Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to
you, for the information of the government of the United States, the
copy of a report addressed to me from New York, the 28th of February
last, by a Mexican citizen, Jesus Maria Guerra, commissioner from
headquarters of the central army near the federal government of Mexico,
relating to the present condition of affairs in the States composing the
central military line in the Mexican republic.
I avail myself of the occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
[Translation.]
ARMY OF THE CENTRE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO—COMMISSARY
GENERAL.
Charged with a commission from headquarters near the citizen
President of the republic, I am transiently in this city, and before
continuing my journey I believe it my duty to give you a report of
the situation of the mam army and of the States that form its line.
To do this I must briefly refer to some of the principal events of
1865.
The condition of the army of the centre and Michoacan was lamentable
at the beginning of the year. All of the State was occupied by the
invaders, except the town of Huetamo, and the whole army consisted
of one thousand men, under General Riva Palacio, when he was
inaugurated governor, and one hundred that served as an escort to
the citizen General-in-chief José Maria Arteaga. After Huetamo was
taken there was nothing left to us but a small territory, with not a
town in it; we had no resources, and the unhealthy climate was
destroying our little force. Such was the situation.
When the French evacuated that town, General Riva Palacio went to
Zitacuaro, surprising the garrison, and destroying the traitors he
found there. He took two hundred prisoners, a quantity of arms, and
everything the enemy had.
With unceasing energy the reorganization of the army began. On the
11th of April the town of Tacambaro, held by Belgians, was attacked.
The enemy surrendered after fighting six hours, and the republicans
gained a complete victory.
We next attacked the town of Uruapam on the 18th of June, and
captured it after a fight of twenty-four hours. It was strongly
fortified. On account of this the invaders and traitors were obliged
to evacuate Ario and Taretan, and legal governments were soon
established in those places.
The army returned to Tacambaro on the 16th of July, and was
completely routed by a strong column of Belgians and traitors. All
was lost except eighty men, who retired in good order.
The confidence of those who are fighting in a just cause, the
patriotism of the people, and the efforts of General Riva Palacio,
soon caused the army to be reorganized, and it was reviewed in
Uruapam on the 4th of October, consisting of over three thousand men
completely armed and equipped.
The army was then divided, in order to operate in different sections,
and on the 13th of the same month the disastrous event of Santa Anta
Amatlan occurred. A portion of the army was completely lost, and
eight days afterwards the illustrious General-in-chief José Maria
Arteaga, General Carlos Salazar, and Colonels Villagomez, Diaz
Gonzales, and Perez Milicua, were assassinated in accordance with
the barbarous decree of the 3d of October.
The enemy then returned to Patzcuaro and Morelia, because they could
hold no more places than they already had.
After the death of General Arteaga, General Riva Palacio was elected
general-in-chief by the officers of the army. By the month of
December it numbered near five thousand men.
Citizen General Regules was named chief of the first division, and
with it he traversed the State from Tacambaro to Uruapam and
Zitacuaro. In that transit he routed the traitors at Angangueo, and
a few days afterwards threatened the towns of Zoluca and
Timaltepec.
Such was the condition of the army of the centre and Michoacan in
December last when I left Zitacuaro, and by it you may judge of the
advantages gained in one year of constant struggle.
[Page 98]
In February, 1865, the State government could not hold a single
town—they were all occupied—and now they have an extensive line, the
enemy being reduced to Morelia, Patzcuaro, Moravatio, and
Zamora.
At that time the army consisted of little more than one thousand men;
now it has over five thousand, well organized, in Michoacan and in
the first district of the State of Mexico.
We have not done so well in the States of Jalisco, Guanajuato, and
Queretaro; the governor of the second was in prison, and the
governor of Queretaro was assassinated by the French. These events
have caused some confusion, of course, yet new efforts are making in
those States to sustain the national cause. Honored leaders have
been authorized to organize forces, and they must be already active
in the south of Jalisco and Guanajuato, where they will rapidly
increase, as General Canto has been set at liberty by exchange of
prisoners between General Riva Palacio and Marshal Bazaine, and will
revive the patriotism in that section.
This slight sketch will convince you that when the central army has
given liberty to all the towns in Michoacan, the army will enlarge,
the enthusiasm of its men will increase, and they are already
disposed to make any sacrifice for national honor.
It is vain for the imperial press to say that State, and others of
the line, are at peace; it is useless to pretend they are satisfied
with intervention; and it is wrong to say only lawless bands are
left—it is all untrue. The fact is, battle still follows battle, and
the invaders and traitors are only masters of the towns they hold in
subjection by force of arms. The people have struggled gloriously in
defence of liberty, and the courage of the brave sons of Zitacuaro,
who preferred misery to subjection to imperial power, is proof to
the world that they hate intervention, and are worthy of
independence.
The forces that are now contending are not predatory bands, for those
never attack and capture fortified places, but belong to the army of
the centre, regularly organized, and acknowledged as belligerents by
Marshal Bazaine in his exchange treaty with General Riva Palacio on
the 5th of December.
It is superfluous for me to make any remarks on the facts given in
this report, all of which are exact and true. I am sure you will
give them the consideration they deserve; and you may be certain
that the army of the centre, and the people within its lines, will
continue faithful and constant in this unfortunate crisis of their
country.
These advantages, gained by the courage and patriotism of the Mexican
people, are counteracted, to a certain extent, by the absolute want
of means in the central line. The marine custom-houses are in the
power of the invader, and the people are tired of supporting the
national army, so exhausting to their resources. The soldier seldom
receives his pay, and only the most fervent patriotism can keep the
army together. The want of provisions causes a consequent want of
all the elements of war. We have no means of transport, no
commissary department; there is a scarcity of ammunition; even guns
are scarce, of different calibres, and many are old ones that have
been repaired and almost useless.
On the contrary, our enemies have all the elements of war that the
French treasury can furnish them, and if the present situation
continues much longer we may have to lament greater disasters in
future.
I have the honor, citizen minister, to offer you the assurances of my
attentive consideration.
Citizen Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mexico in
Washington.
New
York, February 28,
1866.
