Affairs across the Mississippi.
Hon. A. M. Branch, member of Congress from
Texas, has arrived at
Mobile,
en route for
Richmond.
He left
Alexandria on the 16th, at which time they had advices at that point from
Houston, thirty-nine hours old. The Mobile
Advertiser publishes the following intelligence furnished by him:
‘
The enemy were at
Matagorda, moving along the coast in a column about 6,000 strong, accompanied by their naval force.
Their immediate destination was
Velasco, which they were expected to reach about the 8th, but it was doubtful whether they would succeed as
Magruder's force was ample to meet them.
The General himself was in the saddle, and the
Texans, mindful of the days and deeds of 1835 and '36, were turning out to a man.
’
Velasco is at the mouth of the
Brazos, in close proximity to the
Southern extremity of
Galveston Island, and the object of the
Yankee movement is to flank
Galveston.
About the time that
Mr. Branch left
Alexandria the
Federals fell back from New Iberta.
Mouton's division was at
Alexandria; destination uncertain, but supposed to be
Monroe.
Walker was at Atchafalava.
Kirby Smith left
Shreveport with
Price, who was moving on
Little Rock with about 15,000 men. The enemy at
Little Rock are said to be 5,000 strong, the rest of their force, some 7,000, being at
Pine Bluff.
They have increased their force at the latter place since
Marmaduke's raid, in which he captured 150 negroes and 300 horses and mules, and burned their commissary stores, with a loss of only 12 men. The
Yankees, it will be remembered reported this as a repulse of
Marmaduke.
On Saturday, 12th,
Capt. Adams, of
Capers's command, with 50 men, surprised a party of Yankees and negroes on Bœuf river, killing 40 or 50 and capturing 12 prisoners and 20 odd horses, arms, &c., with the loss of one man.
Judge Field, from the
Indian Nation, who accompanies
Mr. Branch, informs us that
Cooper was returning towards the
Arkansas river with two
Texas regiments and a force of about 5,000
Indians, composed of two
Choctaw, two Creek, and two
Cherokee regiments, and a battalion of Seminoles.
The
Cherokees and
Creeks are mostly expatriated and have taken refuge in the
Choctaw nation, but maintain their position.
These gentlemen experienced much difficulty in crossing the river and in getting through the bottom on this side, where they were obliged to lie out two nights.
The
Yankees destroy every boat on the river, down to a dug out, and threaten to burn the house of every man that puts anybody across.
They crossed in a boat that was hauled seven miles in a wagon, their horses swimming; and while it was on its return a gunboat and transport passed down, running slowly, close to the shore, and keeping a sharp lookout.
They confirm the report we recently published of the depredations of the river pirates styled the "marine brigade." They lately made a descent on
Bruinsburg, where they seized a quantity of salt and 200 packages of tobacco, which they distributed among the negroes, and ended by plundering everybody, the negroes included, whom they robbed of their blankets.
Adams's command recently captured a Lieutenant of this gang of thieves, who had his handkerchief full of rings and breastpins.
The impression of our informants is that he--
escaped. 
