The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-07
!. - ;..,.,..,in. Letter CONCERNING the Con-

A w. Y.,.rcxting Letter Concerning the Con-
$3.50 Colouy, nc Cordova, Mexico.
IT. c,rrespondent of the New York tribune
-. AN account Of the Confederate colony |
ns.r t,ordoya. He called on Judge Perkins,
~ Louisiana, In Cordova, who accompanied
him to the colony, which is some ten miles
from that place The settlement and inhabi-
tants he describes as follows:
was listening to the Judge when my sight
was arrested by an unfinished house, story
high, and four or five tents pitched along
brook lined with trees and shrubs. "Surely,"
said l, :" this must be the colony" You have
guessed right" said Mr.. Perkins "here is
my gallant friend, General Price, and ms
associates, Governor Harris, Colonel White,
and others. This house is the beginning oil
city we have called Carlotta, In honor OF the
Empress the tents you see have been brought
from the Trans Mississippi department. oy
the gallant soldiers who are assisting US anu
cooperating With us In ' ineDded for houses
until we are richer and more numerous they
will then make room for more supslahtiai
buildings" 49,
worthlessness Of our nags, we reached the
only house adjoining the new city. We there
found Governor Harris planning, and 4 lew
Indians mailing planks on the floor. When we
entered the room the Governor dropped ms
tool, and, coming TO US, said with a smile, lis
10 to the carpenter or TO the Governor you
wish TO speak," Judge Perkins replied, :" To
either" lie then introduced me, and the con-
versation became general. In about 4 Quarter
of an hour General Price made his appearance.
He received me with great cordlallty, said ne
was glad to see me, and then asked me where
l was coming from. The words, Northern
States, seemed to awaken ms attention. we
are very much interested here concerning the
intentions of the United States towards Mex
leo we'do not believe, however, that they
mean war against this country: What they
wish is, TO annoy us, and 10 MAKE tne Ien ,Ja
desist II is not likely they will succeed" he
then repeated the same arguments USED Dy
Governor Perkins on that subject, and said
that Macmillan was too firmly established 10
run any risk. All the Confederates were
exceedingly friendly to the Emperor, from
whose hands they have received many FAVOR,
and intend to remain permanently in the
country,
Soon the room in which we stood was full OF
Confederate soldiers and officers, who con-
firmed to me what had already heard from
the lips of their leaders. Every one had sworn
allegiance to the Emperor, and had selected
this spot for place Of settlement, win the
intention never to return TO the States. Several
of them had sent for their families; some were
already on their way TO Mexico. Among them
were Generals Shelbys and EwelPs families
General Price. was also waiting Tor ms "i1e,
who was to join him in month or so. In
short every one I saw there seemed entirely
satisfied with his new condition, so much so
as to desire others to associate with them, ana
employing 10 tnat erect all TIE arg uluell's VI
suggestive mind
Nearly every Confederate who has settled on
| this spot has entered six hundred and forty
acres of ground. If all have not done II, II Is
because the land about Cordova has not yet
been allsurveyed, and could not, consequently,
be sold. In few weeks, however. the colo
nists, who number about one hundred AT pre-
sent will be satisfied, for the surveyors are
hard At work, and the sale of land is progress
ing. These lands are sold At one dollar an
acre payable in five instalments, bearing an
interest of six per cent.
The farms of General Price, General Shelby,
and Governor Harris are contiguous. None OF
them are yet under cultivation, for the reason
that these gentlemen entered their lands late
in October, and the season was TOO lar al
vanced TO go straightforward TO work. Ihey
are now cleaning their field and getting 1t
ready for next spring The fields in this
blessed country are mostly banana and pine,
apple plants Fruits are found here in great
abundance. l was told there We're no less
than three hundred species OF fruit, including
their varieties. For instance, there are twelve
kinds of bananas, half dozen varieties OF
pineapples, five or six species of Zapotillos-
the most delicious fruit in the world-1lgs,
pomegranates, oranges, &c. For their supply
of meat they 60 to Cordora, where beef is sold
ut 1914 cents pound.
Having spent three hours with the inhabi.
tants of the new settlement, who showed
themselves exceedingly kind and hospitable,
l thought il time to go back 10 CordoN& 10
catch the mail, and informed them or my
intention. They invited me 10 spend the night
with them, offering me corner OF tent lor
shelter and n supper, consisting of dried beef,
roasted wild cat, which they said was
"frst-rate DISH" and the use of better
horse than the one i mounted to go and visit
the country with them. But rs time was
measured by my business, was, TO my great
regret: compelled to decline.