Republican army–Eastern line–General-in-Chief., October 25, 1866

Republican army–Eastern line–General-in-Chief.

Citizen Minister: After my fight with the Hungarians at Nochistlan, on the 23d of September, as you know, I came to this place by Teozacualco and Peras. As soon as my movement was known at Oaxaca, Oronoz was sent out alter me, with 1,100 men, and came in sight at half-past three in the afternoon of the 3d instant. As the enemy marched rapidly, I sallied out with my escort to find a place for the infantry on the Nogales hills, west of the town, while General Vicente Ramos held the enemy at bay with his cavalry. Then, with the infantry of Colonel Manuel Gonzales to support me, I located my artillery as follows: The line of battle extended from north to south; the Morelos battalion of 100 men, under Juan J. Cano, was on the right; the mountain sharpshooters, under Felipe Cruz, with 230 men, came next: and the Patria battalion of 96 men, under Colonel José Segura y Guzman, closed the left. On the right was the Chiantla company of 80 men; the battalion of loyal countrymen came next, consisting of 130 men, under José G. Carbo. The line thus established, General Ramos passed through the town and left thirty armed citizens, under Captain Apolinar Garcia, to protect it.

To prevent the cavalry from being molested I ordered forty mountain riflemen and the inhabitants to hide in the fields adjoining the town. The cavalry passed on the right to the rear of our line, while the enemy kept on till he got in front of our line on the hills of Yolveo and the Matadero; there, forming into three columns, he opened the combat with artillery. Our riflemen bravely sustained the first onset of the enemy, who, thus stopped, profited by the unevenness of the ground to continue the fight as he retreated.

Seeing the great number of the enemy, I enforced my line with the rest of the Chiantla company and twenty of the Tlapa battalion, under Colonel Juan Espinosa Gorostiza. The fight then became general along the line, and, as our ammunition was giving out, I ordered an assault on the enemy’s position, and gained a complete victory. Determined upon this I ordered the riflemen across the river, and ranged the rest of my forces into columns; General Ramos, with the Tepeji squadron, marched to the rear of Oronoz, so that the enemy was completely surrounded. Then I gave the signal of advance, and placed myself at the head of a column formed of the battalion of Fieles and the Pueblo lancers. Colonel Espinosa soon joined me, and we advanced together. Colonel Gonzalez and Juan de la Luz Enriquez marched to attack the right flank. Our troops overcame all obstacles, and advanced straight in front of the enemy; took his artillery, turned it against him, and gained a complete but hard-earned victory. Ramos took the rear with his cavalry, and executed such a rapid movement that the enemy could not escape.

The scattered enemy was pursued for three leagues, throwing away his arms; the quantity of which you will perceive by the annexed report, as well as the killed, wounded, and prisoners on both sides, with the munitions, baggage, and pack-mules.

I am pleased to inform you that the chiefs, officers, and men behaved with signal gallantry on the occasion, and I can make no special commendations.

The traitor officers taken prisoners were shot, in accordance with the law of the 25th of January, 1862. Their names and rank are given in the subjoined list. Some of them were the same that went over to the enemy at the last siege of Oaxaca.

I spent the 4th and 5th in this place, reorganizing my forces, enlisting the prisoners taken, and arming the rest of my men with the arms that were captured. I also formed a hospital, and then reviewed my entire force. I start for Oaxaca to-day; it is already in possession of Colonel Felix Diaz, and the enemy is confined to Santo Domingo, Carmen, and Cerro de la Soledad.

I have sent for General Luis P. Figueroa and Colonel Lopez Orozco, with their respective commands.