Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 260.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Mexico, October 9, 1872. (Received October 25.)

No. 458.]

Sir: At the date of my last general dispatch, on the 30th ultimo, the only well-authenticated revolutionary movement known to me was that of Generals Marquez and Parra, in Sinaloa, which I predicted would be readily suppressed, unless seconded elsewhere. The principal force of these generals was, in fact, routed on the 21st ultimo, near Culiaean, but before the news reached this city other more formidable outbreaks had nearly caused that movement to be forgotten. During the last days of September, General Geronimo Treviño, governor of Nuevo Leon, who was one of the most distinguished chieftains of the war against the empire, and who has hitherto been regarded as a firm supporter of the existing government, pronounced against President Juarez, in his capital, Monterey, previously cutting off telegraphic communication with Mexico, so as to gain as many days as possible in preparations for the conflict. News of the fact, however, reached this city almost immediately, by way of Saltillo, against which city Treviño marched very shortly.

We are still in ignorance of the antecedents and details of this insurrection, although there can be little doubt that the insurgents have proclaimed Porfirio Diaz as president, and it is highly probable that the step was taken in pursuance of an understanding with General Diaz, and with his partisans, in other States, where the revolt has been or will be seconded. Before the pronunciamiento of Treviño, General Pedro Martinez, one of the leaders of the abortive insurrection of last year, had been gathering partisans on the frontier of San Luis and Eiievo Leon, and had also pronounced for Diaz at Galeana, in the latter State. He has since invaded Coahuila, probably in combination with Treviño, and both forces were, at latest advices, threatening from different directions the capital of that State. Governor Zepeda telegraphs from Saltillo that he will be able to hold out until the arrival of federal troops, but as General Florentino Carrillo, the new commander of the line of the Rio Grande, who has marched from San Luis for Saltillo, has but a single battalion with him, it is very doubtful whether he can render any efficient aid. Indeed, it has been rumored for two or three days past that Garrillo was defeated by Trevino on the 3d instant. It is very probable that the movement of Trevino will spread into the States of Tamaulipas, San Luis, Zacatecas, and Durango, and, unless speedily suppressed, will finally extend to the populous States of the center.

On Sunday, the, 1st instant, at about 3 p.m., a formidable insurrection broke out in this city, which, were it not for the unexampled energy with which it was overcome the same night, would speedily have produced incalculable evils. The secret history of the movement is still unknown, but it is universally believed that its real head was the well-known revolutionist, General Miguel Negrete. The movement commenced by the defection of a part of a battalion of gens Warmes, which, after assassinating its colonel, took possession of the citadel, a vast fortress containing the principal government deposits of ammunition and war material. It was occupied at the time by a handful of artillerymen, who, having declined to take part in the revolt, were shut up in the magazine during the ensuing battle.

At 4 p.m. the government had taken its first measures, appointing General Sostenes Rocha to command the attack, and placing its forces so as to surround the citadel. About the same time the insurgents had taken the Belen prison, near the citadel, and had added eight hundred convicts to their forces.

The attack was made at 11 o’clock the same night, after an incessant fire of two or three hours; the artillery of the citadel causing fearful ravages, while the federal forces feared to use that arm, lest they should blow up the powder-magazine, and thereby inevitably destroy much of the city. The battle was bloody, to a degree almost unexampled in the annals of Mexican revolutions, but the citadel was taken at the point of the bayonet at the stroke of midnight, and the pealing bells immediately made known to the terrified city its escape from the threatened ravages of the desperadoes. Current rumors affirm that large numbers of the prisoners were summarily executed after the victory, but the official report of General Rocha, of which I inclose a copy and translation, (A and B,) referring to it for further particulars, only admits the execution of four officers, which he represents to have been imperatively necessary. Moreover, most of the officers at first reported to have been shot are now known to be alive.

The principal chiefs of the insurrection, who are supposed to have been Generals Negrete, Toledo, Cosio, Pontones, and Chavarria, with Colonel Edmund Mayer, escaped before the final assault, and took refuge in the mountains surrounding this valley. Some of them, however, are believed to be now secreted in this city awaiting a favorable moment for another outbreak.

General Aureliano Rivera, at the moment of the insurrection at the citadel, appeared at the suburb called Tacuba, with a few followers, and induced the force stationed there to join the revolt. The governor of the federal district, Colonel Castro, went in his pursuit, and was killed in the encounter. At this time I was outside the city, and returned by way of Tacuba, through the midst of the insurgents. I was not harmed, but a portion of my party was robbed. About the same time the secretary of this legation, who was also outside the city in company with Minister Romero and his family, had a narrow escape from falling into the hands of the same party of insurgents. The number of the killed and wounded is believed to have been above one thousand, the greater portion being those of the government forces. It is believed that the movement had been arranged for a later date, counting upon the defection of other federal forces, but that the news from Monterey caused it to be precipitated, and thereby, perhaps, prevented its success. It cannot be doubted that the insurgents had certain understandings with other regiments, otherwise it is incomprehensible that they should have shut themselves within a fortress, absolutely without provisions. But the conduct of the attacking force was exemplary; there was scarcely a desertion or an instance of vacillation. The calmness of the citizens and the good order which prevailed was surprising, when it is remembered that the city has not witnessed a scene of the kind for nearly fifteen years.

