IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) M €^^^^ 4^ 1.0 I.I 1^128 ^ m ^ i:s 12.0 25 2.2 1^= 1^ m IHJ4 ^ M '^ ^ HiDlDgraphic Sdeoces Corporalion M WKT MAM STRHT WnSTIII,N.Y. USM (71*)S71-4S09 4l^ 4^' V ^ ^•^ ^ .^^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHI\/I/ICI\/IH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Inatituta for Hiatoricai Microraproductiona Inatitut Canadian da microraproductiona hiatoriquaa 1980 Tflchnical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibliographiquaa Tha inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturat of thia copy which may ba MMiographically uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may aignif icantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chaclcad balow. D D D El D D Colourad covara/ Couvartura da couiaur I I Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommagte Covara raatorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raataurAa at/ou palliculta Covar titia miaaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua I I Colourad mapa/ Cartaa gtographiquas an couiaur Colourad ink (i.a. othar than biua or black)/ Encra da couiaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) r~n Colourad piataa and/or iliuatrations/ Planchaa at/ou iliuatrations an couiaur Bound with othar matarial/ RalM avac d'autras documants Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along intarior margin/ La reliura sarrie paut causar da Tombra ou da la distortion la long da la marga intAriaura Blank laavaa addad during rastoration may appaar within tha taxt. Wlianavar possibla. thasa hava baan omittad from filming/ 11 sa paut qua cartainaa pagaa blanches ajoutAaa iors d'una rastauration apparaissant dana la taxta, mala, lorsqua cala 4tait possibla. cas fwgas n'ont pas At4 filmAas. Additional commants:/ Commantairas supplAmantairaa: L'Inatitut a microfilm^ la malllaur axamplaira qu'll lui a 4t* poaaibia da aa procurar. Laa dAtaila da cat axamplaira qui aont paut-Atra uniquaa du point da vua bibliographiqua, qui pauvant modifiar una imaga raproduita, ou qui pauvant axigar una modification dana la mAthoda normala da f ilmaga aont indiquAa ci-daaaous. I I Colourad pagaa/ D Thia itam ia filmad at tha raduction ratio chackad balow/ Ca documant ast film* au taux da reduction indiqu* ci-daaaoua. 10X 14X 18X 22X Pagaa da couiaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagAaa Pagaa raatorad and/oi Pagas raataurAaa at/ou pallicultes Pagaa discolourad. stainad or foxai Pagas dAcolorAas, tachatAas ou piquAas Pagas datachad/ Pagas dAtach6as Showthroughy Tranaparanca Quality of prir Quality InAgaia da I'impresslon includes supplementary materit Comprend du material supplAmantaIre Only edition available/ Saula Mition diaponibia I — I Pagaa damaged/ I I Pagas restored and/or laminated/ r~y| Pagas discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ I I Showthrough/ rn Quality of print varies/ pn Includes supplementary material/ I — I Only edition available/ Pagaa wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to enaure the beat possible image/ Lea pages totalement ou partiellement obacurcias par un feuillet d'arrata. una pelure. etc., ont M filmAes A nouveau da fapon A obtanir la meilleure image possible. 26X 30X y 12X 16X aox a4x 28X 32X Th« copy film«d h«r« has lM«n r«produc«d thanks to tha ganarosity of: National Library of Canada L'axamplaira fiimi f ut raproduit grica A ia ginArosit* Ja: BibiiothAqua nationala du Canada Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Las imagas suivantas ont AtA raproduitas avac ia plus grand soin. compta tanu da ia condition at da la nattatA da I'axamplaira f ilmA, at an conformitA avac ias conditions du contrat da fiimaga. Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and andlng on tha last paga with a printad or iilustratad Impras- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or iilustratad impras- sion, and andlng on tha last paga with a printad or iilustratad imprassion. Tha last racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha symbol — ^> (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol y (moaning "END"), whichavar applias. Las axamplalras origlnaux dont la couvartura •!% papiar ast ImprimAa sont fiimAs art commandant par ia pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par ia darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'Imprassion ou d'illustration, soit par ia sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axamplalras originau'^ sont fiimAs an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'Imprassion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par ia darnlAra paga qui comporta una taila amprainta. Un das symbolas sulvants apparattra sur ia darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la cas: l9 symbols — »• signifia "A SUIVRE". ia symboio ▼ signifia "FIN". Maps, piatas, charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarent raduction ratios. Thosa too iarga to ba antiraly inciudad in ona axposura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, as many framas as requirad. Tha following diagrams iilustrata tha mathod: Las cartas, planchas, tabiaaux, ate. pauvant Atra fiimAs A das taux da rAduction diffArants. Lorsqua la documant ast trop grand pour Atre raproduit on un saul clichA, ii ast f IlmA A partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucha, da gaucha A droita. at da haut 9n bas, an pranant ia nombra d'imagas nAcessaira. Las diagrammas suivants illustrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 M MY DIARY IN MEXICO IN 1867. ^o^K-fm^f^mmmn * rsCAMP, AND CHIEF OF TUB ROUSIHOLD OF UU LATE MAJESTY THE EMPEROR MAXIMUIAN OF MEXICO. I IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. L ^ . t I LONDON: BICHABD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. ^oblU^tr in orbinaqj lo ]per Pajtitg* 1868. Alt Ka\U Butrttd. V. BMTLBi A«i> co.