Gaudet, O.M.I., Father Augustine, Brownsville, Texas, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1861 December 19

Lately he sent Odin a page of the Brownsville newspaper containing the details of what is happening with their neighbors in Mexico. At the same time he sent a page to Father Napoleon Joseph Perché. At present hostilities are at the same point: _____ Carvajal, after a month of siege, has not been able to take Matamoros. That city which has prospered so much the last three years will soon be nothing more than ruins and cinders. He does not believe there is a single house intact, that of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate was pierced by a cannon ball and a bomb without counting the grenades and millions of bullets. The priests escaped providentially. Seeing that there was no security and that they could not exercise their ministry, they came to Brownsville where several times each day they visit the wounded of Carvajal's army who come to their side of the border. Those of Matamoros are dying as they lived. They have established a hospital in the church and those who die are buried there. Several times they have asked permission to visit them but they cannot obtain it. Brownsville now has more than 8,000 souls and each house is occupied by four and five families. Corn and meat are not wanting but everything is at a high price. From the Gulf side they are watched; from time to time one of Lincoln's large boats visits them and captures some schooners. If they content themselves with that, they will be patient but if they try to land their pirates, people are resolved to repulse them. Troops are constantly arriving. They had a novena to the Immaculate Conception for peace. The nine days were followed more than ever and Communions have been numerous. They gave no news from France but the Sisters of the Incarnate Word received a letter from their Father _____ Galtier brought by a Mobile priest coming from France which said that Bishop Joannes Francisco de Paula Verea had passed Lyons last September with the new bishop of Victoria, Bishop Franciscus Ramirez, Father Gonzales he thinks. He thinks the Oblates will be well served by this excellent religious. The travelers should be at Havana and may arrive at Brownsville any day. Their correspondence has been sent to him from Monterey but he did not see how to forward it to New Orleans because of the blockade. He has only forwarded to Vendano and Co. of New Orleans the communication from Santiago Vidaurri which authorizes Verea to reenter his diocese. All last week they were visited by Father Claude Jacquet en route to Roma where he is going to join Father Louis M. Planchat. He took advantage of his visit to give them a three day retreat. They have received nothing from Galveston; they wrote many times to Father Louis C.M. Chambodut for dispensations without a reply which places them in a difficult situation. Odin should pray for them and for the Convent which is a great source of worry in these critical times. The sisters bear everything well and they have many boarders and day-students. He does his best to encourage them, telling them that they gave nothing to fear and that God will protect them if they pray well. ` P.S. He has received the "Propagateur Catholique" regularly enough for a month and he would like to come to its aid but that which is necessarily delayed will not be lost. :: VI-2-e A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.