Year: 1876

What is generally known as the
Texas border, says the New Orleans B,A'
letin, extends from the city Of Browns
vile to the Pecos mountains, distance
of over five hundred miles by land, and
in direct course. If, however, the dis
tance be measured along the tortuous
and winding Rio Grande, it would reach
fully three times that number OF miles,
owing to the extreme irregularity Of its
course throughout the entire distance.
The river on both sides is lined by bluffs
ranging in height from twenty to thirty
five feet, and in order to facilitate the
crossing Of cattle deep gulies have been
cut in these bluffs by the Mexican raid
ers, though when driving the cattle from
Texas it makes but little difference how
high these bluffs arc or whether there
be any pathways cut thrc ugh or not; the
great thirst of the cattle, they being
Kept from water for long while, urges
them to plunge into the shallow stream
below, through which they can easily
wade to the opposite shore. Along the
entire border there is q road running on
the Texas side, into which the pathways
and roads from the interior all merge at
last; and, if this were perfectly patrolled,
the dangers which constantly threaten
the inhabitants of the interior would be
greatly lessened. As it is now, it is un-
safe for any person to travel unaccom-
panied by q strong escort; any traveller
met by the raiders is liable to be most
brutally murdered, and instances are
known where the innocent have been
auartered and mutilated in the most
horrible manner, without any reason ex-
cept the fear that they might make
known the whereabouts of the raiders.


About one-quarter of the distance be-
tween Brownsville and the Pecos noun
tains is situated Ringgold barracko,
where the United States soldiers are at
present stationed under command Of
Gen. Potter, who has immediate charge
of the border; but these troops are 80
few in number that they afford little if
any protection against the treacherous
and daring Mexicans. There are about
five or six hundred men, equally divided
between Brownsville and Ringgold bar
racks. The entire district of Texas is
in command, Of, Gen. .Augur, whose
Headquarters are San Antonio, fully l50
miles from the Rio Grande.I -


The Rio Grande rarely, if ever, reaches
greater depth than two and one-half or
three feet, and therefore offers but little
protection as q border line, and is no OBJ.
struction whatever 10 the crossing OF
cattle in any numbers or. at any time.
The officers OF the Rio Bravo have dis
covered the shallowness of this "great
stream" in very unsatisfactory man
ner-their vessel being now aground at
Brownsville in about three and one. half
feet of water. The country bordering
on the river is covered for long dis
tance inland by species Of vegetation
peculiar to that country, known as
chaparral," very tough and prickly
shrub, which grows to height Of be
tween eight and ten feet, and offers an
ir1 esistible obstruction to travel the
cactus plant also grows there to about
the same height, and is an equally
troublesome impediment to man OF
horse. In order to reach the river,
roads have been cut through this shrub
berry, and offer the only means of inter
course with the interior. All the ranches
for some miles inland. are occupied by
Me1icans, who arc unquestionably nc,
completes of the raiders, but who never
allcw themselves to be caught in any
overt act of depreciation, merely afford
ing harbor of safety to the raiders
when occasion demands.