No. 298.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, March 18, 1872. (Received April 2.)
Sir: On the 2d Instant General Rocha met the insurgent forces at La Bufa, two miles from the city of Zacatecas, and after a hard-fought battle succeeded in completely dispersing them with the loss of their artillery and of more than two thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners. According to the bulletin of General Rocha, the insurgents numbered nine thousand, while his own forces were only five thousand, his reserve being a day’s march in the rear. The revolutionists were commanded by all their principal chiefs, including Treviño, Pedro Martinez, Guerra, and Garcia de la Oadena, who fled in different directions with but a few hundreds of cavalry. The two former took the direction of the Texan frontier, Guerra that of Durango, and Garcia de la Cadena sought refuge in the mountains of Zacatecas. This blow may be considered as decisive of the fate of the revolution. General Rocha is now marching against Durango, and General Corella against Saltillo. Order has been nearly restored in the States of San Luis, Zacatecas, and [Page 405] Aguas Calientes, and the pacification of Durango, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon will probably be accomplished very soon.
The numerous hordes of insurgents, largely composed of professional bandits, who find shelter in the mountains of Puebla and have several times attacked the railroad, have determined the government to declare martial law in the State of Puebla, under the administration of General Alatorre, The division under his command has been conveniently distributed throughout the State, and will doubtless soon reduce it to order. The States of Durango, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon have also been placed under martial law as a preliminary to their expected reconquest.
The uncertainty which has existed for two months as to the whereabouts of Porfirio Diaz is at last terminated by the announcement that he has arrived at New York.
The expedition that left Manzanillo under the orders of Colonel Saavedra, to attack Mazatlan, completely failed, the whole force having been captured by the insurgents.
On the northern frontier, the rebel General Quiroga has successively taken the towns of Guerrero, Mier, Camargo, and Reynosa, all ports on the Rio Grande. The southern portion of the State of Vera Cruz continues in a disturbed condition.
A considerable force of rebels was repulsed from San Andres Toxtla on the 29th ultimo, with the loss of two hundred men. At latest advices, the port of Minatitlan had also been attacked by a rebel force, probably from Acayucam, but had driven back the assailants, killing their chief. The local revolution in Tabasco continues to cause alarm to the State government. The second regular session of the Mexican congress will begin on the first of April, and the “preparatory juntas” on the 20th instant. Interesting discussions are expected upon the financial policy of Minister Romero’s late decrees.
I am, &c.,