Glasgow Courier. — 1864-12-22 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

CORTINA.  The factmay not be generally known that this "Mexican patriot" is an American citizen. He was born on the Texan side of the river, of an old and wealthy Mexican family, who still reside there, and occupy a good social position. Juan Nicopomene, this would-be ally of the United States, is the black sheep of the family. He can neither read nor write, but his ignorance is but of little consideration, only so far as it seems to impart a more brutal ferocity to his crimes. There is a moral depravity about the villain that laughs even at the most sacred claims of our nature. Even a mother's love could not restrain his sacriligious hand from applying the torch to the little chapel on thefamily estate. The ceremonies of religion had heen celebrated in it for over a century, and it was particularly endeared to his family, but he destroyed the sacred structure in mere devilish wantonness, and in spite of the tearful entreaties of his mother. From his early yonth Juan was idle and vicious, assooiating with the worst characters on either side of the Rio Grande. He joined a band of Mexican horse-thieves, whose depredatiFs often extend. ed to highway robbery and attache upon isolated ranches. He pursued this course for years with entire impunity, owing to the facility for escape into remote parts of Mexico, and the ready asylum afforded by the Mexican authorities to all refugees from Texas, no matter what might be their character. Emboldened by his long career of success, and his band grown quite formidable in numbers, he surprised and attached prownsville by night in the winter .qf 1-Bu9. He sacked and burned several qf dwellings, the dwelli and seized a number of the prinCipal citizens, some of. whom he either hung or shot. His wrath Was chiefly directed against the officers ofjusticeyvho had been endeavouring to effect his arrest. The United States garrison at Ringgold barrocks, aunmancled by Oaptabx Stow:Gan, Colonel Bt.  George Cooke, and others who have since become prominent officers in Federal armies, come to the rescue of the town, and in conjunction with the Texas Rangers pursued and scattered Cortina and his band, but a majority of them with their chief escaped across the Rio Grande. Indictments being found against him for arson, robbery, and murder, the Governor of Texas proclaimed him an outlaw, and the State was free of his presence for some years. In Northern Mexico he continued his career of horse-thief, frequently assuming the role of the robber-soldier and "Mexican patriot," and with such success and daring that he soon rallied round him a formidable body of horsemen. Thus, like many other chiefs of the Juarista party, Cortina soon rose to a prominent military position,the anarchical condition of the country inviting the rule of desperate men, and the Mexican President being such as to make welcome the services of every. Dugald Dalgetty. Some months since Cortina, after the fashion of the country, issued his pronunciamento, overturned the Government of the State Taumaulipas, installed himself Governor, and declared for war to the knife against the French. When the Federal forces occupied Brownsville, a warm fraternisation quickly grew up between Cortina and the Federal officers. They attended several fandangos 1 given in their honour by the Mexican chief, and he in turn was a frequent guest at the Federal General's headquarters. On one occasion General Henon entertained Cortina and suite at a grand banquet, when toasts were drunk pledging an eternal brotherhood between the Mexican and American Republics, and invoking "death and confusion upon Fiench invaders and Southern rebels." In proposing the health of his "distinguished guest," General Henon declared that if the French attacked Matamoras, he would cross the river to the rescue of the "heroic city." Events have saved the General from the test of redeeming his pledge. He has, however, given very material aid to Cortina. He supplied him with all the military stores he needed, and it is notorious that vessels frequently left this port for Matamoras with stores and arms for the Mexican forces at Monterey and other points in Northern Mexico.—The Index.