Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
Mr. Secretary: For the information of the government of the United States, I have the honor to send you the enclosed index documents, showing the condition of affairs in August last in that part of the eastern division of the Mexican republic under the immediate command of General Diaz.
I avail myself of this opportunity 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 a note of this date, concerning events on the eastern line.
| No. | Date. | Contents. |
| 1866. | ||
| 1 | Aug. 12 | General Diaz’s letter to a friend of his, giving an account of the latest military operations. |
| 2 | Aug. 20 | General Diaz’s letter to Mr. Romero, from Chiantla, enclosing the following communications: |
| 3 | Aug. 20 | A note from General Diaz to the minister of war of the Mexican republic, reporting his latest military operations in the line of his command. |
| 4 | Aug. 20 | A note from the same to the war minister, enclosing the official report of General Luis P. Figueroa, from Teotitlan, dated May 1, giving an account of his movements the last of April, 1866. |
No. 1.
[Untitled]
My Esteemed Frend: * * * * *
I have been some days on the border of the State of Guerrero, doing little, but making the enemy, and even friends, believe I intended to remain. I am preparing a march from the third district of the State of Mexico to Tehuantepec. For the last few days I have been busy in the northern part of the State of Puebla; and though I have not effected much, for want of means and supplies, I have done the best I could. Right or wrong, I begin my work with prospects of success. I approached Chiantla to protect a movement of a part of its garrison. On the 14th, when Jacaquistla was taken, where I got forty horses and much ammunition, a letter informed me that both expeditions were successful. From Chiantla I took prisoners, horses, one howitzer, and all the armament and ammunition, to what amount I have not yet learned.
The third district of the State of Mexico is in motion, and I have sent General Leyra with his cavalry to protect the movement and direct the operations.
* * * * * * *
I will soon give you the result of my plans. * * *
Colonel Visoso routed Nava, the imperialist military commander, who died in action.
Although Maximilian supplies me with arms, by distributing them among the people, they are not of the best quality, and I hope soon to exchange them for better ones. I am in great want of ammunition, though General Alvarez furnishes me all he can spare; and the enemy’s arms are so much better than mine, they have a signal advantage.
Your friend and servant,
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Very Dear Friend: I wish to inform you of my present situation and the progress I make; and, as I have not the time to copy this for the supreme government, I send you the whole official correspondence unsealed, so you may see it before mailing it.
* * * * * * *
Your affectionate friend,
Señor Licenciado Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic, Washington.
No. 3.
Mexican Republic–Eastern line headquarters.
Citizen Minister: Profiting by the present inaction of the invading army, thanks to the operations of the republican forces inland, I have determined to make a general movement, with the few elements of war in my power, upon the States of Mexico, Puebla, Oajaca, Tlaxcala, and Chiapas. I commenced operations on the 10th, with some success. On that day Colonel Jesus M. Visoso took one hundred and fifty men of the Chiantla garrison, and routed the rest under the traitor Gavilo, joining me afterwards with a howitzer and eighty-six muskets he had captured.
On the 13th of the same month we found ourselves in front of Chiantla, retaken by Gavilo with the aid of the Austrian garrison of Matamoras. I twice thought the enemy would attack me that day; but he only came out to reconnoitre, not daring to leave the protection of the forts. While in that situation I received notice that Lieutenant Colonel Ignacio Sanches Gamboa, heading the inhabitants of Ixcaquixtla, had whipped the traitor Granados Maldonado, prefect of Tepeji, killing seven of his men, taking twenty-six prisoners and thirty muskets, and scattering his troops, twenty-eight cavalry joining us during the fight. As Sanchez Gamboa was delayed by his booty, the enemy caught up with him, and he was obliged to join me for protection. Meantime the enemy remained safe in his forts at Chiantla, and did not seem disposed to give me battle in the open field. So I ordered General Francisco Leyra, governor of the third district of Mexico, with his seventy cavalry, to organize and arm all the republicans in his district, and appoint proper officers. With the forces under my particular command, I came to this place, where I was soon joined by Lieutenant Colonel I. Sanchez Gamboa.
