Escobar Y Armendariz to Matias Romero, October 27, 1865

Mr. Escobar to Mr. Romero

Much Esteemed Friend: On the 16th of September a mass was said at the tomb of Hidalgo, attended by the greater part of the citizens of Chihuahua. The ladies clad in mourning, a flag at half-mast, and black crape in token of a nation’s mourning, and that of the State for the death of the young governor, Ojuraga, were the sole adornments of the altar; tears and flowers were the offerings to Hidalgo.

This was worth more than a victory to the national cause, although I was the victim. I was dining with twenty of my friends, on the evening of the 16th, celebrating, in our way, the anniversary of independence, when the police fell upon us, with orders to arrest me—me only—as the leader of the movement; but my friends would not leave me, but all agreed to go to prison with me. Then the judge came, seized our flag, the prime offence, and sent us to jail, where we remained eight days, when all were set at liberty but me, who had to pay a fine of one thousand dollars. General Brincourt sentenced me to one month’s close confinement at hard labor, and could not be induced to release me, though the merchants liberally offered large sums of money to procure my discharge. So I had to sweep the streets for a month; at first the square, and then the street where the general lived. Ladies came out to give me flowers, and I was having a good time in the streets where I had to work, when, to stop it, an order was issued, commanding any lady to be taken to prison who offered me flowers, or any other attention; and the time was discounted, and 1 had to begin again every time I admitted such attentions. So these attentions were postponed till I should be liberated; but, alas, who could tell when that would be? When my term of service was out, instead of being set at liberty, I received an order of banishment because (and the judge read the despatch to me) I had openly refused to submit to the empire. In fact, I had told the general frankly I could not adhere to a government so opposed to my principles, particularly when he had said he would respect opposing opinions, and not prosecute those who entertained them; and he positively promised, after confessing that I was subject to no penalty for what I had said, that I should not be molested provided I kept the peace. This was necessary, as I had to be tried by court-martial on the 1st of this month if I did not present myself. The fact is, I am yet in prison, waiting for my order to depart, without knowing where I am to go; but most probably with the general and his troops, who have begun to evacuate to-day, and will all be gone by the day after to-morrow. Mazatlan has also been evacuated; the object seems to be to concentrate the forces against the firm resistance of the native patriots. All the government officials of the empire leave with the French, as they would not be safe a single day without them. They have a great dislike to me, and who knows what is to become of me in their hands? My friends think me in great danger, but I can remain calm and firm, and will not hesitate an instant, as I consider it my holy duty to resist. If they release me, I will instantly quit them. I greet you with, my friends. I have time for no more; it is scarcely prudent to do this.

Adieu, my good friend; and may our country remain independent.