March 16, 1861, The Ranchero (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Correspondence of The Ranchero.
Brownsville, Texas, March 11, 1861.
Mr. Ranchero:—Almost everything on this frontier bears a powerful “seedy” appearance. Though warlike, turbulent, and stormy betimes, yet always “seedy.” This or anything else that I lay down as a rule to go by, the ladies are always exceptions. The Aztec ladies are more than ever fair, fresh and winning, and seem but little browned, and, if anything, improved from the withering and drying-up effects of a March sun. Those fair creatures, as of old, have already made powerful impressions upon the gallant command of Col. Ford, knowing, as they well do, that the airs and epaulets, as proverbially worn by the West Pointers, is about to vamos forever from the field of Rio Grande action–from the stage of their watch by day and toil by night, have tacked ship, and are now steering under heavy pressure and full rig of crinoline, for the young and inexperienced privates and officers of the Stately army. . .
U.S. officers and soldiers will take away with them many lasting remembrances of the kind treatment they have received on this frontier; and for the services they have rendered at all times, in protecting, from violation and worthless assault, their extensive range, they will carry with them the warmest thanks of the undivided whole. Wherever they go, they will often turn with feelings of rapturous delight to the Rio Grande–the late field of their manly labors, where no breastwork could intimidate them, no trench too broad for them to leap, and no obstacle they have not surmounted. But they are going away, not running, to give place to those who have the same ends in view–the protection of this whole frontier.
Everything is being turned over by the regulars to Col. ford and his command, and receipts taken in name and account. Three companies of infantry left yesterday for the mouth of the river; the steamer Mexico took down a load of artillery and men to-day, and the Matamoros will take another load this evening. The Webster lays off the bar to receive them.
The steamer Gen. Rusk will leave tomorrow for Galveston, taking back some of the volunteers, among whom will be the gallant Gen. Hugh McLeod, and Gen. Nichols, the State Commissioner; which latter, by the by, has been quite sick at this place, but it is thought, so much recovered, as to be able to stand the journey.
To Col. Ford, his firmness and determination, are we all indebted for the avoidance here of civil war–a sanguinary conflict between the regulars and volunteers–and wherever I see the right man in the right place, it affords me pleasure to mention the fact. At the same time, Captain Stoneman, U.S.A., merits the gratitude of our people to no limited extent, in the stand he took to prevent the carrying into effect of his superior’s rash determination.
With plenty of people here, and plenty of money, Mrs. Dogberry thinks times would be very brisk; but as it is, the times, as well as your servant, are rather
“Seedy.”