Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878
No. 385.
Mr. de
Zamacona to Mr. Evarts.
Washington, July 31, 1878. (Received August 3.)
Mr. Secretary: The allusion contained in one of the notes with which I have recently been honored by the Department of State, to the difficulties encountered in Texas in convicting of an infraction of the neutrality laws those persons who have been conspiring for some months past against the peace of Mexico, induces me to communicate to your Department, as I hereby do by means of the inclosed documents, the detailed reports which I have received on this subject from the Mexican consul at San Antonio, and some of the frontier Mexican authorities.
Although the criminal intent of the conspirators has proved a failure for the present, having been frustrated by the repressive energy of the Mexican troops and the condemnation of public sentiment, they will very probably renew their efforts if the facts indicate to them that they have in Texas a place of refuge, very near to Mexico, where they can safely conspire and be sure of a secure retreat in the event of a failure.
I have, &c.,
Extract from the report of the Mexican consul at San Antonio.
During the month of March last, the leaders of the revolutionary movement against Mexico, in New York, promised to General Escobedo $12,000 in cash, together with 1,000 rifles, and ammunition to correspond. This promise was fulfilled during the same month of March. The house of Frederick Probst & Co., New York, delivered the money, and that of Enrique Mexia, of Austin, a portion of the arms; the other was purchased by Escobedo himself in New York. At the close of April Messrs. Wulfing &, Labbat, merchants of San Antonio, received the arms sent by Escobedo, which were to go to Eagle Pass, and which were consigned to Mr. Daniel Wüste; from Galveston, also, others were sent to Corpus Christi.
On the 1st of May, Escobedo was very near to San Antonio, and some persons declare that he entered this town on the day following, whence, after nightfall, he proceeded in the direction of Eagle Pass, where he arrived without touching Fort Clark. At Eagle Pass he entered into correspondence with Don José Maria Cárdenas, at Pacuache, and José Martinez at Las Islitas. He was subsequently at these ranches, continuing his march by by-roads towards Laredo.
His purpose was to surprise the garrison at Piedras Negras, and to attack the convoy which was conducting the supplies for the troops of that garrison.
From New Orleans, Escobedo sent a person named Pen a to San Luis Potosi with [Page 680] letters to Sanchez Rib era. He also addressed Lorenzo Fernandez, of Vera Cruz, before leaving New Orleans, sending him supplies and requesting him to make his move toward the last of May. He sent the same request to various subaltern officers of the garrison of Matamoros.
The officers on whom Escobedo was then relying were General Garza Ayala, Colonels Amador, José Martinez, José Cardenas, Julian Carrillo, and Pedro Flores. The plan adopted was to mount and arm very small bands of men, who crossed to the other side in small parties, so as not to cause alarm, coming together in places where there were few inhabitants, without attempting any attack, but confining themselves to collecting horses and arms in order to organize a guerrilla warfare on Mexican soil.
The district of Piedras Negras seemed to Escobedo the best adapted to insure the success of the revolution. He intended to establish his headquarters there, when the guerrillas should have taken possession of the supplies which they found there, and after he should have got possession of the garrison of Piedras Negras.
The principal centers of revolutionary organization on the American side of the river are—
- 1.
- Eagle Pass, where, among others, is Escobedo’s principal agent, a man named Daniel Wüste, who had charge of the arms for the revolution.
- 2.
- The ranch called San Buenaventura, a short distance from Eagle Pass, it being at the extreme left of the line under Escobedo’s control.
- 3.
- The ranch called Panache, not very far from San Buenaventura, where José Maria Cardenas resides, who is one of the most prominent revolutionary leaders under the orders of Escobedo, and upon whom the latter has conferred the appointment of military commandant of Coahuila.
- 4.
- The ranch called Las Islitas, owned by José Martinez, who has been appointed by Escobedo military commandant of the district of Piedras Negras, and who is the most energetic leader of the revolutionists.
- 5.
- Laredo, Texas, where General Garza Ayala was before he engaged in the revolutionary movement, having charge of a deposit of arms. In place of Garza Ayala, Don Santos Benavides has remained at Laredo in the capacity of revolutionary agent. His business is to furnish the rebels with arms.
- 6.
- The ranch called Buenavista, below Laredo, where Escobedo established his headquarters.
- 7.
- A place near Brownsville, where Cols. Cornelio Garcia and Ignacio Abrego have been organizing their forces, opposite to a Mexican ranch called La Palma, 16 leagues from Matamoros.
- 8.
- The ranch of Don Carlos Danache, also very near Brownsville. This ranch is the headquarters of the revolutionists Manuel Lira and Rafael Garcia.
The majority of these places are in the most thinly-peopled portions of Texas, and some of them are of so little importance that they are not found on the maps of the State.
On the accompanying map these places are with their corresponding numbers. I have been able to place them by the aid of verbal data and by the assistance of the topographer who drew the map.
These are the places, I repeat, where the work of the revolution has been clandestinely carried on, it having consisted in enlisting men, arming, mounting, and conveying them to the other side, one by one, so to speak, until a considerable number were on Mexican soil.