On the day preceding this revolt, three of the newspaper organs of the Diaz party disappeared, and the only remaining one, the Ferro-Carril, published a long editorial upon the situation of the country, which was justly regarded as an appeal to the laboring classes against the rich. The symptoms of a socialist revolt are rife in Mexico, and the contest now beginning will undoubtedly be affected to some degree by this element of discord. During the past week it has become known that a noted Indian chieftain, named Juan Francisco, has pronounced in the Sierra, or mountainous district, to the north of Pueblo. It is also known that Mr. Justo Benitez, the confidential adviser of General Diaz, has disappeared from this city and has arrived at Oaxaca, where that general resides. It is considered certain by leading members of the government that Diaz will shortly pronounce, if, indeed, he has not done so already, a supposition which the sudden interruption of telegraphic communication with Oaxaca, three days since, goes far to confirm; as also the departure from this city of General Aiatorre, commanding the second division, with headquarters at Orizaba. Fears are entertained that the rebellion of Dias will be seconded in Vera Cruz, which state gave him a large majority in the late presidential election. Mr. Lerdo, late minister of foreign affairs, called on me to-day and expressed his fears of a severe and destructive civil war, of doubtful result. I must add that the prospects of the government have never appeared to me so dark as at this moment.

Since writing the first portion of this dispatch, the government has received telegraphic information that General Carrillo succeeded in entering Saltillo on the 6th instant, after a battle of two days with the forces of Pedro Martinez, in which that chieftain was wounded.

On the 2d instant, along with the Spanish minister and the members of our respective legations, I called upon President Juarez to tender him my congratulations upon the prompt and energetic restoration of order on the preceding day, after which we visited the citadel and the other principal scenes of the conflict, under the guidance of two of the president’s aids.

On the same day the president solicited from congress a grant of ample faculties-—i. e., a virtual dictatorship for the term of one year, or until the complete restoration of order. The request has been violently opposed, and is still pending, but will probably be passed.

Congress has declared that the electoral votes for president of the republic were as follows:

Juarez	5,837
Diaz	3,555
Lerdo	2,874
Scattering	95
Total	12,365

And that there having been no election by the people, it will proceed to choose between Juarez and Diaz. The definitive election will probably take place within a few days, and there is no doubt of the choice of Mr. Juarez.

Through the death of Colonel Castro, the president has appointed Mr. Tiburcio Montiel governor of the federal district.

I am, &c.,

THOMAS H. NELSON.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Report of General Rocha on the storming of the Citadel.

Column of operations against the citadel, General-in-Chief:

In fulfillment of your orders, I placed myself, at 4 p.m. on the 1st instant, at the head of an attacking column, composed of two hundred and seventy men of the battalion of sappers and three hundred of the first of the line, and marched against the citadel, then held by the insurgents.

On my arrival at the Acordada, three hundred horse of the municipal guard were placed under my orders. I immediately proceeded, under the artillery and musketry fire of the citadel, and protected by that of two companies of sappers and of another of the first of the line, which I placed in suitable positions to make a reconnaissance, very well executed by General Bucel, for the establishment of my line of attack. At this time General Francisco Loaeza arrived with two hundred men of the seventeenth battalion, under the orders of their colonel, Vivancio Leyoa, and a section of field artillery, The said general placed himself under my orders with that force, which from this time I denominated the corps of reserve, including its artillery, as my intention was not to make use of this arm except in an emergency, for fear that the hollow projectiles might explode the immense stores of ammunition deposited in the citadel.

I placed a part of the cavalry brigade of the first division under General Loera, in the square of the “Salto de Agua,” as a corps of observation of the part of the insurgents who occcupied the Bel en prison, and to cover the rear of the citadel; the said force being supported by two companies of the thirteenth battalion of infantry, and by another of the twenty-fourth. Another cavalry brigade of the fourth division, commanded by the brave General Donald Guerra, which placed itself under my orders, was placed in such a manner as to cover Chapultepec on the right, resting its center on the hacienda of La Teja, and its left reaching to San Cosme, so as to cut off the enemy’s entire line of retreat.

