Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress, Part III
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you, for the information of the government of the United States, the documents specified in the accompanying index, which reached me to day, giving an account of recent events in the eastern military division of the Mexican republic, the principal of which is the occupation of Tlacotalpam, in the State of Vera Cruz, by the forces of General Garcia.
I take the occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., & c., & c.
Index of documents sent by the Mexican legation in Washington to the Department of State of the United States with the note of this date, in relation to events that have occurred on the eastern line.
| No. | Date. | Contents. |
| 1866. | ||
| 1 | July 28 | Letter of General Diaz to Mr. Romero, giving an account of his last operations in the State of Oaxaca. |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | Letter of General Garcia to Mr. Romero, enclosing the following documents: |
| 3 | Sept. 20 | Letter from the same general to President Juarez, informing him of late events in the line of his command. |
| 4 | July 30 | Official despatch from General Garcia to the minister of war, in Chihuahua, communicating the capture of Alvarado. |
| 5 | Sept. 8 | Official despatch of General Garcia to the same department, on the occupation of Tlacotalpam. |
| 6 | Aug. 31 | Proclamation of Colonel Teran, second in command on the line south of Vera Cruz, to the inhabitants of the State. |
Washington, October 6, 1866.
No. 1.
[Untitled]
Much Esteemed Friend: Your letters of the 10th and 17th of June reached me at the same time.
* * * * * * * *
After my letter from Quetzala, to which you refer, I wrote to you from Jamiltepec, informing you of my occupation of that place and of the advantage I gained over the enemy in pursuing him towards Oaxaca. I wrote you from Putla, on my arrival there, where I surprised [Page 295] and routed 200 of the enemy. Four days afterwards I informed you of my march to Tlapaco, my entry into that city, pursuit of the garrison, and my sudden return here.
The most important event I mentioned to you was the complete rout of an Austrian column in the sierra, going south, by Figueroa. I have made no detailed official report of this to the supreme government, because the mails venture to carry only the smallest papers, and what I received I transmitted to you. I did not send an official despatch, because I had not received one, and I think it unnecessary now, after so long a time.
I have already informed you of what Figueroa wrote me, and, though you may have received my letter, I will repeat the most interesting.
On the battle-field at Soejaltepec we buried 96 dead bodies of Austrians. From there to Fejuacan we saw many dead, but the woods was so dense we could not count them. It was not Figueroa’s soldiers, but the inhabitants, who pursued them and fought them in ambush, thus annoying them all along the road. The people even set fire to their houses, so as to deprive the enemy of all shelter. The most heroic of these were the inhabitants of Soejaltepec, Ixcatlan, and Ojitlan.
As to my future operations, they will be where there is most profit. It is hazardous to give you information now, on account of the insecurity of the roads; but I can assure you everything is going on much to my satisfaction.
Your friend and servant,
Minister Señor Don Matias Romero, Washington.
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Dear Sir and Friend: * * * * * *
It gives me much pleasure to learn, from your letter of the 22d June, that Santa Anna had failed in his secret intentions against this country. I have since received copies of the correspondence between the government, you, and him, by way of Vera Cruz, and had it published immediately.
Things have changed here wonderfully. We have reconquered this city, thanks to the valor and patriotism of the loyal Mexicans who are with me to make war on the enemy on this coast, as you will see by the correspondence I send you for transmission to the government, which I hope you will do after you read it.
The enemy has no place of refuge in this part of the country now but Alvarado, which is only kept by the gunboats; but the garrison is small, and it dreads an attack from us; and this we will do as soon as the health of our men permits, if the enemy does not evacuate the place soon, which it is said he will do very soon.
Your very obedient servant,
Minister Señor Don Matias Romero, Washington.
No. 3.
[Untitled]
Dear Sir: When I frankly told you in one of my former communications of the desperate state of affairs in the line of my command, on account of the enemy’s invasion in March last, and of other disturbances north and south of it, I assured you that, notwithstanding our want of arms, we would not falter a moment in the national defence, neither I nor any of the patriots who accompany me on the campaign, with so much abnegation and suffering; and now I have the satisfaction to inform you that the aspect of affairs has completely changed, thanks to the prodigious efforts of the good Mexicans who have saved the situation in this part of the country.
The invaders well know that the possession of this city, the natural key to the region watered by the Papaloadam, San Juan, and Tereschoacan, with their many tributaries, was a matter of life or death with them; and they collected all their troops and elements of defence at this point, and their allies, the French, brought up their war steamers to defend them. For this reason it attracted our particular attention, and we determined to make it the object of our attack.