On the 30th of June the Mexican consul received a letter from Laredo which contained the following:
“Everything is quiet. * * * By keeping an eye on Santos Benavides one can be preadvised of any movement, in the near future, of the outside (Lerdist) party, particularly if the movement is intended for the neighborhood of Nuevo Laredo, for, at such times, Santos is willing to advance money, arms, and horses to able-bodied men who will join the ranks of the Lerdists. I am quite positive that the forty men of whom I wrote to you some days ago as having left this town in the night to join the outside party were equipped by him alone. * * *
“What can be done because of MacKenzie crossing the Rio Bravo is eagerly looked for by the Lerdists. They are in hopes that it will cause Diaz to have more enemies among his people on account of non-fulfillment of promises claimed by them to have been made by him in case of the crossing of armed soldiers from the United States.” * * *
Extract from a report sent by the licentiate Sada, extradition judge.
The rebels are organizing in full view of the Texan authorities.
The thefts of cattle on the Mexican side are increasing to such an extent that stock-raisers are losing everything. This is due to the difficulty of recovering animals in [Page 681] Texas, even when they can he found there. The Texan authorities make so many demands and charges that the latter amount to more than the value of the cattle stolen. Sometimes the claimant is told that his cattle are contraband, although the theft is proved. This has frequently happened at Eagle Pass and Las Moras.
Spoliations by United States troops.—During the last invasion the American troops took from the pastures at Remolino more than 50 head of cattle and destroyed several corn-fields, thereby ruining their owners. Some of the latter came here in the hope of recovering their property. Colonel Nuncio and I advised them to send you their papers, the affair being of an international character.
Extract from the report sent by the president of the ayuntamiento (municipal government or town-board) of Nuevo Laredo, under date of July 15, 1878.
- Leaders of the revolutionary movement: Ex-General Lorenzo Garza Ayala. Subalterns: Isidoro Salinas, Pedro Hernandez, Concepcion Botello, Hilario Rodriguez, Jesus Maria de Hoyos, Adrian de Hoyos, and José Maria Garza.
- Center of organization.—Laredo, Texas. On the day before the rebels crossed the river they met in one of the most thinly peopled districts of Laredo. Don Santos Benaides addressed them, promising to give them the rifles with which he had armed them, and any horses they could steal on the Mexican side of the Bravo; also, to give up the town of Nuevo Laredo to plunder for two hours.
- 3.Invasion of Mexico.—The revolutionary bands crossed the frontier on the 25th of May. They posted themselves on the roads, robbing travelers of whatever they had with them, and kidnaping some. They continued these operations for twelve days, that is, until the 6th of June. On the 26th they occupied a portion of Nuevo Laredo, destroying the fields of grain, outraging the families of the ranchmen of Egido and stopping wayfarers.
- 4.Citizenship and character of the rebels.—Adrian de Hoyos, José Maria Garza, Santos Benavides, and his brothers, Christóbal and Eulalio, although Mexicans by birth, are American citizens and residents of Laredo, Tex. Garza, Hoyos, Salinas, Hernandez, Botello, and Rodriguez are well known as cattle-thieves and smugglers.
- 5.Residence of the rebels.—The majority of them are from the town of Laredo, and from the ranches of the three Benavides brothers, which are situated in Webb County.
- 6.Elements of the revolutionary force.—Santos Benavides has enlisted at Laredo and in its vicinity all the vagabonds of that neighborhood, and has secured the services of all those criminals who, being unable to live in Mexico, desire to aid in the organization of a government which, in consideration of the aid thus rendered it, will grant them immunity from punishment.
- 7.Resources of the rebels.—This revolutionary movement has been mainly promoted by Don Santos Benavides, his two brothers and their circle, which, they being extensive land-holders, is one of considerable extent. They have received from San Antonio two remittances of arms and provisions, purchased, it is said, with $5,000 furnished by General Escobedo.
Part taken by H. Adams in the revolution.—When Salinas sacked the town of Candela, some months since, he took Don Bias de la Barred a prisoner, and refused to release him until he had signed a draft for $3,000 payable at sight in this city by Mr. Santiago Sanchez. Shortly afterward Mr. H. Adams, an American citizen residing at Laredo, called upon Mr. Sanchez for the purpose of drawing the money. He did not find Mr. Sanchez at home, and learned that he had been informed of the capture and was preparing to arrest the bearer of the draft. Since that time Adams has done everything in his power to aid the revolutionists, receiving from them, in payment for goods, cattle stolen in Mexico which he has driven to the interior of Texas, the greater part of them by way of San Antonio.
- 9.
- Action of the Texan authorities.—In not a single instance have the Texan authorities of Webb County complied with our requests to arrest the rebels.
- 10.
- Salinas and Pablo Quintana, the rebel leaders, retired to Texas after they had been routed by Alegria. The one remains at the ranches of the Benavides brothers, and the other at those of the Juarezes and Olveras, residents of the town of Laredo.
Extract from a report of Colonel Nuncio.
Inquiries have been made with regard to the damage done by Escobedo, Martinez, and the American troops. A captain of military farmers accused Pepe Cárdenas to the authorities [Page 682] of Eagle Pass as being a revolutionary agent. An opportunity was never given to the accuser to present his evidence, and the accused was acquitted, by what process no one knows.
Cárdenas, Juan Reyes, and José Martinez organize and protect the revolutionists, affording them shelter in their houses until they are ready to sally out on their raids.