WEITZEL, Major General Commanding to Tomas Mejia, November 13, 1865

[Untitled]

General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th instant, and to say in reply that you, as a soldier, must certainly be aware that it would require all the cavalry of Europe and America combined so to picket this river as to prevent single individuals from committing such outrages as Lieutenant de la Bedolliero complains of, and that it would not be just in you to hold me or my government responsible for the acts of such individuals. All that I can do is to try my utmost to arrest the guilty parties, and dispose of them according to instructions; and this I commenced to do before I received your letter, and as soon as I heard of the occurrence.

The soldiers on the Tampico were sick and disabled men who were mustered out, and were on their way to their homes. What crime there could have been in communicating with the liberals I cannot possibly understand. These sick and disabled soldiers had no ammunition, and they certainly could give them very little information.

The fact that there were bullet-marks on the starboard side of the Antonia does not prove at all that the shots were fired from the American side, because, as you must know, the Rio Grande is so crooked and has so many sharp turns that a boat could be riddled on her starboard side and still every shot be fired from the Mexican shore. You complain that my officers and men affiliate with the liberals and welcome them. This is not strange. The liberals claim that they fight for their freedom. Their cause, then, is one that has awakened the warmest sympathies in every American breast. It would be as impossible for me to prevent this, even if I felt so disposed, as it would be to stop the motion of the earth. But I do not feel so disposed. During our late war the officers and men of French and English men-of-war lying in ports in our military possession affiliated continually and exclusively with our enemies, (as at New Orleans and Norfolk,) and yet it was not thought necessary to communicate with them on the subject. They were permitted to choose their own associates.

I have only heard of a single instance when a mob of Mexicans threw stones at your gunboats, and this mob was promptly dispersed by my guards.

I have never heard of a single soldier making insulting remarks, but have heard that Mexicans frequently make them. It would be impossible for me to stop this, because I have not the force to spare for pickets, though I felt disposed to do it; but I do not feel so disposed, because ever since my arrival here you have allowed a sheet, published in Matamoras and printed in the English and Spanish languages, daily to vilify and insult the government, the people, and the army of the United States; and this, too, after your attention and that of Señor Robles had been called to it.

You, general, have no right to complain of my conduct during the recent siege. I permitted the women and children to come here from Matamoras, meat to go over to your citizens who remained, grass for the cows of the same, and wood to enable them to cook their meals. Humanity required this. In return I gave the wounded liberals who were helpless and destitute shelter, medicines and food. I invariably did this for my wounded enemies. For whom have I done the most in this matter? Is it not about an equal thing?

Again, you promised to release American citizens, after my demand was made, from being pressed into military service under you, contrary to the treaty between Mexico and the United States, and yet yesterday I heard of three that were still held. I believe this to be entirely the fault of your subordinate officers, and do not blame you for it.

Again, you have converted an American steamer into a gunboat and hoisted the Mexican flag on her, without first buying her and changing her nationality, according to law; and against this I hereby protest, and if not remedied, will at once lay the matter before my superior officers.

As Monsieur Cloue, commander of the naval division in the gulf of Mexico, has also addressed me on some of the above subjects, I should be pleased if you would send him a copy of this letter, as I do not wish to correspond with two different commanders.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,