Mr. Plumb to Mr.
Seward
New Orleans,
June 7, 1867.
Sir: The weekly mail is again at hand from
Matamoros. The news from the interior, however, is but little later than
that previously received. The details are best given in the enclosed
slips, in which General Escobedo’s order of the day on the capture of
Queretaro, and the reported favorable treatment of the prisoners, thus
far, are the items of chief importance.
Through private channels it is stated that the night preceding the
departure of the latest mail from San Luis, the members of the
government were assembled in council to deliberate regarding the
disposition of the prisoners taken at Queretaro. The decision does not
appear to have been made public in time for this mail, but may, perhaps,
be expected by the next arrival.
I am, sir, with the highest respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the special correspondence of
the Galveston News, dated Matamoras,
May
31.]
Important from Mexico–The prisoners all treated as prisoners of
war.
The empire is at an end; Maximilian and his whole army prisoners in
the hands of the liberals. Notwithstanding all the rumors of
massacres and shooting of prisoners, they have until now all been
treated as prisoners of war. Maximilian himself is perfectly well
treated, and seems to be perfectly satisfied. He was unwell for
several days from an acute dysentery, but is now better, and is
expected at San Luis shortly. Very likely he will come down here and
cross into the United States.
The following additional news has been received from Queretaro:
Miramon was taken in the streets of the city on the morning of the
battle, by a junior officer of Escobedo’s command. He tried to
escape into a house, but was pursued and caught. Miramon resisted
strongly, and the officer was compelled to use his arms. He shot
him, wounding him slightly in the cheek.
Maximilian gave up his sword to Escobedo in person.
The following are the prisoners in the hands of the liberals:
Maximilian, the emperor; Miramon, general-in-chief of the imperial
army; Mejia, Castillo, Casanava, Gayon, Moreno, Olveira, Maximo
Campos, about 500 chiefs or officers, and more than 8,000 men.
We extract the following from a single sheet entitled the Queretaro
Boletin, published at Escobedo’s headquarters, of the 16th
instant:
“The general of division, chief of the army of
operation, to the citizens of the city of Quretaro, know ye:
“Article 1. Any persons having concealed a
chief of the enemies of the republic will be obliged to denounce the
same to these headquarters, or the military commander of the
State.
“Art. 2. The same order is applicable to
any one having arms, papers, ammunition, and other objects belonging
to the enemy.
“Art. 3. The chiefs who will and fail to
present themselves to the authorities mentioned in the foregoing
articles, will be shot without any other necessary evidence than
identification of their person.
[Page 416]
“Art. 4. Persons concealing any chiefs or
objects mentioned in the above articles, failing to report the same
in the twenty-four hours following, will be tried in conformity to
the laws.
“MARIANO ESCOBEDO.
“Headquarters before Queretaro,
May 15, 1867.”
“The general of division commanding the army of
operation, to the inhabitants of the city of Queretaro, know ye:
“Article 1. All soldiers or citizens
committing any theft or violence in the city of Queretaro will be
shot on the spot.
“MARIANO ESCOBEDO.
“Headquarters before Queretaro,
May 15, 1857.”
Escobedo sent 15,000 men of his army to assist Diaz in besieging the
capital.
By a courier from Tampico we are informed that some of the officers
of Gomez had pronounced against him. A battle had commenced when the
news of the fall of Queretaro was received. It put an end to the
fighting.
Schooner Arietes, from Tampico on the 27th, arrived at Brazos on
the 30th. The captain reports that at the time he left a fight
was furiously raging between Gomez, who pronounced against
Juarez, and Pavon, sent by Juarez to subdue him. Gomez, there is
no doubt, will be subdued.
Canales is at Tula and quiet.
S.
Escobedo’s proclamation.
Mariano Escobedo, general of division of the republic
of Mexico and in chief of the army of the north, and commanding the
troops operating upon Queretaro.
Soldiers: To your valor, constancy, and sufferings the republic is
indebted for one of its triumphs, the grandest obtained in the long
struggle which the nation has had with the invaders and their
accomplice. The rebel city of Queretaro, the strongest fort of the
empire, after a heroic resistance of two months, worthy of a better
cause, has succumbed. Fernando Maximilian, the so-called emperor,
Miramon, Mejia, Castillo, and a large number of generals, chiefs,
and officers, with all the garrison, are our prisoners. I would fail
to do my duty as a soldier, and be a traitor to my conscience as a
free man and a loyal Mexican, if I remained silent upon the heroic
deeds and more heroic sacrifices. With the faith of the soldier who
defends the independence of his country, without food and often
without a single cartridge, you have challenged death, fighting
unceasingly against a large number of troops, composed of traitors
and foreigners, who were provided with all the elements of war,
perfectly fortified and commanded by the best generals of the old
army, who unfortunately failed to do their duty by allying
themselves with the invaders, and sustaining to the last hour the
foreigner that another foreigner, the Emperor of the French, wished
to place upon a throne erected with the bayonets of his soldiers.
But these, alas! exist no more. The rest have fled to France to hide
their shame, loaded with the curses of the whole country, and
carrying the sad news that more than half their comrades have paid
with their blood the caprice of their master.
Companions in arms, it is of no importance that ambitious men have,
at the price of their conscience, misrepresented your deeds. The
truthful history will place each one in his respective place, and
neither the enemies of the republic, nor those who have remained
quiet at homes in the cities occupied by the invaders, contemplating
their disgrace with indifference, will exalt themselves over those
who, like you, have fought constantly and without rest for the
sacred principles of independence and liberty.
Soldiers, in the name of the republic and the supreme government, I
congratulate you with all the effusion of my soul, and consequent
with the programme which has been traced to me, we will continue
until we have secured peace and order, and with it the future
destiny of our country.
Long live the republic! Long live the national independence!
MARIANO ESCOBEDO.
Headquarters at Purisima,
May 15, 1867.
The surrender took place on the 15th. A letter from San Luis,
dated the 18th, says, “No one has yet been shot, and it is
generally thought that none will be, in consequence of a request
that has been made by the United States.” The whole number of
prisoners taken with Maximilian was about 7,000 men.