At 6 p.m. the reconnaissance was completed, and I proceeded to arrange my lines in the following manner: the first line, being that of attack, was extended along the streets of La Providencia; its right was composed of the battalion of sappers under the orders of its officers, Colonel Vincente Mariscal and Lieutenant-Colonel Pablo Rocha. The center and left were covered by the first battalion of the line, under the orders of Colonel Pedro Yepez; this line remained under my immediate command, and General Fernando Bucel remained in it constantly, aiding me very efficiently and valiantly in everything. The second line, being that of reserve, was based upon the edifice of the Acordada, covering its flanks with the Hospicio and the Paseo Nuevo, under the orders of General Francisco Loaeza, and with Colonel Vivancio Ley va as second in command, was formed of two hundred men of battalion 17, a section of field artillery and two hundred horse of the corps of municipal guard; from the latter I took a squadron, which I placed upon the Paseo Nuevo to support the right flank of the line of attack.

After the reconnaissance I ordered floating-bridges and a raft to be constructed, in order to cross the wide ditches around the citadel. Colonel Joaquin Rivero, Lieutenant-Colonel Ygnacio Revultas, Lieutenant-Colonel Manuel Mariscal and the other engineer officers worked with great activity and intelligence in this operation, and in widening the perforations for the easier passage of troops.

Lieutenant-Colonel Revultas also served me with much serenity and bravery as aidde-camp, and accompanied me in the assault. The bridges and preliminary operations were to be terminated at 11 o’clock that night. I therefore prepared to make the assault between midnight and 1 a.m., but at 10 o’clock the enemy made a blundering sally with about 300 men and a piece of artillery. This sally was promptly driven back and the cannon seized by a squad of little more than 20 men, which attacked them under Captain Espiridion Elizondo, at my immediate orders. This movement, combined with the close firing of a squad from the first of the line, which I had placed in ambush, in a convenient house, produced a sudden panic in the enemy, which I improved to seize upon the entrance-gate, holding it until the arrival of the entire first line, which I ordered to come as quickly as possible. This circumstance led me to hasten the assault, as we no longer needed either bridges or rafts; consequently the valiant General Poucel and myself, seconded by the brave Colonels Mariscal and Yepez, placing ourselves at the head of the sappers and the first battalion of the line, the several bands playing and keeping up the call to “make ready arms,” assaulted the enemy’s position. At this moment I ordered the line of reserve to advance and occupy the posts previously held by the attacking column. The assault was energetic; the defense obstinate and prolonged; more than seven hundred men and six field-cannon were firing upon us. After a fire of half an hour the field was covered with killed and wounded, and the attack neutralized by the defense, but without a single soldier retreating a step. The moment was a solemn one, but the victory was mine, inasmuch as the enemy had all their force in the field, while I had as yet made no use of my reserve. I now did, however, causing the brave General Loaeza to advance quickly with his force, which promptly formed in line, invigorating the attack and enabling us to gain a few meters more of ground. Finally I ordered forward half of battalion 17, which had remained to protect the section of artillery, and also the squadron which supported my right flank. This last re-enforcement decided the battle; with a soldierly shout all our force sprang forward at the point of the bayonet to the doors of the citadel; the enemy, who was outside, fled in disorder in all directions; the squadron of municipal guards bayoneted many of the fugitives; and the infantry precipitated itself within the citadel, where the insurgents still defended themselves. As they fired upon us from the roofs I detached against them the valiant Colonel Yepez, who, with a part of his battalion, quickly occupied them, after a hand-to-hand battle which terminated the engagement, by the victory of the intrepid troops of the supreme government.

All the valiant officers and soldiers have performed their duty, for which reason I do not make particular mention of any of them, and will barely state that Colonels Leon Ugalde and Lenar Chavez, and the citizen Antonio Rodrigues, presented themselves at 4 p.m., and were at my side throughout the operations.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ygnacio A. Bravo and Captain Cano served as aids to General Poucel with great intelligence and bravery, as well as the captain of gens d’armes, José M. Garcia, charged with the detail. I ought also to mention the members of the medico-military corps, whose activity afforded prompt aid to the wounded. The enthusiasm with which some students of the military college who were at large presented themselves to me, asking to be armed, was also worthy of note; but I ordered them to present themselves at the palace, not thinking it advisable that the blood of these precious young men should be shed so early.

When the enemy’s position was occupied, in the manner already mentioned, it was found that the greater part of those who had held out to the last were the criminals of Belen prison, whom the insurgents had violently extracted therefrom to increase their force, and who did not cease to make resistance to our forces, prompted by their ferocious instincts.

Among the insurgents who most distinguished themselves by their obstinacy were three officers of the corps of gens d’armes and the ex-Lieutenant Colonel Echeagaray, who were those who commenced the mutiny, and whom I found it necessary to order executed, because the special circumstances of the situation demanded it, and also the fulfillment of my duty as charged with reducing the insurgents to order, and to avoid greater evils to society. I inclose the various reports of my subordinates as to the killed and wounded, the ammunition consumed, and the list of prisoners.

Be pleased, citizen-general, to congratulate, in my name and in that of my brave subalterns, the supreme government for this important victory.

Independence and liberty! Mexico, October 2, 1871.

S. ROCHA.

Citizen General Alejander Garcia,
General-in-Chief of the Forces.