVILLE, Oct. 2.-Col. T. L. Sedg-
wick has relieved General Brown in the
command of this sub-district.
Captain 0sbon has made another formal
demand for the gunboat Chinaco, but up to
the time of closing this letter has received
no reply. The whole matter will probably
be referred to Washington.
Cortina, Flores and Ford will attack Mat
amoras tomorrow night probably.
The steamer General Sheridan will prob
ably be taken off the beach at Breazoe.
She went ashore on the Goth.
New YORK, Oct. 17.-Private letters dated
Monterey, Sept. 9th, from Major General
Lew Wallace, have been received by prom
inent merchants in this city. The Liberals
were very confident Of success and were
continually receiving munitions of war,
and as they advanced we're obtaining nee
essary funds for carrying on the war. At
time of writing, the French were retreat
ing instead of advancing.
Brownsville letters to Oct. Sd have also
been received Cen Ianra was still in the