No. 297.
Mr. Davis to Mr.
Nelson
No. 187.]
Department of State, Washington,
September 6, 1871.
Sir: A communication has been addressed to this
Department by the Secretary of War, dated the 1st instant, transmitting
correspondence between General McCook, commanding officer of the
sub-district of the Rio Grande, and Mr. T. F. Wilson, the consul at
Matamoras, relative to depredations committed upon cattle in Texas by armed
parties coming from the Mexican side of the border. It appears from this
correspondence, copies of which are herewith inclosed, that our military
authorities are unable to protect the property of our citizens without the
co-operation of the Mexican officers. General Cortinas, the commander of the
Mexican troops on the frontier, not only makes no endeavors to prevent the
robberies, but is even believed to be in league with the marauders.
In view of these facts you are hereby instructed to lay the correspendence
[Page 658] transmitted to you before the
Mexican government, to urgently demand the recall of General Cortinas from
his present post, and to ask for the adoption of such efficient measures as
will prevent the recurrence of these marauding incursions.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Belknap to Mr. Fish.
War Department, Washington City
,
September 1, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith, for
your information, copy of a correspondence between the consol of the
United States, at Matamoras, Mexico, and officers of the Army, stationed
on the Texas frontier, relative to the complicity of Mexican officials
with the depredations on that frontier.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of
War.
The Hon. the Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
Headquarters Fort Brown,
Texas,
August 2, 1871.
Sir: I feel it my duty to communicate to you
some information as to the condition of affairs on the line of the Rio
Grande, where I have been stationed for the last four years, two years
of that time commanding officer of the sub-district of the Rio
Grande.
There is in existence on the frontier a system of cattle-stealing, which,
if persisted in, will be disastrous to the stock-raising interests of
Texas, and may lead to a predatory war on either side of the river,
eventually producing a conflict between the two nations.
Armed parties cross from Mexico to Texas to steal cattle; from the
sparcity of troops on this line, and the nature of the country bordering
on the river, it is almost impossible to capture these bands unless
caught in the act of crossing.
During the last month there have been several conflicts, and last week
there was firing from both banks of the river at Rancho Nuevo, (Texas
side,) six leagues above this place, resulting in the death of one man
and wounding another, on the Mexican shore. This conflict took place
between a band of marauders from Mexico and some citizens from
Texas.
It will not require many such affairs to open the conflict, and, it is my
opinion, that unless co-operation by the Mexican authorities be extended
us, in breaking up these bands of marauders, there will be serious
trouble in less than three months hence.
Since the arrival of General Juan M. Cortina and his troops upon the
frontier, the marauding has increased tenfold.
General Cortina is charged in the public prints with being connected with
the marauders, receiving and enjoying proceeds of said thefts. The
object of this letter is to ask you to present to the authorities of
Mexico these facts, in order that these evils and their causes may be
done away with. General Miguel Palacios, Mexican army, commanding the
regular troops at Matamoras, called upon me yesterday, asking me to
co-operate with him, offering to do all in his power to put a stop to
these outrages; but as long as General Cortina and his command are
present, he is powerless to do good. Cortina’s history and outlawry on
the American bank of the river, in 1859, is, no doubt, familiar to
you.
I respectfully inclose a transcript of the records of the district court
of Cameron County, setting forth the indictment against Cortina in said
county. There are other indictments of a like serious nature in the
counties above.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. McD. McCOOK, Lieutenant Colonel Tenth Infantry, B’vt Maj. Gen.
U. S. A., Commanding.
Thomas F. Wilson, Consul of
the United States, Matamoras, Mexico.
A true copy.
J. F. STRETCH, First Lieutenant Tenth
United States Infantry, Post
Adjutant.
Official copy.
H. CLAY WOOD, Assistant Adjutant
General.
[Page 659]
[Untitled]
Headquarters Fort Brown,
Texas,
August 2, 1871.
My Dear General: * * * * * * There are other
events occurring upon the frontier which you should be made acquainted
with. The system of cattle-stealing here is most outrageous and
scandalous, and since the arrival of the bandit Juan N. Cortina, general
Mexican army, and his troops on the river, the marauding has increased
tenfold. Several conflicts have taken place between the marauders and
the citizens of Texas, last month, and last week at the Rancho Nuevo,
(Texas side,) six leagues above here, there was firing from both banks
of the river, resulting in the killing of one man and wounding another,
on the Mexican shore. A few more such affairs and the conflict opens,
and if the frontier continues in this condition three months a predatory
war will ensue, possibly involving the two nations.
I am determined to do all I can to stop it, and General Palacios,
commanding the regular troops in Matamoras, has appeared to co-operate
with me, and it is necessary to have that murderer and thief, Cortina,
removed or we cannot prevent trouble. He is charged in the public prints
with being a party to the outrages, receiving and enjoying the proceeds
of said thefts. As long as Cortina is here Palacios can do nothing. I
think the absence of a cavalry force on this side has something to do
with increasing the number of outrages. I know there is none to come,
therefore ask for none, but will keep you advised from day to day about
the matter, if anything of importance occurs. I send you a copy of a
communication sent by me, yesterday, to Thomas P. Wilson, consul for the
United States at Matamoras, a copy of which was furnished to General
Palacios, who telegraphed the entire communication to the authorities in
Mexico.
* * * * * * * *
Very truly, yours,
A. McD. McCOOK.
General J. J. Reynolds.
Official copy.
H. C. WOOD, Assistant Adjutant
General.
[Untitled]
Consulate of the United States of
America, Matamoras,
August 3, 1871.
Sir: I have to acknowledge your communication
dated yesterday, with its inclosures, in regard to cattle-stealing on
the Texas frontier, by bands of Mexican marauders, and to inform you
that I at once transmitted a copy of it to General Miguel Palacios,
commander of the line of the Rio Grande, and will also forward a copy of
it to the United States minister at the city of Mexico.
In a conversation which I had with General Palacios on the subject, he
admitted the apparent complicity of General Cortina with the robbers,
and informed me that he would represent the matter to the Mexican
government, with a view to having General Cortina and his command
recalled from the frontier. General Palacios at the same time manifested
a lively disposition to check these robberies and restore order and
quiet to the Rio Grande Talley.
I fully concur with you in the necessity of a prompt suppression of these
robberies, and am satisfied it cannot be done while General Cortina
holds the position he does in the Mexican army on this border. I assure
you that it will always be my duty, as well as a pleasure, to second you
in every way in my power to secure and maintain the observance of the
laws on both sides of the Rio Grande.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
THOS. F. WILSON, Consul.
General A. McD. McCook, Commanding the Sub-District of the Rio Grande, Brownsville,
Texas.
A true copy.
J. F. STRETCH, First Lieutenant Tenth
Infantry, Post Adjutant.
Official copy.
H. CLAY WOOD, Assistant Adjutant
General.
[Page 660]
[Untitled]
Headquarters Post of Fort Brown,
Texas,
August 4, 1871.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for
the information of the commanding officer of the department, copy of a
letter addressed to Thomas F. Wilson, consul of the United States,
Matamoras, Mexico, in reference to the condition of affairs on the line
of the Rio Grande; also a copy of his reply.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. McD. McCOOK, Lieutenant Colonel Tenth United States Infantry, Brevet Major
General U. S. A., Commanding.
Assistant Adjutant General, Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.
(Two inclosures.)
Official copy.
H. CLAY WOOD, Assistant Adjutant
General.
