Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 295.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Nelson.

Department of State,
Washington, March 5, 1872.

No. 229.]

Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Secretary of War, dated the 27th ultimo, and of a report, by which it is accompanied, from the commanding officer of Fort Davis, Texas, in relation to the crossing of armed bands of Mexicans into that State. You are requested to lay these papers before the minister for foreign affairs of the Mexican government, and to express the expectation of this Government that the Mexican government, upon becoming acquainted with the facts, will hasten to disavow this violation of the territory of the United States, and will take means to prevent the recurrence of any similar acts.

I am, &c.

HAMILTON FISH.

[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Belknap to Mr. Fish.

War Department,
Washington City, February 27, 1872. (Received March 1.)

Sir: The inclosed copy of a communication from the commanding officer of Fort Davis, Texas, reporting that armed bodies of Mexicans have crossed the border into the territory of the United States, is respectfully transmitted for your information, and such consideration as you may feel disposed to give it.

Very respectfully,

WM. W. BELKNAP,
Secretary of War.

[Inclosure 2.]

Colonel Shaffer to Major Wood.

Headquarters, Fort Davis, Texas,
January 25, 1872.

Sir: I have the honor to report that while at Del Norte, Mexico, last week, I learned that a scout of sixty Mexicans from the vicinity of San Diego, a small town about thirty miles from Chihuahua, Mexico, had crossed to this side of the river about 1st of January, and were following the trail of a party of Indians, that had stolen a lot of horses at San Diego, toward the Guadalupe Mountains, in New Mexico. The Mexicans came up with the Indians in the mountains north of Eagle Spring, (a stage-stand on the road to Quitman,) but failed to recover any stock. They then went into camp, and shortly after two Indians appeared, and left a paper for the Mexicans, which they got. This paper was a pass, signed by the agent at Fort Stanton, for two Indians, and stated they were out for the purpose of getting Apache Indians to come into Stanton and make peace. As the Mexicans were out of rations, their captain left them in camp, and returned to Del Norte for rations and a guide. He showed the paper referred to to Mr. Milton Favar, a very reliable gentleman living about sixty miles from here and near Del Norte, and told him that he had been furnished some aid from the Government in the way of arms, &c., and had been ordered to follow the Indians by the governor of Chihuahua, and that he was only obeying orders in crossing to this side. I immediately returned to this post for the purpose of making a scout to capture these Mexicans, but the day after I returned they were met by the stage about eighty miles west of this post and but thirty miles from the Rio Grande, which they would probably cross the same day they were met. There was, therefore, no attempt made to capture them. This is the second large scout that has been on this side of the river in the last six months, and it is quite probable that others will be made during the spring. I very respectfully request instructions as to the course I am to pursue toward scouts from Mexico who enter the United States without permission from proper authority.

I am, &c.,

• W. E. SHAFTER,
  Lieutenant-Colonel, Twenty-fourth Infantry, Commanding Post.
• Major H. Clay Wood,
  Assistant Adjutant-General. Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.

[Inclosure 3.]

General Augur to Colonel Shafter.

Headquarters Department of Texas, Office of Assistant Adjutant-General,
San Antonio, Texas, February 2, 1872.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo, respecting the body of Mexicans that crossed into this country, in pursuit of Indians, and asking instructions in such cases. In reply, the commanding general directs me to say that you will pursue and capture, if possible, any armed body of Mexicans that come into our territory. Should you succeed in capturing any, hold them prisoners, and report the facts to these headquarters.

I am, &c.,

• J. A. AUGUR,
  Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
• Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. Shafter,
  Twenty-fourth Infantry, commanding Fort Davis. Texas.

[Indorsement.]

Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri,
Chicago, February 22, 1872.

Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army, for the information of the Secretary of War.

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

Adjutant-General’s Office,
Washington, February 26, 1872.

Official copies:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant-General.

The Honorable Secretary of State.