New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-12
THE REQ GRANDE RAID.
GCcu.r Cruvfo-d-Poiities aud Poker
sketch or the Rise, Progress and fiasco
Of an usmpo-tor-Bagdad as 1t Now Is
E.cobedo and Other :. Generals"
BaowYsyI1Lg. Texas, jan. 9, leo.

actual CONDITION OF tndlS vi Oht M" '4"HNN
to-day is a matter Of the utmost importance not
merely to you a. iournalsts-though even in that re-
sect it cannot fail possess some valne-bui to the
entire people Of the United States Letters are dalS
sent from this place TO the Southern press pa' on!
such are published favor the interests OF some pi!
OF CLIQUE The present financial (or moraD co"N''iO
Of the Southern press regret to say VIII no.
them 20 publish indscrminate tru'h II resuiU ~ "'
tcrs on tins frontier There are also un'' ',a"-'
some letter writer's here in behalf Of the NeW-hOsh
u.ess but ss the want Of naii facilities 10 'nS iU
point prevents Us from getting glimpse OF theH e'
tors m, unable 10 say to what extent tier state
,rts ,r, eoIored by the gold and silver arguments
yticb can be readily had for manufacturing Northern
o.,op In regard to Mexican affairs. This Is no IN
.nerou, fling at the fraternity Of the quill to which
,, beoaged--uo mere ebulIitiOn of professional jea
ousv because my business Is not that oi lettcl-"re
My purpose at prs is to put you in possession of
certain important Information. which might otherwise
reach YOU in a shape that excitcs only laughter here
coupled with The very profound and senten'ous ie'
mark "Ot they (lhe press will publish anything that
pays
What accounts have reached you Of the attack on
Naam0rOs IL the latter part OF October, know not
but rs a new is now imminent propose 10 INFORM
vorr readers Of ts rise and progress here Qt Is SAID
ID III
your Wall st. captalists)
some weeks ago gentleman whose trunks were
labelled Col. l. Clay Crawford arrived here, and
TOOK up lis quarters at Miers Hotel II was speedily
announced that his real title that of Maior-Genera
and his position that OF Chie.OtStah to Lieut.. Gen
Grant: rumor also had It that he was on President
Johnsons staff and had out under special private
Instructions to examine into affairs on the Rio Grande
After brief stay leaked out tta, the man was not in
tAe United States service at all and that his coming
had produced no very profound sensation in military
circles-that in fact llajor-Gen. L. Clay CRAWFORD
received courteous cold shoulder from the manly and
honorable officer who command. the District of the
RIO Graudc He took trip up the river as far as
Camarco where the remnsnts OF the late unfortunate
Liberal army temporarily congregated. On his
return he was accompanied by nearly all the leaders OF
tie Liberal and politics aud poker were pleas
sntly INDUCED in a; his He IL rather good
lookng man with slight swagger, consequential air
that Is evidently newly put On, and does not MT WeH
aud affected cynoism Of look and manner such as IS
r used 70 be Characteristic Of the New York hhoy Of
The Bill Poole or Sykesy order So much foT the per
sond appearance of " AsjorGen. L. Clay Crawford.
ON his return from his up-river tip advertisements
were posted around the corners that r (no name !
given desire TO visit Monterey on business and as
the road is beset with rowing bands OF robbers, re-
qlire an escort. Wages $50 per month. Apply 10 Col
Reed sc. merely give the substance of the pacard
Recruiting went on rapidly. He established camp
about three miles norl Of town where he soon congre
gated body Of about 800 it is said. About the
same time. he took occasion TO visit the United
States Post Ordnance Department and, putting on his
air Of consequence inquired what amount OF stores was
on hand demanding also to see the invoices aud On.
nouucing himself as Major-Gen. Crawford Tie
clerk in charge "a srunky New YJrk Irishman) de-
cned to give him the required Infor nation sub
nit his invoices 20 inspection without orders from
DisIic Headquarters The action OF tie clerk OF
course approved and commended by has supcrors who
couldn't see the ground Of the pretensons made by
this self asserting "MajorGereraD'
Previous TO this lie aad visited Matlmoros In the
character CT an American gentleman and such was
permitted to roam at large the city examining IT
defenses approaches &c His title to that character
will be more fully shown by his actions II il now al
legged that he derives lis rank Major General RON
commission given him b. Juarez late President OF the
Republic Of Mexico ard that his mission TO the Rio
Graade Is 10 overthrow the Empire run Macmillan
back to Austria iLto tho sea, anywhere out OF MeA
ico and establish peace, order and prosperity IN that
benightcd ard oppressed land. Il this allegation be
true even i. this terrible "Major-Gcnera' coDteu
plates host,ities ou bis hook against the Empire
1t appears unmiltary ike me- thai lie visited
1iatauoros in tue character ofa s,yone not usually
assumed by American PeafiemeH.
lie subsequently appeared IN the Court Of Justice
Ol the Peace in this city counsel for Mexican
against whom sui had been entered (ls dOmice being
here By parties in MataEoros ana by the
meut Of his military rank endcayored to scare poor jus
tce ont Of her propIiety by claiming sut the
ground that foreigner could sue our courts -
that foreign Judgment mus; first be obtained and filed
here-the statutes Of Toxas common sense and the
domice OF the defendant all the contrary notwth.
standing Herein he unsuccessful as in MS at.
tempted exploration cf the Ordnance Department, jus
fce ,as nfezi6ie. Dropping the unfortunate charac
Ger Of Major enesa he announced himself 2.
a lawyer of eminence and long experience having
studied under the a;e lanented Ch.ef Justice Iaucy
II is now iIreveTenty whispered among the members
oi the Bar Lere that hs practice reflects additional
iuster On the fame Of his great preceptor
Wei. on the I'd inst. there was glard reunion o.
al the Liberal leaders, o. more properly Of a the
leaders Of the Opposition To the Empire-for though
somewhat limited il number as to rank apd file the
Opposition Is a. many colOred az the garment Of Joseph
at hiieIs Hotel They Lad good dinner 10 which
nine 10 all set down including two American generals
is lI'sumed that The conversation was confined 10
mere gereraes until after 'he departure of the latter
The prominent parties "Alaior-Gen j. Clay Craw
ford. Gen. Escobedo. Gen. Garcia, Col. Garza and
Others OF less note What was decided at that .vi
postum il mere matter Of conjecture. Bu, what has
since taken place VIII state briefly.
On Iiidsy morning, the 5th inst. intelligence was
brought to this place that the town o. Bagdad, in
Mexico at the mouth Of the Rio Grande had been
attacked the previous night b. regiment OF United