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 the copy of a note which I have just received from Señor Lerdo de Tejada, minister of foreign relations of the Mexican republic, numbered 167, and dated El Paso del Norte, 29th of March last, together with No. 13 of the official paper of the constitutional government of the Mexican republic, of the same date, containing the official report and other documents in relation to the victory at Santa Isabel, on the first of March last, of the patriotic sons of Coahuila and New Leon over a force of French and traitors, who were entirely destroyed.
I also enclose a copy of the paper.
I embrace the occasion to renew to you, Mr. Secretary, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT—OFFICE OF RELATIONS, AMERICAN SECTION, NO. 167.
Paso del Norte, March 29, 1865.
I enclose you No. 13 of the official paper of the government of this date, containing the report of General A. S.. Viezca, and other documents relating to the victory at San Isabel on the first of this month, by the patriotic sons of the States of New Leon and Coahuila, over a force of French and traitors, who were entirely destroyed.
Accept my attentive consideration.
Citizen Matias Romero, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Mexican Republic in Washington.
Government and military commandancy of the free and independent state of Coahuila de Zaragoza.
After the detailed account I gave the department on the 18th ultimo, I am now pleased to report another complete victory gained by our forces on the 1st instant, and the operations of my brigade and the northern cavalry under Colonel Geronimo Trevño.
On the 16th of February last a column of French forced me to evacuate Parras and take shelter in Laguna, to recruit there and finish the traitor Maximo Campos before the French could aid him. I did not succeed in this, because the traitors fled, and took a rapid circuit over the frontiers of Durango and Zacatecas, and then joined the French in Parras. I continued to watch that place while two French columns of eight or nine hundred men were approaching me from Durango and Chihuahua. I retained my position till the 27th February, when I heard that Geronimo Trevño and Francisco Naranjo were approaching Parras to aid me with their cavalry. I immediately divided my brigade into two columns, so as to march on Parras from different directions, and wait for the expected cavalry in the neighborhood. This was accordingly effected. On the morning of the first my first column joined Colonel Treviño’s cavalry at Santa Isabel, three leagues distant, having marched thirty leagues without stopping.
Two hours after camping, we heard firing in our front. At first I supposed it was an accidental skirmish, but I was soon informed that the enemy had made a formal attack upon our front. I soon agreed with Colonel Treviño upon a mode of defence, and in a very short time we were ready for the fight. Our advance of forty men, under Colonel Joaquin Garza Leal, bravely resisted the attack of 215 French and more than 400 traitors for two hours, and then fell back in good order to our camp, without the loss of a man.
[Page 150]We then attacked the enemy with two columns of infantry on the left flank, sent one forward in the centre, and a company of cavalry to the right. The fight soon became general; our brave men made an obstinate resistance, and finally put the enemy to flight, leaving the field strewn with the dead and wounded, their baggage scattered around, and many prisoners in our hands. The northern legion and Parras lancers pursued them for some distance, as you will learn from the enclosed report of Colonel Treviño. I also enclose a list of our losses, and those of the enemy, as well as a list of the French prisoners in our hands.
No victory could be more complete than ours on that glorious day, and I take great pleasure In congratulating the President of the republic on the happy influence this brilliant victory will have on our future operations.
The behavior of our officers and men was all that could be expected from gallant Mexicans fighting for their honor and the liberties of their country; every man did his duty; all shared equally the dangers and deprivations; and all rushed forward in full hope of the victory with which they were gloriously crowned.
I can make no special recommendations where all behaved in a manner to merit the praises of their countrymen, but I must not omit to mention Colonel Geronimo Treviño, Colonel Francisco Naranjo, and Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Perez Vilareal, who rendered themselves conspicuous for skilful management of their commands and their personal courage.
I make this communication for the information of the President of the republic.
The Minister of War, (wherever he may be found.)
[Translation.]
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY COMMANDANCY OF THE FREE AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF COAHUILA DE ZARAGOZA, NORTHERN CORPS OF THE REPUBLICAN ARMY, FIRST DIVISION OF CAVALRY.
Colonel-in-Chief: I have the honor to inform you that, in obedience to orders from General Mariano Escobedo, in Linares, I started from Vivaldama with the first cavalry division, of 800 men, in the direction of Parras, to join the attack on the traitor Maximo Campos, in that place.
On the road I heard of your encounter with Campos’s forces, and that a column of 200 French were coming to his aid from Saltillo. I immediately conceived the design of attacking them on their march, but at Cabos I was informed they had already reached Parras, and were preparing for defence in that city.
On receiving a despatch from you I resolved to march on to Parras, according to my first plan.
I waited for the Coahuila brigade at this place yesterday; it arrived about midnight, and camped alongside of us.
At three o’clock in the morning I heard that the enemy, 450 traitors and 215 French, were approaching.
I immediately ordered a line of battle to be formed, and wait for the onset. The enemy soon approached rapidly. He was warmly received by the Monclova squadron, under Lieutenant Colonel Ildefenso Fuentes, and the northern legion.
The combat soon became general. The enemy attacked the left angle of our line and tried to flank us with his cavalry, while a column of infantry doubled our right. The principal attack was bravely resisted by Colonel Naranjo and a part of the Coahuila brigade. I now ordered the cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Joaquin Garza Leal and Emiliano Laing, and two infantry columns under Salvador Fernandez de la Cavada and Ruperto Martines, to make the attack in front, while Colonel Pedro A. Gomez attacked on the left flank.
The enemy soon began to retreat under this combined movement, and we continued to pursue till nearly two-thirds were killed, and the rest surrendered at discretion. The field was covered with dead. All their horses and munitions of war fell into our hands. We found one piece of mountain artillery.
I think it my duty to commend to your excellency all the officers and men who took part in this battle, though you were an eye-witness to their gallant conduct.
I also send lists of the killed, wounded, and prisoners of the enemy, with the munitions of war which we captured from him on the field of battle. The list of our killed is also included.
Accept the protest of my consideration and respect.
Independence, liberty, and reform! Hacienda of Santa Isabel, March 1, 1866.
GERONIMO TREVIÑO.
The Governor and Military Commander of the State of Coahuila de Zaragoza, Present.
Cuatro Cienegas, March 9, 1866.
A true copy:
[Translation.]
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, BRANCH OF WAR AND MARINE—SECTION FIRST.
Your report of the 9th instant has given the President of the republic great satisfaction; he is rejoiced at the defeat of the French and traitors who dared to attack us on the first at Santa Isabel. This great feat of arms—the result of your plans and your courage in carrying them out—is of great importance on the frontier, and will have a good influence on the success of our future operations.
The worthy and gallant behavior of the chiefs, officers, and soldiers, who took part in the conflict mentioned by Colonel Geronimo Treviño in his report, is properly appreciated by the President, and he instructs me to thank you for the part you took in the fight, as well as all others who acted so gallantly on the occasion.
The especial recommendations you make in your report will be attended to by the government, with respect to the persons mentioned; and the gallant conduct of all will be remembered, that they may be noticed in their turn.
The President wishes you to give the greatest care to the wounded, and make a list of those maimed or killed in the action, that they or their heirs may enjoy the corresponding pensions.
The great sacrifices the people are making to sustain and increase the forces that are fighting for national independence, and the self denial and patriotism of those who are serving personally, are the surest guarantees of the safety of the country.
Independence and liberty! Paso del Norte, March 29, 1866.
MEJIA.
The Governor and Military Commander of the State of Coahuila de Zaragoza.
Paso del Norte, March 29, 1866.
The above are authentic copies: