Mr. Herron, United States marshal, to Mr. Browning, Acting Attorney-General.
District of Louisiana,
Custom-House Building, New Orleans, July 20, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of my operations for the purpose of breaking up a movement to violate the neutrality laws of this Government by armed invasion of the Republic of Mexico.
[18] In the early part of June rumors reached me *that parties had arrived in New Orleans, with means and authority from revolutionary chieftains in Mexico, to purchase arms and enlist men, and to transport them to some point on the Mexican coast, supposed to be in the vicinity of Bagdad. On putting myself in communication with the consul of Mexico at New Orleans, Señor Ramon Diaz, I ascertained that similar indefinite reports had come to his knowledge.
Experienced deputy marshals were at once set to tracing up these reports, and the main city rendezvous of the filibuster recruits was in due time discovered to be in rear of a grocery and liquor establishment at the corner of Rampart and Esplanade streets.
[19] Close espionage being maintained upon this place, it was found on the 23d June, ultimo, that the band had completed preparations for its departure, and was about to immediately start from New Orleans. I stationed the few men at my disposal to guard the various places of egress from the Barracks building, and in person made a demand upon the chief of the municipal police for a sufficient force to capture the inmates. Considerable delay was experienced in assembling the policemen, and placing them under my command at the designated spot. In the mean time the fears of the leaders had become *aroused, and they succeeded in escaping by an outlet not at the time discovered by my men. The remainder, forty in number, were taken into custody, and confined in the military prison.
[Page 768]So far as the most rigorous investigation could develop, the men captured were unacquainted with the real purpose of their leaders. Almost without exception these men were squalid and poverty-stricken, embracing two classes at present very numerous in New Orleans: 1st, persons who, finding it impossible to obtain employment, engage almost unquestioningly in anything which promises immediate support: 2d, desperadoes who will not work so long as there is any enterprise which promises adventure and plunder. Several of these men asserted that they had been engaged to work on a railroad near Vera Cruz.
Señor Diaz was active in his efforts to procure evidence, but when the prisoners were brought before United States Commissioner John P. Wells, esq., on June 25th ultimo, it could not be proven that they had been knowingly guilty of an attempt to violate the laws; so they were discharged.
[20] On June 27th ultimo, I dispatched two deputies, on the United States quartermaster’s steamer, Ella Morse, to Grand Isle, situated some forty miles *from Southwest Pass, and the site of old Fort Livingston. They were supported by one company of the First United States Infantry, under command of Captain and Brevet-Major Kenzie Bates. I had learned that the leaders of this filibuster movement, with excellent discrimination, had selected this as their principal camp and point of embarkation when ships could be procured and time for action arrived.
At Grand Isle, seventy-four men were made prisoners, and thence conveyed to Fort Jackson, from which place they were, after some necessary delay, brought to this city for trial.
Their arraignment before United States Commissioner Wells took place on July 13th instant, when it was found that the same ignorance concerning the ulterior objects of the lawless enterprise in which they were engaged existed among the rank and file as was noticed among the members of the band first captured. The men were, therefore, discharged, but the four officers taken, namely, Hilary Cenas, Emile Ricaud, J. H. Hernandez, and L. E. Hill, were ordered to furnish good and sufficient security for their appearance at the next (fall) term of the United States district court for trial.
[21] The managers and organizers of this filibuster movement displayed unusual *secrecy in ail they did in this connection, being, up to this moment, I feel convinced, personally and by name unknown to all engaged therein, except the recruiting-officers and such others as it was absolutely necessary to consult. When the first arrests were made, these leaders are supposed to have tied, some to Havana, others to New York, and reports reach me that this latter-named city will henceforward be their base of operations in this country.
In conclusion, it gives me pleasure to state that in all my efforts at suppressing this attempt to rupture the peaceful relations existing between the United States and Mexico I have had the earnest and valuable co-operation of Señor Ramon Diaz, the Mexican consul, also prompt assistance from Brevet Major-General R. C. Buchanan, commanding fifth military district; and aid from the local authorities of New Orleans, when requested.
I have the honor to be, yours, &c.,
United States Marshal,
Hon. O. H. Browning,
Acting Attorney-General of the United
States.