seizure of the gunboats—official report of major ramirez., October 2

seizure of the gunboats—official report of major ramirez.

To his excellency the Minister of War:

I take this occasion to inform your excellency of my violent arrest by Col. Erasmus Obligado on the night of the 23d ultimo, and the events which followed.

On the evening of the 23d I was at the end of the passenger-mole, about to go on board the vessel of which I was in command, when I met Colonel Obligado just coming ashore, and as he was to sail next day for Bahia Blanca he begged me to accompany him to the play at the Victoria Theater, and that afterwards I would go with him aboard the Uruguay to give him some explanations about the port of Bahia Blanca, as he had never been there before, and needed some information. I readily acceded to his request, as a brother officer, and after the play we went together to the passenger-mole, where Colonel Obligado’s boat was waiting for him.

Having pulled alongside the Uruguay, Colonel Obligado asked me to go up first, and the moment I set foot on the deck a man with his face covered said to me, “You’re my prisoner, Mr. Commandante,” at the same time putting a pistol to my breast, and twenty men with Remington rifles pointing at me from the bulwarks, and ordering me not to say a word.

I was so stupefied that I could not stir nor speak, whereupon Alberto Legui (the same who had arrested me) and Major Correa took me by either arm down to Colonel Obligado’s cabin and put two sentinels over me, with directions to shoot me if I made the least movement.

There I was kept in prison till next day, when they abandoned the Uruguay, as she was aground, and removed me under eight or ten armed men to the other gunboat, the Parana, here they put me under lock and key, with two sentries outside the door, and orders not to let me even open the skylight, lest I should observe their movements or the course they were steering.

In this manner I was detained close prisoner till Sunday afternoon, (27th September,) at 3.30 p.m., when Major Correa opened the door and told me I might go ashore at Colonia, as General Gelly was there waiting for me.

Landing at Colonia wharf, I met General Gelly, who received me very kindly, and took me to his hotel. There for the first time I met my loyal subalterns who had been put ashore on San Gabriel Island (in front of Colonia) without money, clothing, or food. I had not expected that Colonel Obligado would have treated so badly the officers of the Parana.

On Monday (28th) the English steamer Silex called at Colonia, and I had everything arranged to proceed in her to Montevideo. Fearing some fresh outrage from Colonel Obligado, I went to the British consulate to ask if the British flag of the Silex would protect me.

The English consul was not at his house, but I met there Don German Elizalde, who asked me my business, and when I told him, he led me into an adjoining room, where General Mitre was still in bed. The general praised my conduct as a soldier, and spoke to me most friendly, offering to do me any service in his power. I told him I was in want of nothing. In fact, the Argentine vice-consul on hearing of my arrival, had put himself at my orders, and lent me $40 to pay our passage tickets to Montevideo.

At 4.30 p.m. we arrived at Montevideo, where I at once presented myself to the Argentine consul-general, and informed him of all that occurred on board the gunboats Uruguay and Parana.

On Wednesday, 30th, I embarked in the Galileo and returned to Buenos Ayres, being accompanied by my lieutenant, D. Valentin Felberg, my sublieutenants José Monteros and Juan Ostaño, and the cadet Basualdo. The doctor of nay ship was detained prisoner on board the Parana.

From the moment of my arrest I never afterwards saw Colonel Obligado, except when they were removing me from the Uruguay to the Parana, but although he saw me he did not speak to me. Besides the officers who guarded me the only one that spoke to me was Major Correa, who told me the reason of my arrest was, that they wanted to seize the gunboat Parana, as she was indispensable for them, in order to keep the command of the rivers for the revolutionary party. He added that they had not intended to make the revolution so soon, but were precipitated to it by government ordering the Uruguay to Bahia Blanca.

My second in command, Capt. Frederic Sprun, had been party to the movement, embarking men secretly in the Uruguay by boats prepared by the Ayndantes Cueli and Rodriguez of the Capatania del Puerto. They had also placed their sentries along the mole to guard against any surprise, with instructions to seize me if I showed any signs of suspicion by trying to embark without them. They had made all these arrangements while I was with Colonel Obligado at the theater.

When they had me prisoner aboard they proceeded to seize my ship, the gunboat Parana, bringing the Uruguay alongside to board her. No opposition could be made, as my second in command, Captain Sprun, gave orders and was obeyed on my ship.

The above is a simple recital of events as far as in my knowledge, but further particulars may be learned from the declarations of my officers. Although the principal occurrences are already of public notoriety, as regards the seizure of the two gunboats, I have to beg that your excellency will order a sumario to be drawn up, so as to acquit me of anv shadow of suspicion in the matter.