While this is taking place here, General Luis P. Figueroa is to menace Tehuacan on the north; Commander Felipe Cruz, with one hundred and fifty mountaineers of Mixtecas, will [Page 311] occupy the Peras mines on the 12th; on the same day Colonel Manuel Lopez y Orozco marched from Tamiltepec against Tola; and the Juchitan garrison was to move to Tequisistlan, to hold the road between Tehuantepec and Oajaca.
I am waiting the result of these operations, that were to take place together, and I will thus extend my line of operations in this direction, and get all the supplies I can. At the same time I will hold the imperialists at Puebla in check by frequent incursions to that city.
If the enemy comes out to attack me, as I have reason to believe he will, I will retreat, and only give battle when certain of success; for my sole object is to get hold of the abundant supplies north of Puebla, in Tlaxcala, and even in the city of Puebla, where the people are becoming restless and revolutionary.
I will soon have the pleasure of reporting the result of all the manæuvres in which the forces of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Vera Cruz are not interested, because the first have to remain near Oajaca to watch operations in Juchitan, Tehuantepec, and the movement of General Garcia upon Tlacotalpam, and the rest have to defend the approaches to Yucatan.
The Citizen General Minister of War, Chihuahua.
No. 4.
Mexican Republic–Eastern line headquarters.
In a communication dated the 1st of May, in Teotitlan del Camino, General Luis P. Figueroa reports as follows:
“I have the honor to inform you that I marched on Vera Cruz the 24th of last month with General Garcia, for the purpose of attacking a mixed force of imperialists and French. The expedition failed, and I returned to Tuxtepec, where I arrived the 29th. On the evening of the 28th I heard that two columns of Austrians and traitors had occupied the portion of Santa Domingo along the river of the same name; that another column of 600 men, with two 12-pounders, coming from Huaetla, were near this place; and that a fourth column of 500 men with artillery had appeared near Teutila, all to join and attack this place.
“From the numerical superiority of the enemy, we had little hopes of being able to sustain our position; but, as our troops were united, I prepared for the defence to the best of my ability.
“At 6 o’clock on the morning of the 30th the enemy appeared with two centre columns, protected in flank by artillery. The fight soon became general, and, after six hours of constant fire, and several attempts at assault by the enemy, he finally withdrew to Ixcatlan to wait for re-enforcements. He left seventy killed, thirty rifles, twenty muskets, and one cornet. We took several prisoners, but we could not pursue the fugitives, who took to the woods, on account of the few men I had. We lost twenty-five men killed, among them José M. Rocha, captain, and thirty men wounded, among them Commander J. Ramirez. The next day I sent the Ixcatlan company to skirmish with the enemy that occupied their homes, and they exhibited their courage and patriotism by burning their own houses to dislodge the enemy. He afterwards made a reconnoissance, retired, and has not reappeared since the 15th. From that time to the 22d there were several skirmishes, and we captured several mules with loads of forage. At six o’clock on the morning of the 23d, three columns of the enemy made their appearance, just as they had done on the 30th of last month, and commenced an attack, but, failing to accomplish anything, they retired. On the 25th they renewed the attack, distributed liquor to the soldiers, and encouraged them by words. They opened their artillery with a brisk fire, and poured their columns upon our ranks. The contest was soon man to man—traitors and Austrians were mingled with the loyal defenders of the republic, and after a sanguinary struggle they were compelled to quit the field. The enemy lost about 200 killed, 114 wounded, a quantity of rifles, and 64 prisoners. Our loss was considerable. We lament the death of the brave Commander Lorenzo Guzman.
“I enclose a detailed account of the killed and wounded for the information at headquarters.
“I can make no particular recommendation of my subordinates, for they all did their duty, and exhibited great courage in combat.”
I have the honor to send the above to your department, assuring you this victory has destroyed the enemy’s plans of invading the south, and has put our forces into a position to undertake an expedition, of which I hope soon to give you a favorable account.
The Minister of War, Chihuahua.