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. 300.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish,
Mexico, March 25, 1872. (Received April 12.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a dispatch from the United States vice-consul at Zacatecas, Anthony M. Kimball, esq., dated the 11th instant, in which the late important military operations in that vicinity are described with interesting particulars not generally known.
I am, &c.,
Mr. Kimball to Mr. Nelson.
Zacatecas, March 11, 1872.
Sir: In due course I had the honor to receive your communication of 30th December returning my certificate of appointment as vice-consul, accompanied by the exequatur from the Mexican government. For your kindness in obtaining the last I beg to renew my thanks. The suspension of all communication with the capital, for more than a month past, had prevented me from giving you information regarding late and important events in this State; and although you will have been made acquainted with them through the press, I now proceed to lay before you some details connected therewith, which I think may not prove uninteresting. Toward the end of January, the belligerents occupied the following positions: Guerra, with one thousand eight hundred men, in Sombrerete; Garcia de la Cadena, with one thousand in Sierra Hermosa; Pedro Martinez with one thousand two hundred, in or near Chareas,(State of San Luis.) General Neri, with his brigade of three thousand men, composed of Federal and State troops, in about equal proportions, established his headquarters at Fresnillo, with the object of preventing a junction between Guerra and Cadena, but the former made a rapid march across Ner’s front, and reached the hacienda of Bañon on the 28th, thus placing himself on his right flank, and in close proximity to Cadena. Having missed his aim, Neri marched on the same day to Calera, (half-way between this and Fresnillo,) intending to retreat to this city, and to protect it against a coup de main on the part of Cadena. On the following morning he learned that Guerra had advanced from Bañon, and was [Page 407] moving in this direction. He immediately determined to intercept him, hoping to crush him before he should be re-enforced by either of his allies, and at 3 p.m. succeeded in coming up with him at Matapulgas, a small rancho distant about seven leagues from this city. The battle commenced at once, and was well contested for about three hours, when the day seemed to be lost for Guerra, who, with four hundred of his best men, had been made prisoners. However, Neri was wounded in the right foot, and, his horse having fallen with him, he received a very severe blow on the side that incapacitated him from any further share in the battle.
General Tolentino, the second in command, although personally exceedingly brave, (he had two horses killed under him.) was totally unlit to direct the maneuvers, and allowed the propitious moment to escape him. Just then the dust raised by the troops of Martinez and Cardena could be distinctly perceived, advancing across the plain at a furious rate.
The sight of them revived the sinking courage of Guerra’s men, and occasioned some-disorder among those of Neri. These, properly managed, could have stood their ground and faced the new assailants, but unfortunately two well-directed shells exploded in the midst of the Zacatecas cavalry, and the colonel, Mariano Diaz, immediately took to his heels, followed by all his men. This unlucky incident made Neri’s troops lose heart, and the disorder soon became a complete rout.
We received the news at 8 o’clock, and Governor Cosio, who had remained in town with a small garrison of three hundred infantry, had some idea of defending the city, but being made to see the folly of attempting it with the elements at his command, he at last determined to retreat to Aguas Calientes, and left at 2 a.m., taking with him the garrison, a small police force, and the civil employés, and, although closely followed by Martinez, kept up a running right, and made good his retreat. General Sanchez Ochoa, who was advancing with a re-enforcement of twelve hundred men, and had started from Aguas Calientes on the day of the battle, fell back on that place when he learned the state of affairs. The result of the battle was about one hundred and twenty killed, and two hundred wounded, the greater part being of Guerra’s men, and of the last fully two-thirds died afterwards.
The conquerors took possession of this place on the following day, named Don Trini-dad Garcia governor, and instituted a reign of terror unprecedented in the annals of Mexican revolutions, pressing into the ranks all the able-bodied men of the lower classes that they could catch, and extorting arms, horses, maize, cattle, &c., from all the haciendas and ranches within a radius of twenty-five leagues.
By this mail I send you some numbers of the official paper containing several curious documents, among them a decree of Guerra, levying a forced loan of $151,000, borne almost exclusively by the merchants, miners, and haciendados, residents of this city. Likewise a decree of Cadena, confiscating the property of his political enemies.
