New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-01
A Resume Of tse Dlexlca. Revelutiou.

4
| RlNGGoLD barracks, TEXAS,
On the BIO Grande, May II. 1876
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
Our people on tho eastern bank have, fo
tho last month, enjoyed peace Of late un
known. 1t has been we'll said ''that it il
An i'll wind that blows nobody good, !" o.
words to that effect. So with the revo In
ton on the other side of the Rio Grsnde
While it has blown naught but hardships
privation, and in some cases starvation t.
those engaged, it has by using the thieving
element for war purposes given our people
that rest and quiet speak Of, and then the
heads Of both contending armies have de.
veloped an actiue anxiety for our good will,
and have thereby unwittingly demon
strated fact for which many of us have
long since contended-an active anxiety ON
tho part of their officials to stop the raids
of Mexican thieves on our Texas cattle
ranches. To IN interested, yet impartial
observer, the condition of the Mexican
frontier presents some, if not many points
of interest. In fact, were it possible to
reach the "true inwardness" of all things
pertaining thereto, this letter could be con-
sidered fat with good things.
The revolutionary cloud first appeared to
the close observer in the east, resting over
the goodly city Of New Orleans. in the
shape of the apparent friendly visit of Gen
eral Diaz. Shortly after he came to this
frontier, and made brief visit to our hos
pitsble little city of Brownsville, and there
arranged las after facts have demonstrated
his present campaign against the govern
ment he was sworn to maintain. A very
clever bookseller of Brownsville was Sc
cured as his first active soldier-an exile
from Mexico, and an ex-soldier of Maxi
milian-Don Jose Pens. Early in March,
Pena took possession Of Reynosa, opposite
Edinburg, and from thence marched on and
threatened Camsrgo, which was but Q
feint to persuade the government to retain
the garrison at that point Very soon
after this affair the matutinal walks of
Diaz were missed by the early risers of
Brownsville, and on the morning of the
second of April he is 1t the head of the
army, in front of Matsmoros, which he de-
mands, and to which the ''heroic" surren-
ders. The scene is brief, bu. to the point.
"Now you see it, now you don't" At night,
distinguished and honored guest; in the
morning, the hero of conqered city, and
in command of the army demanding the
surrender Of the government of Mexico.
The gallant La Barra and few followers
came to our side of the river and placed
themselves under protection of our flag.
A few days later had . pleasant chat
with the veteran Pena, who was again
doing business in his little book store in
Brownsville too, enjoying all the pro-
lection that our flag gives it's best citizen.
As near a. I could ascertain he flaw the
track because he was not made collector of
the port of Matamoros. Diaz said here
health. Pens's appearance bellies the state
ment.
Does it not occur to the average reader
that our government should hsvN such
laws, and have them 80 enforced, that sucn
gross violations of good faith toward the
government of Mexico should not go IN
punished! Yet no one seems to be blamed,
because no one MADE it his duty to inter
fere.
Matamoros captured, q garrison was at
once organized and placed under the COM
mand of an intimate friend and old com.
rade of General Diaz, General Gonzales.
At an early day Diaz. with some 2lOO men,
took up the march for Monterey, sin search
of the enemy" He captured all the in
termediate towns from Matamoros to Mier,
and got somew here in the vicinity of Mon
terey. when he learned of the presence of
General Escobedo, in command of 5000 gov
eminent troops, and at once beat hasty
retreat toward Matamoros. His exact
whereabouts is not now known.
Escobedo arrived in Camsrgo Sunday,
the fourteenth instant with seven pieces
of artillery, and in all abous 5000 men. He
reports Generals Palacios and Fuero . few
days behind him, with 5000 more, he having
had to divide the army into two wings on
account of the scarcity of water and forage.
The prolonged drouth has literally parched
the country into crisp. As it was, the
suffering of Escobedo's men was very
severe. He lost between here and Mon
terey, on account of thirst, twenty -fve men.
His horses we're much jaded. He bought
all the corn the country could furnish at IS
per bushel, cash in new Mexican dollars.
Early Monday morning he left for Mata-
moros, and the telegraph informs US that he
encamped last night at Reynoss, and is there
to-day collecting all the supplies possible.
He can easily exhaust the country and then
have but little. He will leave tomorrow
and be in front of Matamoros early Satur'
day. The telegraph will inform you before
this reaches you OF the result.
The Diaz people, with goodly supply of
pluck, have everything in their favor.
Escobedo has no base of supplies, and will
not have three days provisions when he
reaches his destination; so that should the
revolutionary people be able to hold out,
they can soon starve the flower of the
Mexican army, the revolutionists themselves
having used everything the country pos
sessed. The fields and ranches are empty,
but the warerooms of the MatamOros mer-
chants are full, of not only the necessities
but the luxuries Of life.
Should Escobed0 meet with that success
which he so confidently predicts, it will be
sad for the ''pronouncisdos' that fall into
his hands. He has spared none-sent them
all to the "Campo Santo." That he will in
the end succeed, there is no doubt. c.