New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-15

MATAMoR0S, mexico, May l, 1856.
On Friday last, it having been ascertained that
the outlaw Cortina had rallied around him another
troop OF followers, and was camped at PalO BIan-
co, on the river some thirty miles above Matamo-
ros Gen. 0vera with proper force Of Imperialist
cavalry from this place paid him a visit.
Cortiuas pickets were taken without any alarm
reaching his camp in consequence of which, the
camp, being situated in dense thieket, was sur
rounded and surprised The men were lying
around, sleeping, smoking, and card playing, at
their ease. The stampede was terrific. The Mex
leans flew madly in every direction, not having
time to make resistance, and were shot and sabered
by the pursuing Imperialsts. number were
killed and wounded, number escaped, and fifty
six were taken prisoners, There were captured
besides, 100 horses, so rifles, all the camp equip
age, and all OF Cortina's personal effects, consist
ing of his horse, saddle, sword, (the same pre-
scented to him by General MeClernand, U. s. A.,)
jacket, hat, pocketbook, watch, money and little
silver bugle that he used in ralying his clan; be-
sides his budget of official correspondence.
Cortna himself narrowly escaped capture. The
instant the Imperalists charged his camp, he
mounted bareback horse and succeeded in get
ting away. Col Montejano and squad wentafter
him, and none of them have been heard Of since.
This is the Imperiast report Of the affair, and it
seems to be pretty well confirmed and believed in
Matamoros. Certain it is, the prisoners and horses
were seen to come in and the Contra Guerrias
and others engaged in the capture all tell the same
story about it.
In Brownsville the story is not believed. A little
sheet called the BoIetin Official, in the Liberal in
terest, says it was funeral procession that the
Imperialists captured, and makes much fun of it.
Others swear that only two or three of Cortina's
men were captured, and that all the rest were
innocent persons, taken from their labor in the
fields, with their spades and hoes in their hands,
etc., etc.
1t is really wonderful how rapidly false reports
and lies of all kinds are manufactured on this
border, and what a task it is to get at the truth.
| advise you to take the Imperialist report of the
Cortina affair.
Among the killed in the charge on Cortina's
camp was an officer, an American, who had beena
Federal soldier. His photograph, found on his
person. was brought to the city.
Most of Mejia's forces are outside, "pi-rooting
around 2 and more interesting news Is at present
looked for.
Last Friday a United States soldier named Rogers
was to have been hung in Brownsville for the
murder of DR.. Garden, some time ago. But the
hanging didn't come off, because Rogers "es-
capped from jail the night before. He is now in
Matamoros, splurging around as coolly and re-
specially as anybody.
Yesterday, in Brownsville, four United States
soldiers had their heads and boards halfshaved,
and were drummed out with all the dishonors of
war, for desertion Besides this they will have to
perform five years of hard labor at the Tortugas,
with 24pound balls and chains attached to their
legs. AS they marched along with their ridicu-
lous-ooking heads each with the point of an Off
GERS sword at the back of his neck they presented
spectacle wretched and pitiable in the extreme.
| A party of eleven Contra guerrillas, from this
side is reported to have got the worst of it yes
! terday on the Texas side, some ten miles below
| Brownsville, whilst stealing horses. A party of
| United States cavalry surprised and scattered
| them, killing and wounding several only two got
| back to the Mexican side. The United states cav
alrymen brought eight of their horses and four
saddles to Brownsville, as evidence in part Of what
/ they had done. The Contras here in hatamorOs
denounce the whole story as an infamous slander,
1 SO far as their men are concerned.
We have had a variety of public entertainments
Of lale-bull fights theatricals horse race balls
aud rope.waking across the Rio Grande; al
drawing big crowds OfpeOpie, Il G.