No. 287.
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Fish
No. 385.]
Legation of the United States, Mexico,
April 29, 1871. (Received May
12.)
Sir: Pursuant to the letter and the spirit of the
instructions contained in your dispatch No. 136, and consequently bearing in
mind the delicacy of the request, in the present critical aspect of Mexican
politics, I addressed, on the 12th instant, an unofficial note to Mr.
Aspiroz, (A,) asking the opinion of the Mexican government as to the
feasibility of its submitting to the national congress at this time the
question of authorizing the passage of our troops into Mexican territory in
pursuit of hostile Indians.
Upon the 20th instant Mr. Aspiroz replied that the executive had taken the
subject into consideration, and had arrived at the conclusion that the
present time would not be a favorable occasion for submitting
[Page 635]
such a proposition with any
reasonable chance of success. A copy and translation of this note is
herewith annexed, (B and C.)
On the same date Mr. Aspiroz addressed me another note containing the
tragical particulars of the murder, on the 4th ultimo, of Mr. Charles Keerl
and party by savage Indians in the State of Chihuahua, (D and E,) and
inclosing a report upon the same subject from the governor of that State to
the minister of war, (F and G.) Mr. Aspiroz deplores, and apparently with
good reason, that a combined movement of American and Mexican troops had not
taken place in time to prevent this invasion.
On the 25th instant I replied to Mr. Aspiroz, (H,) acknowledging receipt of
his dispatches, and promising to transmit them with their inclosures to my
Government.
Your obedient servant,
A.
[Unofficial.]
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Aspiroz
Legation of the United Stattes,
Mexico, April 12, 1871.
My Dear Sir: Referring to my note of January 4,
and to the reply of the Mexican department of foreign affairs, dated
January 7, 1871, in which your department informs me that “if, on the
reassembling of Congress on the 1st of April, it should still be deemed
desirable by the Government of the United States that permission should
be granted by the Mexican congress for the troops of the United States
to cross the Mexican frontier in pursuit of hostile Indians, the
President will submit the matter to Congress,” I have to state that my
Government would still desire such permission if it can be obtained
without exciting sensibilities which it has no disposition to wound. I
would therefore respectfully ask the opinion of the Mexican government
as to the feasibility of referring the matter to the Mexican congress
during the present session, with the hope of a speedy and favorable
decision by that body.
Very truly and faithfully yours,
C.
[Translation.]
Mr. Aspiroz to Mr. Nelson
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico,
April 20, 1871.
Sir: In reply to your excellency’s note dated
the 12th instant, in allusion to that of this department of the 7th of
January last, concerning the permission solicited by the Government of
the United States of America for the passage of its troops into Mexican
territory in pursuit of the savage Indians, I have the honor to state to
your excellency that this government has lately taken into consideration
the question whether it would be expedient to submit this subject to
Congress, in accordance with the desire of the Government of the United
States, as manifested by your excellency in your said said note, and has
arrived at the conclusion that the present would not be the most fitting
occasion to solicit such permission from Congress with any well-founded
hope of obtaining a prompt and favorable decision.
The Mexican government duly appreciates the delicacy with which that of
the United States has again broached this subject, giving the assurance,
through the worthy medium of your excellency, that it would wish to
obtain the said permission, if it could be done without exciting
susceptibilities which it has no desire to wound; and it (the Mexican
government) expected no less, knowing as it does the sincere friendship
that happily binds together the two governments.
The Mexican government has the satisfaction of having done what it could
within the sphere of its facilities, for the reciprocal defense and
security of the United States of Mexico and the United States of
America, upon that part of the divisory line that
[Page 636]
is most exposed to the aggressions of the
savage Indians, by acceding to the desire of the Government of the
United States of America, transmitted by your excellency in your note of
the 4th of January last, for the combination of military operations
between the forces of the State of Chihuahua and those of the
sub-district of the presidio, in the State of Texas; although, for some
unknown reason, the commander of Fort Davis had not yet been able to
come to an understanding with the governor of Chihuahua up to the 18th
of March last, as your excellency will please to observe in my note on
that subject and its inclosures, which I have the honor to send you
separately.
This government judges that when once an agreement shall have been
effected for the combination of the operations of both forces, the
pursuit of the Indians can be successfully undertaken, and the
neighboring settlements of the two countries will be freed from the
hostilities of the savages.
I am, very respectfully, your excellency’s obedient servant,
E.
[Translation.]
Mr. Aspiroz to Mr. Nelson
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, April 20, 1871.
Sir: I transmit to your excellency, with
sentiments of profound regret, the inclosed copies of a communication
from the war department, in which is inserted another from the governor
of Chihuahua, from which it appears that a party of savage Indians
attacked and murdered Mr. Charles Keerl, his wife and seven traveling
companions, only one of whom was saved from death, upon the Casas
Grandes road, in the canton of Galeana, State of Chihuahua; and of an
inventory of the effects belonging to the murdered party, that were
recovered by means of the local authorities.
