Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-05

The accompanying picture of a PEN
ton bridge which was built. across
the Rio Grande at Brownsville in
the latter part of the year 1866 will
recall to the real old timers here
those who have lived here since
before the war'-one of the many
events which have redeemed the his
tory of Brownsville from the COM
monplace and made this, in fact, n
Of the most interesting Of the older
Texas towns.
The cut for this picture was made
from a faded little photograph
owned by District Clerk Louis Ko-
WALSH, who kindly lent it to The
Herald for the purpose.
The reason for its construction
was a request from the American
consul in Matamoros, which Office
was then held by Leonard Pierce,
the father Of Frank G. Pierce, the
well known attorney of this city.
The time was near the close Of
Maximilian's brief career as emperor
Of Mexico. The occasion was the
actual bombardment of the city of
Matamoros by General Escobedo.
After the terrible battle Of Santa
Gertrudis which took place on June
16, 1866, not far from the town Of
Camargo, Mexico, directly opposite
from Rio Grande City, and which
was won by General Escobedo with
the assistance of Colonel ~Servando
.Canales, Mejia resolved to evacuate
Matamoros at once. General Car
vajal named a commission to treat
with him and the outcome of its
labors was the surrender Of the
town with all Office archives and
abandoned artillery June p and %,
Mejia Immediately leaving on June
23rd for Bagdad, Mexico, where he
embarked for Vera Cruz.
Upon the evacuation of Mejia,
Escobedo placed Canales in charge
of the Port of Matamoros.
During the month Of August,
1866, official communications from
President Juarez were received re-
proving the capitulation Of Mejia
and dismissing Carvajal as governor
of the state, the result being that
the majority Of the troops immed-
lately proclaimed Canales as gov
ernor.
About this time. General Jesus
Gonzalez Ortega, who had demanded
of Juarez that he should vacate the
presidential chair, vas supposed to
arrive off the mouth of the Rio
Grande and the belief current was
that C~arvajal had been deposed on
account Of his favoring Ortega.
General Juan Nepomuceno Cor
tina, who was at Camargo on August
81. proclaimed himself as governor
and Immediately left for Matamoros
for the purpose Of having the troops
declare their recognition of his new
office. Learning, however, that
Juarez had named General Santiago
Tapia as governor and military COM
mander in chief of the state, Cor
tina desisted and Immediately called
on Tapia and offered his congratula-
ton.
Canales, who, acting with Car
vajal, had also declared for Gonzalez
Ortega, refused TO recognize Tapia,
and prohibited him entering Mata-
moros. lapia died shortly after
wards from the opening of an old
wound.
AS soon as President Juarez re-
ceiyed notice that Canales had de-
parted from the straight path and
that he refused TO recognize Tapia.
he order Oscobedo, who had taken
possession OF Monterrey shortly after
the battle of Santa Gertrudis. per-
sonally to so to subjugate Canales.
On November II, 1866, General
Escobedo arrived at the outskirts of
Matamoros with 1909 men intend
ing to ~re-enforce the besiegers Of
Matamoros but before beginning his
battle upon communicating with his
lifelong friend and former sub