Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-11
From tho New York Herald
The News from tic Rio GruId<


The News from the Rio Gru,,de.
We have ut last perfectly authc1tlo ac-
count Of what took place during tho exour.
sion Of Lieutenant Bulls across the Rio
Grande in the latter part Of last week. The
sensational reports of the San Antonio news
papers are exploded, which is q great relief
to those who feared that blood had been
shed 10 on encounter between American and
Mexican troops. Fortunately, thero has
been no conflict of arms between tho SOL
diers Of the two republics, but this seems to
have been more due to accident than to apy
lack Of a hostile disposition on the part of
the Mexican troops. Lieutenant Bulls
expected toovertake and capture an Indian
enoampmcnt of whose location his superior
officers had been apprised. He crossed the
Rio Grande with something less than q
hundred men, but his Mexican guide. be.
traycd him by sending word to the Indians and
enabling them to destroy some Of their booty
and escape with the greater part of the rest
The consequence was that Lieutenant Bull
lis succeeded in capturing only four squaws
and boy with few stolen animals Our
army officers in Texas evidently had no
confidence 10 the friendly disposition of the
Mexican troops, for Colonel Shafter, with
seven companies of cavalry, crossed tho
Rio Grande soon after Lieutenant Bulls
and put bimself in position to support
Bulls and bring him safely off in case of
disaster. The reason assigned by Colone!
Shafter for this strong supporting move
ment is that the Indian camp was close to
Mexican town containing two hundred
Mexican soldiers. OF course those Mcxi-
can soldiers were presumed to be hostile
for otherwise the strong supporting move
ment Of seven companies would havo been
unnecessary. The event proved thnt it was
wise preoaution. A party Of Mexican
cavalry was discovered following up the
trail of Lieutenant Bulls on his retreat and
would undoubtedly have had to fight if
Col. Shafter had not been close at hand with
force which overawcd the Mcxicans
Colonel Shafter thought it inexpedicnt to
attack tho Mexican cavalry following in his
rear, and in short time they disappeared.
This brief history, which is the substance
of Colonel Skaters official report, is very
suggestive. 1t is only by the prudence o:
General Ord in sending after Lieutenant
Bulls supporting cavalry force too strong
to bo resisted that we havo escaped bloody
fight between American and Mexican sol
dicrs. IIud the troops Of the two republics
been brought into collision the inaamma-
tory effect on both sides Of the border would
have been dcplorable. Public feeling on
the frontier is already excited to DANCE.
rous pitch, and it would be rcgrettable if
ANYTHING should occur to fan the flame.
These recent occurrences diapel some iltu !.
sions with which the country has been
soothed during the summer. Mexican co :
operation in suppressing tho border raids
proves to be comedy very olumsily played.
Whether the Mexican government mas boen
acting double and deceitful part we cannot
yet judge. If its professions of oo-opera..
tion have been made in good faith they only
demonstrate its powerlessness. What avails
it to send troops to the border if the men,
and even the officers, Immediately suocumb
to local feeling al soon as they reach the
frontier? Mexican officers have resigned
their commands rather than assist in the
surrender Of criminals under the extradition
treaty. Mexican guides offer their services
only to betray our officers. Mexican troops
stand ready to fsh. our soldiers who GROSS
tho Rio Grande at tho frat opportunity
when they osn pounoe upon an inferior
force. The troaohery and hostility will not
DO abated but increased by what is taking
place near the Rio Grande.