No. 8.
Mr. Osborn
to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation,
Buenos
Ayres, December 15, 1874. (Received
January 22, 1875.)
No. 31.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the
rebellion is suppressed and peace is restored to the Argentine Republic.
The rebellion, which began on the night of September 23rd, by the seizure of
the government gunboats by the insurgents, was brought to a close in this
province on the battle-field of La Verde, by the defeat of General Mitre and
his army by Colonel Arias, on the 26th of November, and followed by the
unconditional surrender of General Mitre and his army on the 2d instant,
near Junin.
The battle, defeat, and surrender of General Arredondo and his army to
General Roca and the government forces at Santa Rosa, province of Mendoza,
on the 8th instant, has terminated the rebellion throughout all the
provinces of the republic, and President Avellaneda has decreed next
Thursday, the 17th instant, a holiday all over the republic.
The railroad, the telegraph, (pushed forward under the administration of
President Sarmiento,) and the Remington rifles, (purchased in the United
States,) have triumphantly settled the question at last, I think, in this
republic of South America, that rebellion cannot succeed.
The President has decreed amnesty to all the rebel soldiers who laid down
their arms at Junin. It is understood that General Mitre and the chief
officers of his army will be tried by court-martial. If convicted, none, I
think, will suffer death, except General Arredondo, who, as it is
understood, caused the death of General Ivanowski, (a favorite general of
the government,) by assassination, at Rio Cuarto, on the breaking out of the
rebellion.
At the close of the rebellion the government had under arms fifty thousand
troops. The grand review of the troops, the Te Deum,
and solemn mass will take place next Thursday.
I have the honor to inclose printed copies of the official reports of Colonel
Arias and General Roca, giving details of the surrender of Generals Mitre
and Arredondo; also, copy of decree of amnesty to the rebel soldiers by
President Avellaneda.
I have, &c.,
[Page 20]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 31.]
SURRENDER OF MITRE.
Camp at
Junin, December 2,
1874.
official dispatch.
[From the Standard.—Translation.]
Mr. Minister: It is my pleasing duty to send
you inclosed details of the surrender of the enemy’s army, of which I
informed you this morning by telegram.
Your excellency is already aware that the beaten enemy abandoned on the
field of La Verde on 26th ultimo numerous wounded, to whom it became a
duty to attend, as they had no assistance of any kind.
This charge occupied me the rest of the 26th and part of the 27th, on
which day I marched, having attended to 230 of the enemy’s wounded, and
picked up on the field 450 arms of all kinds.
On the morning of the 28th I was joined by Colonel Villegas, and,
Levalle’s division being here, we formed a council of war before my
elevation to the rank of colonel was known. We agreed that Commander
Levalle, being, the senior, should take command.
On the following day my dispatches arrived, and Colonels Levalle and
Villegas at once put themselves under my orders. I at once ordered a
march on Chivilcoy, but changed the route, as the enemy were at Bragado,
where we arrived on the 30th at 6 p.m. We halted here to eat and rest
the horses, and marched again at 8 p.m., as I heard the enemy were going
north. We reached Larga at 1 o’clock a.m. on the 1st instant, remained
with horses saddled till 8 a.m., started again, marched all day and
night, and came up with the enemy’s rear guard on the morning of the
2dat Junin. We fell on him then and there, and after a few shots took
200 prisoners and 2,000 horses.
Without losing a moment we resumed the pursuit, and I had ordered Colonel
Lagos to hurry in joining me to assist in the destruction of the enemy.
We were marching at full gallop, and, joined by Lagos, were about to
fall on Mitre’s army, when an emissary rode toward us with an open
letter, asking for a safe conduct for Don Matias Ramos, who was wounded.
The letter was addressed to me under cover to Colonel Lagos. T sent the
messenger back, accompanied by Captain Oliver, to tell the enemy to
halt, and before the latter returned I sent Adjutant Rivera to summon
the enemy to surrender. When Captain Oliver returned he told me the
enemy wished to treat. I agreed, and after half an hour’s talk we
arrived at the following conditions:
- 1.
- Amnesty for the citizens in General Mitre’s army.
- 2.
- Guarantee of life and good treatment for all the officers,
from General Rivas to the ensigns.
- 3.
- Pardon for the line-soldiers with the rebels.
I let the beaten enemy down easy, Mr. Minister, as their chief admitted
that the war terminated at La Verde, as he knew what terms the
government had granted to Senor Lanusse. I was also desirous of saving
bloodshed, as the enemy must have been destroyed if he elected to
continue the struggle.
The whole day was taken up in disarming the enemy, whose force consisted
of 2 generals, 45 field-officers, 295 officers, and 3,000 men, 300 of
the line from the southern frontier.
After this, I think, T can assure your excellency that peace has been
restored in the province, and I have only to recommend to your
excellency and the President of the republic all the leaders, officers
and soldiers who took part in this glorious day.
Through your excellency I ask the grade of colonel for commanders
Levalle, Lagos, and Villegas, who so powerfully aided me, and also a
step for their officers.
God preserve your excellency.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 31.]
[From the
Standard.—Translation.]
BATTLE OF SANTA ROSA—BLOODY FIGHTING.
official dispatch.
The rebellion may now be considered as suppressed all over the republic.
