Department of State,
Washington,
April 4, 1867.
The Secretary of State has the honor to transmit for the information
of Señor Romero a copy of a despatch which has been received from
the consul general of the United States at Tampico, containing a
letter addressed to him by General Mannel M. Cuesta, of the liberal
army of Mexico.
Señor Don Matias Romero,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Chase to Mr. Hunter
United States Consulate
General,
Tampico,
March 6, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose
herewith a copy of a letter addressed to this consulate from
General Manuel M. Cuesta, of the liberal army, and political
chief of the southern district of Tamaulipas, by which you will
be pleased to perceive that he appeals to Lieutenant General
Sherman for auxiliary aid in the defence of this port against an
expected attack by the imperial gunboats now under the orders of
Maximilian.
Not knowing in what part of the United States General Sherman may
be at the present time, I have thought it most prudent to send
the above-mentioned copy direct to your department for such
action as it may deem proper.
I will merely add that the authorities here are much alarmed for
the safety of this place, which they cannot hold for any length
of time against the attack of two small gunboats.
I have the honor to be, sir, with great esteem and respect, your
most obedient servant,
Hon. William Hunter,
Second Assistant Secretary of
State,
Washington.
Political headquarters and military commandancy of the
southern district of Tamaulipas.
From a paragraph in the New York Herald of the 5th instant,
we learn that an iron-clad vessel is about to leave England
for Vera Cruz to serve Maximilian; and as recent news from
[Page 546]
Mexico says he
is still at the head of the traitor party, and will have
gunboats left to take this port and Matamoras after the
French-Austrian army leaves, I have thought proper to remind
General Sherman—which I now do through you—of his promise to
me to station American gunboats outside of the bar of this
port to prevent the entrance of the enemy, or to give me the
assistance I solicited for that purpose in my note of the
8th instant to you.
I am pleased to renew the assurances of my esteem and
consideration.
Country and liberty!
Tampico, February 22,
1867.
MANUEL M. CUESTA.
Mr. Franklin Chase,
United States Consul General in this
port, Present.
