Edward L. Plumb to William H. Seward, April 20, 1868

Mr. Plumb to Mr Seward.

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,

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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.,