Mr. Plumb to Mr
Seward.
No. 114.]
Legation of the United States,
City of Mexico,
April 20, 1868.
Sir: In the rebellions that have taken place in
the State of Yucatan, the State of Guerrero, and the State of Sinaloa,
local questions had been urged as the only motives for revolt, and the
leaders in each movement have protested that they still respected the
existing federal government.
Now, however, the flag of another revolution has been raised in this
State, and the leader puts forward the name of Jesus Gonzales Ortega,
formerly chief justice of the supreme court, whom he claims is now the
legitimate President of the republic.
The nominal leader of this movement, General Negrete, is a man who has
belonged to all parties, and was for a time, during the intervention,
minister of war of President Juarez. He has as yet apparently only a few
hundred men, while his chief, Gonzales Ortega, is held a prisoner by the
government, at Monterey.
With proper energy the movement should instantly be suppressed; but what
danger there is lies in the fact that in the present state of discontent
all of the disaffected are ready to rally under any plausible flag of
revolt, and it is believed there are those even now occupying seats in
congress who would be willing to support Ortega for the purpose of
opposing President Juarez and his present cabinet.
I transmit to the department herewith translation of communications
published in the Diario Oficial, addressed to the minister of war,
giving an account of two reported actions with Negrete’s forces, and of
the proposed plan of this movement.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Pronunciamento of Negrete in favor of Gonzales Ortega.
[From the Diario Oficial, city of
Mexico, April 12,
1868.—Translation.]
We publish the following official communication from Colonel
Contreras, and also a private letter from that officer to the
minister of war.
The government had before sent forces to pursue the bands which
Negrete has united, and on learning the present occurrences it has
immediately taken the proper measures.
General Velez left this city to-day with additional forces, which,
united with those sent before, will make the pursuit effective.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, CORPS OF LANCERS OF
TOLUCA—COLONEL-IN-CHIEF.
As I announced to you in my private communication of this morning, I
made my entry into this place at two o’clock in the afternoon. At
three, in union with General Galvan, we went out to reconnoiter the
suburbs, and outside of the town, in the direction of San
[Page 453]
Antonio, towards the east,
we discovered a body of cavalry to the number of two hundred and
fifty men, under the command of General Negrete, (as we were
afterwards informed,) marching upon the place. In the act we
countermarched and arrived in the midst of them at the quartel.
The enemy made his principal attack upon this point. Violently
organizing a column of thirty men on foot, under my immediate
orders, I charged and they were repulsed. Once this was attained,
the heights were occupied, and the enemy in his flight occupied the
hill of Tezontle, which has been fortified since the time of the
empire.
The attack lasted from the hour mentioned until dark.
In our force we have to lament the death of Colonel Manuel Robles,
and four wounded and three dead of the troops,
I do not know the loss of the enemy, as he availed of the darkness to
retire, leaving in our hands four horses and five muskets.
Independence and liberty!
Tulancingo, April 9,
1868.
GERMAN CONTRERAS.
To the Minister of War,
Mexico.
[Untitled]
Respected Sir: I have reported to you
officially what occurred in the passage of arms which took place
to-day, and I have now to refer to the information I have obtained
from a captain and a sergeant who were made prisoners by the enemy
on Monday last, and placed at liberty in the night of yesterday by
General Negrete.
The latter formed all his force on the plains of San Antonio, and,
haranguing them, proclaimed for Jesus Gonzales Ortega as legitimate
President of the republic, for the true constitution of 1857, and
death to the tyrant Juarez and the bandits who surround him.
He placed at liberty the officers, prisoners, telling them not to
sustain the usurpers or they would afterwards regret it, as he had
more than sufficient elements with which to make war upon the
government.
I am informed by the same officers that he is occupied in organizing
a battalion in the barancas of San Antonio, Buena Vista, some twelve
leagues from this place, and that he is already in considerable
force. It is said among them that they expect General Gutierrez,
with forty officers, for the complete organization of their forces,
and also that they expect a battalion from this capital will join
them.
I have this moment learned that they drew off to feed their animals,
and they will renew the attack. I have already taken the necessary
precautions to frustrate their further attempts.
Without anything more for the present, I repeat that I am,
&c.,
General Ignacio Mejia,
Mexico.
[From the Diario Oficial, of April
19, 1868.—Translaton.]
Force operating against the insurgents.
Department of War, National Army–General-in-Chief.
Under date of the 15th instant Colonel German Contreras reports to me
as follows:
“I place in your knowledge that at three o’clock of the afternoon of
to-day, this place, garrisoned by the corps under my orders, was
attacked by the united bands under the command of Negrete, led by
Luis Leon, Soto Mayor, Roz, Noriega, and Antonio C., to the number
of two hundred and fifty cavalry and seventy infantry, taking
possession of the hill of Tezontle, a point fortified since the time
of the so-called empire. After three hours of firing the enemy drew
off in the direction of Acasuchitlan. Notwithstanding, until this
moment I have remained awaiting his movements, and disposed to
resist whatever attempt they may again make upon the place.
“The loss of the enemy I cannot state to you at this moment with due
detail, but by the marks of blood left in the place they occupied,
it must be considerable.
“As soon as I get the data I will give you the full details.
“On our part we have had no loss whatever.”
And I transcribe the same to you for your information, having the
honor to state to you that no other incident has occurred.
Independence and liberty!
Tulancingo, April 17,
1868.
FRANCISCO A. VELEZ,
The Minister of War,
Mexico.
