Government and military commandancy of the free and independent state of Coahuila de Zaragoza., March 29, 1866

Government and military commandancy of the free and independent state of Coahuila de Zaragoza.

After the detailed account I gave the department on the 18th ultimo, I am now pleased to report another complete victory gained by our forces on the 1st instant, and the operations of my brigade and the northern cavalry under Colonel Geronimo Trevño.

On the 16th of February last a column of French forced me to evacuate Parras and take shelter in Laguna, to recruit there and finish the traitor Maximo Campos before the French could aid him. I did not succeed in this, because the traitors fled, and took a rapid circuit over the frontiers of Durango and Zacatecas, and then joined the French in Parras. I continued to watch that place while two French columns of eight or nine hundred men were approaching me from Durango and Chihuahua. I retained my position till the 27th February, when I heard that Geronimo Trevño and Francisco Naranjo were approaching Parras to aid me with their cavalry. I immediately divided my brigade into two columns, so as to march on Parras from different directions, and wait for the expected cavalry in the neighborhood. This was accordingly effected. On the morning of the first my first column joined Colonel Treviño’s cavalry at Santa Isabel, three leagues distant, having marched thirty leagues without stopping.

Two hours after camping, we heard firing in our front. At first I supposed it was an accidental skirmish, but I was soon informed that the enemy had made a formal attack upon our front. I soon agreed with Colonel Treviño upon a mode of defence, and in a very short time we were ready for the fight. Our advance of forty men, under Colonel Joaquin Garza Leal, bravely resisted the attack of 215 French and more than 400 traitors for two hours, and then fell back in good order to our camp, without the loss of a man.

We then attacked the enemy with two columns of infantry on the left flank, sent one forward in the centre, and a company of cavalry to the right. The fight soon became general; our brave men made an obstinate resistance, and finally put the enemy to flight, leaving the field strewn with the dead and wounded, their baggage scattered around, and many prisoners in our hands. The northern legion and Parras lancers pursued them for some distance, as you will learn from the enclosed report of Colonel Treviño. I also enclose a list of our losses, and those of the enemy, as well as a list of the French prisoners in our hands.

No victory could be more complete than ours on that glorious day, and I take great pleasure In congratulating the President of the republic on the happy influence this brilliant victory will have on our future operations.

The behavior of our officers and men was all that could be expected from gallant Mexicans fighting for their honor and the liberties of their country; every man did his duty; all shared equally the dangers and deprivations; and all rushed forward in full hope of the victory with which they were gloriously crowned.

I can make no special recommendations where all behaved in a manner to merit the praises of their countrymen, but I must not omit to mention Colonel Geronimo Treviño, Colonel Francisco Naranjo, and Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Perez Vilareal, who rendered themselves conspicuous for skilful management of their commands and their personal courage.

I make this communication for the information of the President of the republic.