No. 300.
Mr. Schuchardt to Mr. Hunter.
Piedras Negras, Mexico, January 10, 1872. (Rec’d Feb.16.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the Department, the copy of a letter directed to me by Messrs. Harrison and Bronaugh, both respectable citizens of the United States, residing in the district of Monclova, about one hundred and fifty miles from here. The Lieutenant Colonel Bueno mentioned in said letter is the same who is the second in command of the force which now occupies this place, and what he has done to the writers of said letter is only a small wrong in comparison with the outrages he has committed since he occupied this place. Before this band arrived here all the people fledto the Texas side, having received the news how these men had depredated on the towns they came through. Like in other places through which they came, all mercantile establishments of this place were forced open and the goods disposed of to the benefit of the few commanders. Goods of all descriptions, billiard-tables, house-furniture, and ornaments are sold at very low prices; and I am sorry to say that citizens from the Texas side were the buyers, knowing how all this property was obtained.
By Bueno’s order, also, the house of an American citizen was broken into and a quantity of corn and other things appropriated, and, although I wrote twice to the commander, requesting the payment for the articles so taken, he never answered to my request.
When this plundering commenced several United States citizens themselves, and the attorneys of others, made application at this office, in order to protect their goods against this pillaging, to certify their property being that of United States citizens, and seal the rooms where such property was stored. After having scrupulously examined the claims establishing their citizenship, I proceeded to render the service requested from me, sealed several doors and fastened to each door so sealed a certified notice expressing the character of the goods contained in the respective rooms.
These seals were respected so long as there was any Mexican establishment left to be sacked, but this source being exhausted, they did go so far in their licentious practice as to break my official seals. One Jesus Cantee, who undertook this act of violation, was warned by the man who guards the rooms, and notified that if he had to enter the rooms he had to first call on me to remove the seal, as only myself could remove it. This warning was insultingly disregarded by Cantee, who stated he was ordered by Pedro A. Valdes to proceed in the manner he did.
I have reason to believe that, after such violation took place by breaking seals, the next will be the breaking into the houses so sealed and sacking of the American property stored therein; and I cannot see how I can protect the same against a band of outlaws who are reigning now in this town in the name of the legitimate government of Mexico. These men know well that their force is the only so called government force left in the State, and know also well that they cannot hold this place long, and it seems to be their intention to harvest while they are in possession of it. They have made all preparations to go across the river in the event this place is attacked by the revolutionists, but before may destroy the town by fire, through the dangerous works they have made in defense of the place.
[Page 700]A part of the cotton detained in Eagle Pass is crossing now below that place, through the lines of the revolutionists, by consent of Valdes, who received, for his permit to cross, one hundred and fifty bales, the sum of $240. Pedro A. Valdes, the representative of the legitimate government, having thus been satisfied, the collector of customs at Eagle Pass objected no longer to allow this cotton to be exported outside of his port, although full duties must be paid to revolutionists. These trains were detained on the Texas side over twenty days, and their expenses amount to thousands of dollars.
Colonel Falcon, the chief of the revolutionists, is three miles distant from this place, and it is reported that his force is a very large one, and that his intention is, in order to avoid bloodshed, not to attack, but besiege the town until Valdes surrenders or goes to the Texas side. The men of Valdes being not paid and very badly cared for, desert in great numbers to the Texas side. For each impressed man it takes the vigilance of another to prevent his desertion.
By this unfortunate struggle, this and the adjoining districts are ruined for many years to come; particularly this town, by the acts of Valdes, is reduced to poverty. Men who were transacting a fair business are ruined entirely; not only have they lost all they had, but also their credit, by not being able to pay their debts, and not even the hope of a new starts remains to them. Many of these men will probably engross the files of professional revolutionists, with the intention to repay themselves in revolutions for what they have lost through them.
I am, &c.,
United States Commercial Agent.