No. 279.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, December 29, 1871. (Received January 11, 1872.)
Sir: At the date of my last general despatch, (December 9,) the federal troops, under Generals Alatorre and Rocha, were on the borders of the States of Oaxaca, Vera Cruz, and Puebla, observing the movements of the revolutionary General Porilrio Diaz, whose intentions were then imperfectly known. Alatorre was at Huajuapam and Diaz had his headquarters at Tlaxiaco. Rocha, after pursuing the enemy’s cavalry as far as Teotitlan, had returned to Tehuacan. A great battle was expected every hour, but suddenly General Diaz passed directly between the two federal armies, with about one thousand cavalry, and on the 11th instant appeared in the vicinity of Matamoras, Ysucar, in the State of Puebla, and hastily raised a small forced loan. On the 14th instant he entered the State of Morelos and attacked Jonacatepec, which he was unable to enter; thence, turning by the volcano of Popocatepetl, and continuing his course northward, with incredible rapidity, he reached Chalco on Sunday, the 16th instant, and Tezcoco on the 17th, both of which cities are in full view from this capital. After resting a few hours at Tezcoco, he marched for the Llanos of Apam. On the 19th he he was at Tlaxco, in the State of Tlaxcala. Here about one hundred and fifty Indians attempting to interrupt his passage, he routed them, and many were made prisoners. From Tlaxco he passed to Chiqua-huapain, from there to Acatlan, thence to San Andres Chalehieomula, thence to the Cañada de Yxtapa, and after traversing the haciendas in the neighborhood of Talmacan, arrived on the 26th at Teotitlan, where it is supposed he is at this moment. During that rapid march of fifteen days, General Diaz was closely pursued by the cavalry of General Rocha and by another-force sent from this city, under the command of General Flores, but he has hitherto kept a few hours in advance. Rocha arrived at Tehuacan before him, but Diaz, by making a small circuit, avoided the town.
The purpose of General Diaz in making this extraordinary détour is not obvious. By some it was conjectured that he intended to enter the city of Mexico, (then defended by a small guard,) where a general uprising in his favor was expected; but it is more probable that his object was to escape from the federal forces that were closely hemming him in, and to endeavor to augment his force by gathering up all the scattered bands of revolutionists in the Valley of Mexico. Whatever his design may have been, the movement certainly failed in accomplishing any practical result. He is now near his original point of departure, surrounded by a superior force, and it will be almost a miracle if he again escapes.
On the 12th instant General Alatorre occupied Tlaxiaco, in the northern part of the State of Oaxaca, which had just been evacuated, five [Page 375] hundred of the rebels retiring to Chilapilla, and the remainder, under the command of General Luis Mier y Teran, fortifying themselves at San Mateo. The five hundred men at Chilapilla were routed by General Ceballos on the 14th instant. Intelligence has just been received that the federal general Loaesa had overtaken the rebels at San Mateo, where a desperate battle was fought, beginning at midnight on the 22d, and terminating at 7½ o’clock next morning. At that hour, says General Alatorre in his dispatch to the government, “the position was taken, with all the artillery of the rebels, ammunition, mules, provisions, and an innumerable amount of other articles. The enemy fled, leaving a large number of killed, wounded, and prisoners.”
The loss of the federal force appears to have been heavy also. General Leyva was killed; General Loaesa, Colonel Caceres, and many other prominent officers were wounded. This victory will have an important influence upon the campaign in Oaxaca, and will probably be the last considerable battle that will be fought in that State.
To-day General Alatorre is expected to invest the fortified city of Oaxaca,” which will probably surrender after a few days siege, and thus will end the revolution in that part of the republic.
In the north it is conceded that the rebel general Geronimo Treviño has occupied the city of Saltillo, and is now probably marching toward San Luis Potosi. It is thought that he is in a critical position, with Generals Palacias, Cortina, and Cepeda in his rear, and General Corelia with a respectable force in front. A large force is now accumulating in this city to march to the relief of San Luis, and if the campaign in Uaxaca should be speedily closed, the Government will have ten or twelve thousand troops at its disposal to crush the revolution in the interior. In Queretaro the rebels have laid down their arms.
In Sonora, the rebels who took the port of Guaymas were routed at Alamos, by General Pesquera. All the chiefs, and most of the garrison that pronounced at Guaymas, were killed or taken prisoners. On the 24th instant, the rebel general Garcia de la Cadena attacked the city of Aguas Oalientes, with four hundred cavalry and one hundred infantry, but he was vigorously met and finally repulsed by General Castillo.
The prospect of an early termination of the rebellion is brightening every day. The government is earnest and confident, while the opposition is becoming rapidly demoralized. It is now manifest that, with the exception of a few restless and ambitious spirits, the people are tired of revolution and desire peace. If the expectations of the government be realized in the prompt suppression of the revolution, it is probable that another armed insurrection will not occur during the present term of President Jaurez’s administration, or perhaps for many years.
Taking advantage of the absence of the usual guards on the highways and in the towns and villages, the robbers and kidnappers are committing the greatest excesses and depredations. Robberies and murders are of daily occurrence, and it has become unsafe to approach the gates of this city or visit the fashionable drives without a sufficient guard. The Mexico and Puebla Bail road has recently suffered three attacks from these banditti. The passengers were robbed of their arms, and in some instances of their money and jewelry. The station-house at Ometusco was attacked, pillaged, and burned, and several persons killed.
The revolution suppressed, the government will no doubt occupy itself in the destruction or dispersion of these outlaws.
I have, &c.,