Mr. Gresham to
Señor Romero.
Department of State,
Washington, June 10,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 28th of April last, in which complaint is
made of the firing upon the sentry box of the custom-house at Camargo,
Tamaulipas, by a colored soldier of the U. S. Army.
A copy of your note was immediately laid before the Secretary of War for
investigation of the circumstances, and I am now in receipt of his
reply, dated the 8th instant.
In submitting the reports of the military authorities on the subject,
copies of which I inclose herewith, the Secretary invites the attention
to the fact that it is not possible to determine what men were on the
river bank opposite the custom-house sentry box on any particular day,
as the bank at that place is virtually a part of the post and is visited
daily by many of the garrison. He adds that the commanding officer at
Fort Ringgold, Tex., has been instructed to take such measures as will
prevent any like occurrence in the future.
Accept, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Copy of indorsements and accompanying correspondence
from commanding general, Department of Texas, on letter from
Department of State of May 8, ultimo, inclosing copy of a note from
the Mexican minister, resident in the city, accompanying report
received from Mexican Government, that a colored soldier of the U.
S. Army had, on the 8th or 9th of April, fired several times on the
sentry box of the custom-house at Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and
asks War Department to take proper action in the case.
Referred from War Department to Adjutant-General.
[First indorsement.]
Adjutant-General’s
Office,
Washington, May 10,
1893.
Respectfully referred to the commanding general, Department of Texas,
for investigation and report.
These papers to be returned to this office with report.
By command of Maj. Gen. Schofield.
H. C. Corbin,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[Page 450]
[Second indorsement.]
Headquarters Department of
Texas,
San Antonio, May 31,
1893.
Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-General of the Army inviting
attention to the inclosed report of the commanding officer, Fort
Ringgold, in this case.
The commanding officer at Fort Ringgold, the nearest post to Rio
Grande City, has been instructed by me to take such measures as will
prevent any like occurrence in the future.
Frank Wheaton,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Headquarters Department of Texas,
Assistant
Adjutant-General’s Office,
San Antonio Tex., May
15, 1893.
Commanding Officer, Fort Ringgold, Tex.:
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith
correspondence received from headquarters of the Army, purporting
that a colored soldier had, on April 8 and 9, tired several times on
the sentry box of the custom-house at Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico,
and to say the commanding general directs that you make a thorough
investigation of this case and submit your report thereof with
return of these papers to these headquarters.
Very respectfully,
J. P. Martin,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[First indorsement.]
Fort Ringgold, Tex., May 25, 1893.
Respectfully returned to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Department
of Texas, required report inclosed.
Fort Ringgold, Tex., May 25, 1893.
Sir: In connection with the letter from
your office of the 15th instant I have the honor to submit the
following report:
This affair was reported to me by the Mexican consul at Rio Grande
City about ten days after it took place. I investigated it at that
time, but could not obtain any information as to the identity of the
man who fired the shots. The witnesses being positive, however, that
the man was one of the detachment of Seminole Indian scouts, I gave
such orders as would prevent them from having their arms for hunting
or other purposes in the vicinity of the post.
It was impossible to obtain information showing what men were on the
river bank opposite the custom-house sentry box on any particular
day, as the bank at that place is virtually a part of the post, and
is visited daily by many of the garrison.
Upon receipt of this letter I requested the consul to again try to
find some one from the opposite side who could identify the man, and
he has informed to-day that he could not do so. I can find no one on
this side, and the witnesses to the affair say that the man was
alone.
Very respectfully, etc.,
A. S. B. Keyes,
Major Third Cavalry, Commanding.
