No. 335.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, January 2,
1878.
No. 439.]Sir: I inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch
transmitted by General Ord to the Secretary of War, relative to the recent
expedition of Lieutenant Ward into Mexican territory, and the co-operation
of Mexican troops with his command. You may express casually to Mr. Vallarta
the gratification afforded by the friendly spirit manifested by Mexican
officers towards the officers of the United States upon the occasion
referred to, as well as the hope and belief that such a spirit, if
continued, will tend not only to repress the depredations on the Rio Grande,
but will be an important step towards renewing official intercourse between
the two countries.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure to No. 439.]
[Telegram.]
General Ord to
General Sheridan.
Chicago, Ill., December 24,
1877.
(Received 10.55 a.m.)
General E. D.
Townsend,
Washington, D. C.:
The following telegram from General Ord is forwarded for the information
of the General of the Army.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut. General.
“Lieutenant Ward was sent to Rio Grande to find trail of horses
stolen and driven into Mexico on 15th instant. Has just come in. The
Mexican troops got to the river
[Page 537]
on morning of 20th. Ward showed the Mexican
lieutenant the trail, and at his invitation crossed the river and
joined the Mexican troops. They followed the trail together all day,
going about 25 miles. As it had rained heavily the trail was hard to
follow, and another hard rain setting in they found it impossible to
follow it farther. The trail was left about three miles from
Newtown, and only six or eight miles below where it crossed the
river. Ward says there was perfect good feeling among Mexican
soldiers and our own, and that the lieutenant offered to go with him
anywhere he thought the horses could be found.
“ORD, Brigadier-General.”
