Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-01-26
Texas Correspondence.
CAMp 10Th u. S. C. INEAyTRY,
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS,
Deceunber IL. 1S65

Mr.. j. IL. UuF00Tg010
SIR, having just returned from ''up, the
river where / have been for some two weeks
/ have concluded to give you brief
account Of my trip and its etcetras | left
this, November 9th ult on board the Govern
ment steamer E. Painero, plying between
Brazos aud Fort Ringold, some 800 miles
above Brownsville. The ostensible purpose
of the expedition was to get timber to fit up
our camp for winter, consequently was pro
vided with 20 men and % days ratons, with
instructions to stop when | pleased Af
Ter making inquiries, / concluded to go up
some 200 miles, where learned should find
the best timber, as well as the best hunting
ground, which can assure you was no small
consideration with me, having taken the pre-
cautioD to provide myself with 1000 rounds
Of ammunition extra. On board ] found
rather motley crowd of people, com
posed of officers and men of the U. s., Impe-
rial and Liberal armies, with quite number
Of ex.rebels and returning fugiti7es from both
this and the other side of the river, represen-
ting almost every nationality and color. The
convenienees on board were by no means
great. yet We managed to make ourselves
quite comfortable, barring the hosts Of mus
qaetoes that swarmed the cabin at night.
The time was spent by some in shooting at
some of the thousands of Wild geese, ducks,
and cranes which everywhere lined the is
lands and sand-bars, and which had not been
sufficiently alarmed to keep out Of range of
our rifles. Some amused themselves at games,
while others were busy with their Spanish,
and the present was an auspieious moment,
as the cabin was well sprinkled with Liberal
officers, who where as anxious to master the
English as we were Spanish, SO that we were
mutually improved The Rio Grande is one
of the crookedest rivers in the world, as we'll
as muddiest. We were frequently aground,
but not long and thus made a very quick, as
wen as pleasant trip. AS to the country, there
was little that was inviting or particularly in
teresting to the traveller, as the same uncul-
tivated soil existed with here and there
rancho, with perhaps from one rood to ten
acres Of land under cultivation, and now.
groaning under splendid crop OF corn, The
soil is black sandy loan, and / believe as
good as any in the west, yet these people are
so lazy that they raise but barely sufficient to
support them from one crop To another. while
they can always raise two crops Of corn
fully matured. Notwithstanding the soil is
capable of producing everything that they
might choose to plant, yet saw nothing
raised but corn and pumpkins, which in con-
nection with fresh beef forms their only arti-
cles Of food. ! did not see potato growing
while upthe river, yet thanks to our good old
Uncle Samuel ! succeeded ia purchasing
some ofour Commissary at two and one half
cents per pound and those were raised way
down in Maine AS to the houses or iran.
ches' they are constructed of bamboo
with exception of the roof which is of grass
or the hides of cattle.
1t is really astonishing how many persons
can be accommodated in those ranches. In
fact they frequently resemble from their
number Of population small towns, having
as many as three or four hundred people. In
manners they are quite rude as not unfre-
quently you see children of both sexes en-
tirely naked. In factI can see that the Grea
ser is little in advance Of the Aborigines on
our frontier. Edinburg is the only town on
our side Of the river and garrisoned by the
116th U S. eolored infantry On the oppo
site side Of the river is Renosa, town of
three or four thousand inhabitants anda very
fine Convent. The town was occupied by
Cortinas and his band of brgands, but as
Gen. Mejia, with 2oo0 men was just below,
there was a great skedaddle of the natives
with their effects to our side. In fact there
were thousands of horses and cattle on the
river bank, which had, or we're in process of
crossing. One of the most pleasing sights
was several loads Of most luscious oranges
just from Monterey. Having remained at
Edinburg for few hours, we continued up
the river some 20 miles where / concluded to
disembark in pleasant willow groYe---having
been nearly four days on the passage.
As to the timber here it is not generally
good in kind or quantity, being generally
muskeet "a species of Mohogany) yet seldom
growing sufficiently large to be useful for We
neering. The most beautiful, II not among
the most useful timbers here is the Ebony.
They are covered with q yerdure so rich in
color as to be almost black in the distance
hence always visible, and selected by those
desiring to shield themselves from the sun.
The ''tepe wahie'' is also very beautiful, as is
the palmetto, yet the latter is by bynomeansi
plenty on the river. The blackberry and will
low are the most plentiful, hence the best, as
they grow very large, and can be used for
building purposes. The groves here possess
majestic appearance from the quantity Q
moss which everywhere festoons the trees,
hanging in masses frequently from II to Is
feet in length In fact it grows so long and
dense as to not unfrequently cause weight
sufficiently great to break the largest limbs.
During the time remained up the river /
had ample time to see, the surrounding coun-
try which / assure you was very unenviting to
all save the hunter, as the chaparral and tall
grass always undergrow the large timber
which was skirted by canebrakes so dense, as
to be impenetrable, save through the paths
made by the cattle, OF which there were q