Your excellency may note that it was, perhaps, a lack of combination
between the forces of the State of Chihuahua and those of Fort Davis
that caused the invasion of the said party of Indians and the murder of
Mr. Keerl and his companions. The governor of Chihuahua say that at the
date of his communication—the 18th of March last—more than a month had
elapsed since he had transmitted to the commander of Fort Davis the
order from the Mexican government concerning the proposed combination of
the movements of both forces, and that a formal campaign was about to be
commenced against the Indians, who had invaded several portions of the
State.
As to the effects mentioned in the said inventory, they will remain in
deposit with the authorities who recovered them, and orders have already
been sent directing that the said authorities hold them at the disposal
of the person or persons who may lay claim to them, on the exhibition of
the proper proofs.
The government of Chihuahua has also been urged, in case it has succeeded
in coming to an understanding with the commander of Fort Davis, to
proceed, in conformity with the order from the war department dated the
10th of January last, but in the contrary event, to undertake by itself
the military operations necessary for the security and defense of the
frontier, as far as it may be able.
I am, very respectfully, &c., &c., &c.,
G.
[Translation.]
MINISTRY OF WAR STAFF DEPARTMENT: THIRD TABLE.
In a communication dated the 18th ultimo, the citizen governor of the
State of Chihuahua states to this ministry as follows:
“In a note of the 8th instant the citizen political chief of the canton
Galeana makes to the secretary of the government this following
statement:
“On the 4th instant, at about 4 p. m., the citizen Romualdo Piña reported
to me that, being in the house of Don Tiburcio Ponce, distant about a
league and a quarter toward the north from this place, there arrived an
American wounded in three places by arrows, mounted upon a grayish horse
which also had two wounds, and informed them that on the Casas Grandes
road, about thirty-five Indians had attacked the foreigner Charles
Keerl, and that it might well happen that before aid could arrive the
Indians would have massacred the whole party. I immediately collected a
party of thirty-three mounted men and sent them in several guerrilla
bands to see if they could
[Page 637]
aid
the persons attacked; but this was impossible, since they had all been
killed at the hour of the attack, between 9 and 10 a. m. This event took
place at the Chocolate Pass, seven leagues from this settlement. The
said party remained there until the next day, collecting the corpses,
and picking up the objects mentioned in the inclosed inventory. The
caravan belonging to the said foreigner was composed of seven Americans
besides his wife, of whom only two escaped. One of these got away on
horseback with an arrow-wound in the belly, and at about a league and a
half dismounted and remained there two hours; the other succeeded in
hiding himself until the Indians went away, when he rejoined his
companion, and taking his horse came on to give notice of the facts,
leaving his companion where he was. The commander of the party when he
found the wounded man had him brought to me by two men, and I took
measures for his cure, but the remedies were unavailing. He died the
next day, so that of all the party only one survived, and neither of the
two who escaped alive from the massacre saved any fire-arms, all having
fallen into the hands of the enemy, for which reason it is thought that
the Indians led them into an ambush for the purpose of robbing
them.”
“And I have the honor to transcribe to you the foregoing, along with a
copy of the said inventory, for your own information and that of the
citizen president of the republic, to whom you will please say that,
inasmuch as his supreme order concerning a combination, between the
movements of the State forces and those of the United States of America
for the pursuit of the Indians, was communicated more than a month
since, to the commander of Fort Davis, only a few brief and partial
expeditions had been prepared; but as the incursions of those enemies
had become very frequent of late in the canton of Galeana, it has become
necessary to organize as soon as possible a formal campaign against them
to drive them from the places they have invaded. This will be done very
soon with the aid of the forces destined for that purpose.”
And I transcribe the above to you for your information, inclosing a copy
of the document above cited, for the purposes that you may find
convenient.
Independence and Liberty!
H.
Mr. Nelson to Mr.
Aspiroz
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, April 25, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note, dated the 20th instant, inclosing copies of
communications from the war department of Mexico and from the governor
of the State of Chihuahua, in regard to the murder of Mr. Charles Keerl,
his wife, and seven other persons in the canton of Galeana, State of
Chihuahua, by savage Indians, and also inclosing an inventory of the
effects belonging to the murdered party that were recovered by means of
the local authorities.
The want of co-operation between the forces of Chihuahua and those at
Fort Davis, that resulted in the invasion by these Indians and the
murder of Mr. Keerl and his party, is a subject of profound regret, and
it is to be hoped that the commanders of the respective forces will come
to a better understanding, so that by their joint efforts the savages
may be driven from the frontier, and thus give protection to life and
property. To that end I will transmit copies of these several
communications to the Department of State at Washington.
In this connection I have also the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your note of the 20th instant, in reply to mine of the 12th, concerning
the permission solicited by my Government for the passage of troops into
Mexican territory in pursuit of the savage Indians, a copy of which I
will also transmit to the Department of State.
I remain, with great respect, &c., &c., &c.,
