The Portland daily press., 1873-05-23

Great Excitem emit n 3 9th sides the II iv-
era silly taik about she Arbitrnme mt OF
the Sword Rumors of Preparations Tor
War, Etc, Etc.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, May PA confidential
letter received by a gentleman in San Antonio,
and dated Brackettsyille, Kinsley County, Tex
as, MAY 20, says:
tsAs informed you when here in Brackets
ville from every indication was forced to be-
lieve that this country was the passing ground
for the numerous depredating bands of savage
indians, known as the Lipaut and Kickpapoos
IN their bloody incursions on the Inhabitants of
the lower and more eastern counties. From
recent Developments. it would seem that in
this conclusion was perfectly correct, for earlv
last month the stockmen report that they not
only discovered the numerous divergent trails
of the savages leading from points on DEVILS
River, the northern bouudery of this county,to
several crossings of the Neuces River, Its east
ern boundary, but in several instances have
seen bands numbering so or 60 warriors divid-
ing themselves in every direction to have a
wider and richer field for their oepredations
In consequence OF these reports and for other
reasons Gen. Mckenzie commanding the gar
rison at Fort Clark, promptly started a com
pany OF cavalry over the various creeks and
crossings throughout the country and thor
ocughly secured every portion of the surround
ing country where the Indians might conceal
themselves; put notwithstanding the vigilence
on the part OF Gen. Mckenzie and the troops
under his command, band of fifty warriors
succeeded in evading the troops, crossed the
Neuces river and as usual divided themselves
IN small raldlng parties the better to enable
them to evade pursuit and prey upon the stock
and other property of the people in the lower
counties, whose ranches are to great extent
devoid OF protection. Uuder these exaspera-
lions and other circumstances of more aggra-
waited character, as well as the great pressure
OF popular feeling and excitement, Gen. Nc
Kenzie was induced to resolve at any risk, cost
or consequence, to break up this nest of saw
ages by attacking them upon their own camp
ing ground near the Santa Rosa mountains in
Mexico, and there, if not totally destroying
them, at least to so cripple them as to reuder
them unable to for some time 10 carry Oil their
murderous forays and cruel expeditions upon
the frontier inhabitants of Texas. Accordingly
on the morning of Saturday, the 18th inst, all
the available cavalry force Of the garrison was
ordered to be equipped and in readiness at no.
tice for important duty on the Rio Grande
Couriers were despatched from the head
quarters 10 the several companies stationed on
the various creeks and crossings with similar
orders which were strictly complied with, and
all the available force of the 4th cavalry, num-
berlng some 600 men, were assembled at the
call of their command er and proceeded under
the guidance of the half breed scout Van
Green, and the other guides, crossed the Rio
Grande, and by forced march of 80 miles into
the interior of Mexico reached the camp of the
the Kickapoos at early day, having been 4S
hours in the saddle, and "a hours without food
water. being COmpelleu gu tiiC lnaiSh W
throw away and dispense with every utensel,
accoutrement or requisite whatever that could
in any manner reGard their march. The charge
was made at dawn. The Indians, who were
not ready for the attack, make but slight re-
s:stance, the greater portion of them attempt
ing to flee to tue neighboring mountains for
shelter. In the enoounrer 10 warriors wer5
killed and about an equal number wounded, and
40 squaws captured and 100 horses and other
property stolen by the Indians have been recov-
ILL.
and the others mortally wounded. Couriers
arrived at the Post last night with orders for
1000 rations, the food of the troo"" having been
thrown away. The courers port that Gen.
Mckenzie and his command s...u.y recrOSSed
the Rio Grande with the captured and recover
ed property, camping at Van Geen's ranch.
Six wagons laden with provisions have been
sent to their relief. The prisoners are mostly
squaws of the Indians who crossed the Neuces
last moon" forty strong, and who are now
depredating in the lower counties.
Since the affair have learned that intense
excitement prevails on the other side, and it is
said the Mexican frontier authorities are excit-
ed to the highest degree, and have assumed
very hostile attitude towards u.s. Reports of
this kind were even in circulation here some
weeks since. A gentleman of high standing
on this frontier, thoroughly conversant with
Mexican frontier affairs, having practiced law
in the leading towns of Coahuila, Mexico, in
formed me shortly after your departure, that
Montclera, Sargossa, Nava MorelIss, and San
Fernando are apprehenslve of hostilites arising
between the two counties, believing that the
difficulties that have arisen between the inhabi-
tants of both banks of the Rio Grande can only
be settled by the arbitrament OF the sword. and
in evidence of the truth of this statement, the
State of Cohuila has just levied on her citizens
an extraordinary tax, as is only done in cases
of great revolutions or threatening war.
Another gentleman of high standing in this
,pon ttu form LIANT Of in
forms me that he received communication
from an American resident of Mora, Mexico,
in which is mentioned the organization of a
body of men, whose object is 70 retaliate the
damage done by Mexicans last fall on their raid
on the Villa Neuva, and the writer goes so far
as to counsel the gentleman to exercise due vigi-
larce in the care of his life and property.
mention these matters to convince you of the
feeling which prevails in Mexico towards peo-
pie of the United States, and the probability of
it being Intensified by this last affair of the In
dian camp at Santa Rosa The supposition
among the frontiersmen is that it will precipi-
tate hostilities You will have more news by
the next mail The troops and prisoners will
probably arrive here tomorrow. l have since
learned that the troops were fred upon by Mex
leans, as they were re crossing the Rio Grande.
The Troubles in Arkansas.
NEW York, May pat an interview last
night, Ex-Governor Clayton stated that Gov.
that toe troubles there arose from the machina-
| tions of Brooks, the Liboral candidate, who ran
against Baxter, and also from Gov. Baxter
| paying too much attention to the false reports
brought to him. Clayton states that the reports
from Little Rock have been greatly exaggerated.
Ex-Gov. Hadley, who is also in town, holds
about the same view of the reported troubles
there, and says there is no breach in the Repub-
| lican party of Arkansas.
Another Duel.
| RICHMOND, Va, May 22.-The Despatch has
| the following special from Petersburg: bloody
duel took place here this evening between two
we'll known young bloods, which resulted in one
being fatally wounded. The weapons used were
double barreled shot guns, distance ten PAGES.
| A love scrape was the cause of the duel.
METEOROLOGICAL
PROBABILITIES FOR THE NEXT TwENTY-FoUR
HOURS.
WAR DEPT, OFFICE CHIEF SIGNAL