General H. P. Bee, who lately returned from the
Ric Grande, whither he had been sent by the
Government, has furnished the Goliad
Messenger with a statement of the sit nation of affairs on the
Rio Grande, and some of the reasons why
Brownsville should be defended.
The statement is the substance of
General Bee's report to the
Government.
From it we take the following extract:
‘
Fort Brown has been repaired, and in a short time could be made as strong as such works usually are. There are twenty-five pieces of cannon there; included in these a light battery, complete, and ready for service in twenty minutes. The horses are poor and unserviceable, but improving — about 300 rounds of ammunition for each piece, of the best description, and a good supply of powder and ball cartridges.
There is one 10 inch mortar; no piece over a 26-pounder.
There are at this time four companies of Texas Rangers at
Fort Brown--say four hundred men.
Brownsville is the depot of the
Mexican trade.
Last year $12,000,000 in bullion passed through the custom-house
on route for the
United States.
The imports of goods, principally
dry goods, is proportionably heavy.
All that trade is now suspended — no direct shipments have arrived at
Matamoras from foreign port--two vessels arriving from New York under the
British flag, while I was there; one was wrecked; both were loaded with provisions and necessary supplies.
The foreign merchants at
Matamoras are English and German, and are friendly to our cause.
They have not made any extensive arrangements for importations, owing to the unsettled state of opinion concerning the raising of the blockade — if it should not be done they will import directly to
Matamoras.
The
Mexicans are neutral, the officers, civil and military, profess and exhibit every desire to co-operate with us in making peace and good order on the line, and we have aided in stopping
Cortinas from his forays in
Texas.
The
Mexican population on this side of the river are quiet, but not to be relied on in case of invasion.
By virtue of commissions from the
Lincoln authorities, two or three hundred
Mexican guerrillas could be mustered into the service of the
United States, and depredate on and destroy the stock interests of
Western Texas.
Once in possession of
Brownsville, we could not readily dispossess them.
It is 250 miles from the dense settlements of
Texas and a dreary desert of sand or fifty miles interior.
My conclusions are, that it is of the utmost importance to the
Confederacy, that that port should be held by it. Shut up and encompassed around, as we men are, it is the only point through which we can correspond or communicate with the nations of
Europe — by the expenditure of capital and energy, every supposable supply for our port or people can be brought to
Matamoras from abroad.
It will keep quiet and neutral a large and in some things efficient force of a race embittered against us by real or imaginary wrongs, dating back twenty years. By means of the steam boats now at
Brownsville the enemy could transport a force to Ringgold Barracks, and thence by forced marches over a good road, be at
San Antonio in 12 days,
leaving no enemy in the rear, but on the contrary a willing and useful ally to keep up their connection.
It is the most feasible way to invade
Texas.
Brownsville should either be defended or given up at once and the cannon withdrawn.
It will be too late when the enemy lands.
A few men — a thousand men — will only be caught in the trap, for there is no retreat, the gloomy desert of sand will prevent the cannon being saved.
The enemy will not land with less than 10,000 men. The material of war there is worth its weight in gold to our cause.
It will be lost within two months, in my opinion, and irreparable damage to
Texas ensue.
Not less than 5,000 men ought to be permanently there, extending up to
Fort McIntosh.
An officer should command who speaks the
Mexican language and understands the people, and if he is wise and firm he will keep the peace with
Mexico, and make them useful friends.
’