On the 10th of August, taking advantage of the absence of the steamers, we attacked the place formally, the detailed report of which I send to the war department and to General Diaz. As you will see by the document, though we could not get possession of the city that day, we frightened the enemy, and convinced him that he could not resist another attack from us, and when we prepared to make it the city was surrendered, on the 10th of August, as you will see by the despatch which I also send this day to the war department, and which I have already sent to General Diaz.
[Page 296]By the occupation of this place the enemy is free from this coast, and, judging from the condition of the so-called empire, I do not think he will be able to recoverit very soon.
While in the city, General Ignacio A. Alatorre, who escaped from the French in the city of Mexico, where he was held prisoner, presented himself to me, and I was glad to appoint him again chief of the northern part of the State, where he had formerly rendered such important services, and where he has already started with a small force, arms, munitions, and money, which I furnished him for the expedition. I expect he will do much good, for General Alatorre is a chief justly famous on that line. I hear the imperialists have suffered some damage in Zacapoastla and Tezirytlan. There is no news from Chiapas; the organization of forces is complete there. It is the same in Tabasco, for the French vessels do not call there, and their garrison in Jonuta is of no use to them; on the contrary, the soldiers are deserting, and these deserters furnish us with arms and ammunition in that region.
General Diaz wrote to me from Chinautla on the 19th, and says he has progressed considerably. He is acquainted with all the movements of our forces, even those near the city of Mexico.
Your very attentive and obedient servant,
Señor Don Benito Juarez, President of the Mexican Republic, Chihuahua.
No. 4.
Mexican Republic–Headquarters eastern line–Second general-in-chief.
Citizen Minister: Captain Thomas Lozano sends me the following good news from Alvarado:
“I have the honor to inform you that we captured Alvarado to-day by assault, all the munitions of war belonging to the garrison falling into our hands, with seventeen prisoners of war and seven killed of the enemy. I have ordered the authorities to bury them. On our side, we have to lament the death of the brave Captain Pilar Salas, several officers wounded, and the loss of several of our best horses. I will make out a circumstantial report as soon as I can obtain the necessary information.”
Which I have the honor to transcribe for your information and the satisfaction of the government.
The Minister of War, Chihuahua.
No. 5.
Mexican Republic–Headquarters eastern line–Second general-in-chief.
Citizen Minister: On the 18th of August I wrote to General Porfirio Diaz, chief of the eastern line, as follows:
“You will see in the accompanying report that I ordered an attack on Tlacotalpam, in possession of the imperialists, and harmed the enemy so much in the first assault I knew we could not fail. Convinced of this, I arranged a second attack, when the imperialist commander, Don Mariano Camacho, proposed a parley with me. After a conference of some time, he offered to surrender the city to me to-day, if I would consent to his quiet withdrawal. He stated his object was to avoid all bloodshed, for the commander of the four French war steamers declared he would shell the town and reduce it to ashes if one of the imperialists was wounded; and the marines were anxious for an excuse to carry out their barbarous design.
“Convinced that it is my duty to spare the inhabitants and permit those to return who have left, wandering in the woods for four months, exposed to the inclemency of the weather and sickness rather than submit to the enemy; appreciating the valor and determination of our troops, and the bravery of the Conejo garrison that frightened the French, and believing that Camacho’s proposal was honorable to the nation, I accepted it yesterday, and the city was surrendered to me this day. I immediately sent in a guard to protect the inhabitants, and now the city is once more under the protection of the glorious flag of the republic, of which it has been deprived for so long a time. I also have the pleasure of rejoicing with you and all loyal Mexicans upon the reconquest of a place of so much importance on this line.”
Which I have the honor to transcribe for the information of the President of the republic. I am pleased to assure you that peace has been restored on this line by the recapture of Tlacotalpam, and that I am busy organizing a government for the State.
The Citizen Minister of War and Marine, Chihuahua.
No. 6.
Proclamation.
Colonel Luis Mier y Teran to the inhabitants along the coast of Vera Cruz.
Fellow-citizens: The undersigned having been appointed to duty on this coast as second in command, he therefore appears here for the purpose of opening a campaign, acting under the orders of General C. Ignacio Alatorre, an officer who is well known to you for his skill and brilliant qualities.
The last knell for the so-called empire which has tried to fasten itself upon the Mexican nation has been sounded. Unable to remain a cold spectator at this time, I have taken the field against that empire. To this end I have abandoned family and business interests. I have abandoned everything which is dear to a man after this love of country. I intend to continue fighting in my country’s defence, and, that we may be successful, I ask—indeed I count upon—the co-operation of all good Mexicans. I feel confident that all such Mexicans will aid me—some with their arms, others with their intelligence—and all to defeat tyranny.
Come, then, my friends. Already you know who I am, and you know that I will do only that which is right, and nothing but what is for the restoration to our country of independence and liberty.