in their language to Señor Ainza, who said to me "These men say they notified the town that their coming is not with the intention of doing harm to any one; that they are in search of friends, and not of enemies; and that the business which brings them is further on, and not here, and that it is not as has been represented by some Mexicans and Americans, who arrived before them." At the same time he disclosed to me that he was very short of provisions for his followers; that he would regard it a favor to obtain a carga of flour; that it did suit him to hunt for it, as it was not necessary to part with it in case more than twenty dollars was wanted for it; that that was what he paid for a carga. Finally I spoke to Don José Mendez, the only person who had two cargas, but he refused to sell it at this price, and said it was worth twenty-four dollars. That was his price, which I informed this chieftain. They got angry when I told them, and went to the house of Mendez, as I also did. Finally, at the persuasion of Ainza, he gave them a carga at twenty-one dollars. After he had sent it to them they said they would take it by force. At this moment a son of Mendez came from the valley, and told his father that the Americans had shot three head of cattle. He at once went to see them, and I followed. The statement was very true. Mendez recognized the cattle, one by the brand, another as belonging to Don Juan Ma. Gortaris, and another to young Arco, an Indian. Finally, he went and charged them twenty dollars for each head; they replied that it was all right, and that the cattle would be paid for by the great captain, who was behind. Thereupon I asked them if the two who were on the rancho were not captains, and they told me they were, but only small ones. The great captain brings plenty of gold; we have killed the cattle because we are very hungry. Reflecting on this, I went and showed the two commanders that their people were killing cattle, that they had shot three; they replied that the value of them would be paid on the arrival of the rest of their people, and that the persons who had committed the offence would be punished. In fine, they they have been arriving here all day. I have counted, from yesterday up to this morning at 8 o'clock, fifty-five men, armed, as I have before said. About this there is no doubt, as I have seen for myself, unless the remainder who are behind with their wagon should be differently armed. I suppose the thirty-three who are missing will arrive to-day, because they say there are eighty-eight of them. They have arrived very scatteringly. They have probably brought nothing but their arms, which were all fired off on the road. From themselves I learn that to-morrow they will proceed to Quitovaes, in the direction of Caborca. I am of opinion they will do this because of the scarcity of provisions here, and also because of the disabled who have arrived. They have made their quarters at the house of Don Jesus Estrella, and some at the house of Ainza. When encamped they are in the habit of using much vigilance, placing a sufficient number of sentinels; but on the road, I am informed by Pedro Cubata, they move with great disorder. They do not march like Mexican troops, but move along the road in scattering parties. But all along the road they have continued to exercise their arms while on the march. Yesterday and to-day it has been reported that the commanding general of this party is a brother-in-law of Ainza; but this I have not been able to prove, because when I ask if it is so, they are annoyed at it; for which reason I suppose it is true, but they do not want it to be known. This is all that has occurred thus far; if nothing prevents me, I am prepared to accompany them to Quitobac, to see what else I can learn, and report to your excellency, in order for whatever may be MEXICAN REPUBLIC.-OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE STATE OF SONORA, MEXICAN REPUBLIC.-GOVERNMENT OF SONORA. SONI, March 22, 1857. RESPECTED SIR: In regard to the mission which brings him to El Pozo, I could not learn anything for which I cared but what will shortly be communicated to you by the gentleman charged with delivering the cattle. Every one thinks it is cattle for the party that he comes for now, as the filibusters are certainly already in Sonoyta, and have killed cattle without paying for them, and done many other things which will shortly be reported to you in an official communication they are sending you. I tender you the aid of my services, and, at the same time, those of some forty odd other men whom I have detained here. I await your orders, and desire you to state the fact to his excellency the governor. The shortness of paper prevents me from giving you full particulars; in the meantime I am your very humble and very obedient servant, Señor Don MIGUEL REDONDO. А сору. A copy. CAMILO SILVAS. URES, March 28, 1857. C. RAMIREZ, Secretary. GUAYMAS, March 31, 1857. MARIANO MONTERDE, Secretary. No. 15. OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE STATE OF SONORA. Prefecture of the district of San Ignacio. SAN IGNACIO, March 27, 1857. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: After writing to your excellency the official note which is enclosed, I received by extraordinary express from the prefecture of El Altar an official communication, in which I am advised that the filibusters are now in Sonoyta, and assistance is asked from me, as it is thought the enemy are prosecuting their march into the interior. I waited at once on the commandant of the line, Don Manuel Elias, who is at Imuris, as well as on the lieutenant commandant, Don Manuel Romero, handing to the latter a packet which that prefecture had sent to him. I urged on the former that either he or Romero should take up the line of march for El Altar, with such a force as could be raised. At Cucurpe, Tuape, and the towns on this river of San Ignacio, I invited persons to be ready on Sunday, the 29th, in the Magdalen; and it is my intention that the whole auxiliary force shall set out under the orders of that commander. Once more I remind your excellency that there are in this district neither arms nor munitions of subsistence and of war, especially none of the latter. An extreme scarcity of food prevails among these towns, owing to an absolute failure of grain; for which reason I entreat your excellency to provide these indispensables for the force which is going into the field. God and liberty. His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, Ures. A copy. A copy. JOSÉ ELIAS. URES, March 28, 1857. C. RAMIREZ, Secretary. GUAYMAS, March 31, 1857. MARIANO MONTERDE, Secretary. No. 16. OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE STATE OF SONORA. Prefecture of the district of San Ignacio. SAN IGNACIO, March 23, 1857. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: One of the spies whom I have at Calabazas has, under date of the 19th instant, stated to me, among other matters, the following: "In regard to my instructions about the filibusters, two hundred of them are on this side of the Colorado, and they say that five hundred more are coming by sea. Of those who are coming by land, an American of this camp, who has just arrived, has informed me that at Tuezon he learned it from four Americans, who arrived there, belonging to that force; from which it is calculated they will march in about the end of the month." I received this news day before yesterday, and to-day Don Joaquin Quiroa has communicated to me that an American told him that he learned from those who are living at Calabazas and Tubac, that they are going to enter near the garrison of Imuris, three leagues to the north of this town. I employ myself in gathering the data which is sent to me from the various localities in regard to the number of available men and arms, in order that I may communicate the facts to your excellency, as you have requested; and, from what I have gathered thus far, I notice that arms are much wanting, and that there are absolutely no munitions. Therefore, I entreat your excellency that you will be pleased to order these frontier towns to be provided for, so that they may be able to resist the movements of the invaders, and make war on them incessantly until our nationality shall be assured. I shall not relax my labors for an instant, for in the hearts of my fellow-citizens are preserved the patriotic fire and the enthusiasm which I inspire. God and liberty. MEXICAN REPUBLIC.-OFFICE OF COMMANDING GENERAL AND OF INSPECTION FOR THE STATE OF SONORA. GUAYMAS, March 31, 1857. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: The communication of your excellency, dated at Ures on the 28th, and sent to me by extraordinary express, informs me that the filibusters have commenced their hostilities in the district of El Altar, as well as of the measures which you have adopted to send forward forces to restrain and punish them. Notwithstanding the steps which your excellency has taken are most appropriate and conformable to the art of war, I must not omit to recommend to you the propriety of fighting in detail these bands of pirates, without giving them a chance to unite; and this may be done by means of surprises, taking advantage of their moments of rest and other favorable opportunities which present themselves, forming ambuscades to wait for them at the water-courses, trying to cut off their retreat, and, in fine, making war on them with all advantages and probabilities of success without compromitting the lustre of the nation's arms. God and liberty. LOUIS NORIEGA. His Excellency DON IGNACIO PESQUEIRA, А сору. Copies. GUAYMAS, March 31, 1857. MARIANO MONTERDE, Secretary. PORT OF MAZATLAN, April 10, 1857. FRANCISCO CARRERO, Secretary. MEXICAN REPUBLIC.-GENERAL-IN-CHIEF OF THE FORCES OF THE WESTERN STATES. No. 134.] PORT OF MAZATLAN, April 10, 1857. MOST EXCELLENT SIR: By extraordinary express I transmit to your excellency a copy of the communications which the commanding general of Sonora has sent to me through a vessel which anchored yesterday in this port, and through another which arrived this morning, both from Guaymas, in relation to a vanguard of one hundred men, under command of the American, Mr. Henry A. Crabb, a brotherin-law of the Ainzas of Sonora, which body of men are now in the territory of the nation, committing hostilities on the settlements in the district of El Altar, on the frontier of the State of Sonora ; while at the same time there has started a body of nine hundred adventurers, who by various modes of conveyance, as we know from evidence, are on their way to unfold the plan of the premeditated invasion by attacking different points at once, as will probably also be attempted in the port of Guaymas, in the neighborhood of which has been descried a vessel suspected of belonging to that expedition. The printed letter which I enclose to your excellency, and which was addressed by Crabb to the prefect of El Altar, in its insolent language, and the defiance which it flings at a town of the republic, evidently reveals the unlawful intentions of those persons, and their firm purpose to consummate the aggression which they have begun to commit against the most sacred rights and the integrity of the national territory. |