Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Commander Gillis to Mr. Hovey.
United States Steamer
Wateree, (3d rate,) Callao
Pay,
February 18, 1868.
Sir: While the Wateree was absent from
Callao on the cruise from which she has just returned, I enjoyed
opportunities of ascertaining the condition of some parts of the
coast of Peru, and avail myself of the honor of hereby informing you
of what I trust will be of interest to you. At San José I met the
American consul of Lambayeque, and accompanied him to that city, and
while there, saw enough to convince me that that section is in a
very unsettled state. Indeed there seems to be a perfect reign of
terror.
On the 17th instant a party of two hundred and eighty “montoneros”
came into Lambayeque for the purpose of welcoming Colonel Balta on
the following day, and were received in a public manner by the
authorities of the place. While formed in the public square, these
men applauded themselves on account of the depredations which they
had committed, and cried death to those whose estates they had
plundered. On the 8th instant Balta entered the city and received an
ovation, the “inontoneros” being the chief participants besides the
authorities. On the morning of the same day, as a party of officers
from this vessel were riding through the public square of
Lambayeque, they were stopped, and the horse of one of the officers
demanded by some of the same party who had been publicly received
the evening previous. I brought the affair to the notice of our
consul, and demanded redress, but came away before I could receive a
reply.
No serious public outrages occurred, so far as I heard, but they were
expected, and indeed the well-disposed citizens appear to heartily
despise these roving bands, but feel too weak to offer any
resistance. About the time of my arrival at Lambayeque, a wealthy
land owner, who claims unusual privileges through the favor of
Colonel Balta, shut off the water from a rice plantation belonging
to the United States consul, and up to the time of my departure,
February 15th, Dr. Montjoy had been unable to obtain any redress,
and his crops were fast being ruined.
I will further state that Colonel Balta is reported to have six
hundred armed men at his disposal, and it is believed that he
intends to instigate another revolution, if he fails to be elected
at the coming election.
This vessel also stopped at Santa and Culebras, where there seemed to
be no serious difficulty, though the people are apprehensive of
trouble. I did not touch at any other port, because, as far as I
could learn, there was nothing to demand the presence of a
man-of-war, most of the towns being comparatively quiet, though by
no means in such a state as one could wish.
I brought as passengers from Lambayeque, two men who were obliged to
leave that place, as their lives were in danger at the hands of the
lawless. One is an American citizen, and the other a Prussian, both
sent on board by the American consul.
I shall do myself the honor to have a personal interview with you as
soon as possible.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES H. GILLIS, Commander United States
Navy.
General Alvin P. Hovey, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States
in Peru.