Treviño arrived here on the 9th, having left his force at Sierra Hermosa, (some twelve hundred men, mostly mounted riflemen,) from which place it marched to Salinas, halfway between this and San Luis. Justo Benitez, secretary to Porfirio Diaz, anet Lancaster Jones of Guadalajara, arrived a few days afterward, and had several long conferences with the military chieftains, in which it was proposed to reform the plan of the Novia, and to proclaim Mr. Lerdo president. This proposition came from Lancaster-Jones, and was warmly seconded by Martinez and Cadena, but was opposed by Guerra and Treviño, who, no doubt, considered themselves better entitled to the presidency. They could come to no arrangement; and the only result of the conferences was the appointment of Treviño as commander-in-chief. The forces, increased to eight thousand men, exclusive of Treviño’s men, commenced leaving for San Luis on the 8th; the last detachment, led by Guerra, starting on the 15th; Cadena remained here for the purpose of raising more troops, and of embargoing the property of those persons who had not paid their share of the forced loan. On the 26th we learned that Treviño was in full retreat before General Rocha, and would arrive that day at Aguas Calientes. He made thence a rapid march, and reached Guadalupe (one league from this) early, in the morning of the 29th.
All the rebel generals entered this city on the following day, and immediately made preparations for a battle. I counted the force as it marched in, and it numbered three thousand infantry, two thousand cavaly, with six heavy and twelve light pieces of artillery. Here they were re-enforced by the garrison of the town, a number of guerrillas and seven hundred convicts from the jail, in all about fifteen hundred men. Martinez, took position in the center, on the “Bolsas” hill, that commands the road from Guada-loupe. Guerra on the left, at the “Bufa,” a large and steep hill immediately at the back of the town; Cadena, with the cavalry, on some eminences to the right. Trevino established his headquarters at the citadel. Rocha slept at Refugio (seven leagues distant) on the 1st, arrived at Guadaloupe the next day at 1 p.m., and ordered the attack at once, without giving his troops a moment’s rest. His cavalry he posted to the left, to keep in check that under Cadena. General Corella, with some infantry, six 36 and four 12 pounders, took position on a slight rise of ground half way between Guadaloupe and “Bolsas,” and opened a heavy fire on Martinez. Fuero, with two battalions [Page 408] of infantry and three light pieces of artillery, was ordered to march up to the Bufa, but was met by a terrific tire of artillery and musketry, that completely staggered his columns, which, being attacked at the same moment in the rear by some cavalry under Naranjo, were thrown into great disorder, and had to abandon the artillery. It was a critical moment, but Rocha was equal to the occasion.
Calling up the reserve, he placed himself at the head of the troops, and marched steadily up the hill, despite a murderous fire, carrying the position by assault. Martinez had held his ground, and twice had even attempted to attack Corolla’s position, but his columns, when about half way, had to recoil before the deadly fire of grape from Corella’s artillery. At 6 o’clock he withdrew the remnant of his forces and most of his artillery, and joined Cadena, who, with the cavalry, had taken no part in the battle. The official report is not yet published, and there are many contradictory accounts regarding the losses, but as far as I can judge there were between three and four hundred killed, and twice as many wounded. Prisoners, about four hundred, all the principal leaders escaping. Cadena, with his “guerrilleros,” made for his old haunts in the southern part of this State. Trevino, Guerra, and Martinez arrived with two thousand men at Mezquite, eight leagues beyond Fresnillo, and there separated, Trevino taking the road to Saltillo, Guerra to Durango, and Martinez to Catorce. A party of two hundred and fifty cavalry, under Colonel Ordonez, has been sent in pursuit of Cadena. Corella with his forces left yesterday evening for San Luis, and Rocha, with his division and the Guanajuato forces, left to-day for Durango. It is deeply to be regretted that the insubordination and love of pillage on the part of some of the Guanajuato troops should have cast an indelible stain on this brilliant victory.
On the taking of the Bufa, a party of them, without officers, rushed into the principal streets, and commenced firing at the doors of the shops. They got into and sacked the hat-shop of Messrs. Langmack Sue’s, (German,) the grocery of Minjounet, (French,) two pawnbroker’s, (Mexican,) and several small shops and dwelling-houses in the suburbs. Many shots were fired at the door of the mint, but, fortunately being a very strong one, it baffled all the efforts of the assailants.
Mr. Minjounet, in the absence of a French official representative, and considering himself under the friendly protection of the United States, addressed himself to me in order to bring his application for redress before the Mexican authorities. Herewith I have the honor to hand you copies of the documents to which this painful incident has given origin; No. 1 being Mr. Minjounet’s communication to me; No. 2, mine to General Rocha, and No. 3, that gentleman’s reply. My action has been limited to a recommendation of the case, and I hope it will be approved by you. The courteous terms in which the general’s communication is worded leads me to expect that the Mexican government will award prompt and full indemnity to the sufferer.
I am, &c.,