Colonel Roca has defeated General Arredondo, taking him and his army
prisoners. The following particulars are official:
[Page 21]
The justice of the peace at Sances sends the following message to the
governor of San Luis for transmission to the President of the
republic:
December 8, Tuesday—2 a.m.
Mr. Governor: I have just received
dispatches from Colonel Panelo with the most favorable news.
Major Gimenez has just surrendered himself, with four men of
the Fourth of the line and three others, announcing the
complete defeat of Arredondo. I am starting for the
Desaguadero, to watch the passes of the river.
R. TISERA, J.
P.
On the 7th, at dawn, General Roca (promoted on the field by President
Avellaneda) took up position about a league from one of the enemy’s
flanks. The camps were inundated, as Arredondo had cut the sluices;
nevertheless, the national army attacked, and, after two hours’
desperate fighting; completely defeated the enemy. The losses were
severe, Colonel Paz and Commander Timote being killed, President
Avellaneda, to honor their memory, raising both to the rank of
colonel in the line.
official dispatch.
Santa Rosa, December 8th, 1874.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to inform
your excellency that last night at 12 o’clock I advanced on the
enemy’s flank with artillery and reached his rear guard. At dawn I
was ready, in spite of the darkness, the difficulty of the
operation, and the uneven character of the ground. Arredondo had to
leave his intrenchments and face me.
At 6 o’clock in the morning I attacked him. At half-past 8 o’clock he
was routed, and he and all his officers and infantry prisoners, as
also part of his cavalry, the rest escaping, having good horses.
The battle lasted two hours. It was bloody, and we have to deplore
heavy losses, among them Col. Carlos Paz, who fell in front of the
Third of the line, pierced by twelve bullets. Commander Timote fell
in the thick of the enemy’s ranks, and many other officers, whose
names I will forward to your excellency.
I beg to recommend to the government all the chiefs, officers, and
men of this army, especially Lieut. Col. Edward Racedo and Colonel
Nelson.
I will send on details, and meanwhile congratulate your excellency on
the pacification of the republic.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 31.]
THE HERO OF SANTA ROSA.
[From the
Standard.—Translation.]
When the President of the republic received, on Tuesday evening, the
confirmation of Arredondo’s defeat and capture by Colonel Roca, he sent
the subjoined telegram, congratulating the hero of the day, and raising
him to the rank of general. It is worthy of remark that Colonel Arias,
the victor of La Verde, and General Roca, the hero of Santa Rosa, are
young men; the former has not yet reached thirty years of age, the
latter is thirty-two, while both have had to measure swords with the
oldest and most experienced generals in South America, the result in
both cases being so decisive as to extinguish two formidable
revolutions.
President Avellaneda’s telegram runs thus:
“General Roca: I salute you general of the
armies of the republic on the field of victory. The blood of Colonel
Catalan and his comrades is avenged. Arredondo has surrendered to you in
presence of your triumphant army, while the bones of the gallant men who
fell on the same spot by his hands (in the battle of October) shook in
their graves uneasily at the tread “of their barbarous immolator.
“It was your destiny, general, to close the campaign with a splendid
victory. We all felt a presentiment to this effect, seeing in you that
cool intrepidity which marks great captains, and which enabled you to
form on a ‘plantel’ of 200 men, while retreating in the face of a
powerful and arrogant enemy, an army sufficient to check his advance,
protect the Riverine provinces, and foil the rebels in their plans.
“The military history of the republic has nowhere a week to compare with
this in
[Page 22]
glory. The echo of
joyful salvos for the capture of Mitre’s army at Junin was mingled with
the first cannonade of the victorious day of Santa Rosa, and the victors
of both fields exchange congratulations from Chivilcoy to Mendoza.
“General, salute, in the name of my government, all the commanders,
officers, and soldiers of the army of the north, now covered with the
dust of so glorious a battlefield.
“NICOLAS AVELLANEDA.”
[Inclosure 4 in No. 31.]
Amnesty by President Avellaneda.
[From the
Standard.—Translation.]
To the rebel soldiers who laid down their arms at Junin: As you have
submitted to the national government, I hereby permit all of you to
return to your homes, hoping that clemency will suffice to correct the
errors into which you have been led.
During two months you followed the banner of revolt, and you saw the
fruits of such a movement.
For two months you have been hunted about from place to place, and
suffered all manner of hardship, seeing, moreover, the horrible
spectacle of your having the Indians of the desert for allies, fighting
by your side in two engagements, in which for the first time you
suffered the ignominy of defeat. Before that you were accustomed to
victory as loyal soldiers, on the fields of Paraguay, Talita, and Don
Gonzalo.
You come now again to take shelter under the glorious banner of the
republic. Your sorrows and sufferings are at an end. Return quietly to
your homes and labors.
As President of the republic, I hope you will not forget this lesson.
Keep it always before you, that it may save you from greater calamities
another time. All the leaders, chiefs, and former rulers whom you were
accustomed to follow are now fallen and powerless at the feet of the
national government, which now restores to you the blessings of peace,
contentment, and liberty that you forfeited by the revolt.
Return to your homes! A mild winter has been followed by a beneficent and
rainy spring, covering our plains with a rich pasture. Go! And bear in
mind that the protection of the national and provincial authorities will
follow you everywhere.
Buenos Ayres, December 5,
1874.
NICOLAS AVELLANEDA.