| nnniH, nu>a iiurs, vluk muT, umukht. I ! PEEFAOE. [n the codicil to the last Will of Emperor Maxi- ^nilian of Mexico occurs the following passage : — " § 15. I will that an historical account of the three years of my sojourn in Mexico and the preparatory period shall be written, with the assistance of those documents which are |kept in England and Miramar. " I desire that the ex-minister Don Fern. I Ramirez and Prince Filipp de Salm-Salm would I have the kindness to imdertake this work." Although I knew of the feet that my person was mentioned in several places of the Emperor* s last Will, I only became certain of it by one of the witnesses who had signed it. Neither the contents of that last Will, nor even the dis- positions referring to my person, were com- municated to me ; and I tried in vain, in Vienna ^ ■■;. i Yi PREFACE. and elsewhere, to obtain a copy of it. At last I thought it best to apply for further information to the First Lord Steward of His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, General Prince Constantin von Hohenlohe, and to request his highness to I indicate by what means I could get access to the documents, which I should require to fulfil the desire of the Emperor Maximilian, as ex- pressed in his last "Will, and of which I had been informed by chance. In reply to my letter of the 2'^nd of July, I 1868, 1 received from the prince the following | letter, dated July 29th: — Vienna, Jidy 2mh, 1868. Your Highness, — I beg to reply to your I highness' agreeable letter of the 22nd instant, that His late Majesty the Emperor Maximilian indeed expressed in his last Will a desire, that the history of the last years of his government in Mexico might be written by your highness | and the ex-minister Don Fernando Ramirez. As, however, the publication of the last Willi of His late Majesty only took place in the office of the Lord Steward of the Household, and the execution of the arrangements in reference to this last Will belong to the province of the office of the Lord Marshal, I thought it right to send PREFACE. Vll rour highness' letter to the Lord Marshal, Count Kuefstein, for further consideration. At the same time, I avail myself of this )pportunity to renew to your highness the ex- pression of my perfect regard. HOHENLOHE. To his higUnosH Frinco Felix tie Salm-Salm, etc., Gftstle Anholt. fr P.S. As this letter had been returned by the )Ost as not to be delivered, I beg to send it now bo the address of the Counsellor-at-Law Rump lin Bocholt, who has been named to me as your highness* attorney-general; and at the same time I beg to enclose a copy of the reply, which I received in the meantime from the Lord- [Marshal, Count Kuefstein. (By order) A. Jmhof, J. R. Counsellor at Court. The letter mentioned in that postscriptum I is the following : — Vienna, Aiigiut ^th, 1868. In answering your highness' kind note of [the 22nd of July, 1868, I have the honour to I reply:— The assertion made in the letter herewith VUl FBEI'AOE. returned of Prince Salm is correct ; for § 16 of the codicil of his late Majesty Maximilian of Mexico (which though not signed was ordered to be published by his Majesty the Emperor, our most gracious Lord) reads as follows : — " I will that an historical account of the three years of my sojourn in Mexico, and the preparatory period shall be written with the assistance of those documents kept in England and Miramar. "I desire that the ex-minister Don Fern. Ramirez and Prince Filipp de Salm-Salm would have the kindness to undertake this work.'* In consequence of this, the request of Prince Salm to permit him an insight into the respec- tive documents is sufficiently founded, but the granting of this request depends upon the will of His Majesty ; as, according to § 29 of the statutes of the Imperial house, no publication or execution of a last Will can be made without the consent of the chief of the Most Illustrious Imperial house. As His Majesty by an auto- graph note of September 10, 1867, ordered the publication of the last Will of his brother, of April 6, 1864, " with the omission of the direction contained in that last Will, in reference to the nomination of an executor of that last Will,** PBBFAOE. IZ it is possible that his Majesty might have some just objection agamst an inspection of at least all confidential state documents referring to the three years regent epoque and the preparatory period. It seems therefore doubtless that the Will of His Majesty in this respect was, by all means, to be ascertained. But it is not within the competency of the Lord Marshal's Office to request it, for the documents which could be meant in this case, have never been in the hands of this office, and are by no means an object for its transactions, and to this *he ministry of this office is limited. Kuepstein. To his highness the I. Royal, Major'Greneral Prince Gonstantin von Hohenlohe, First Lord Steward of His Majesty. The love alone which I preserve in my heart for the memory of my unfortunate Em- peror, would make it a sacred duty for me to fulfil, to the best of my ability, every desire expressed by him in his last Will; but his desire is still increased by my knowing how anxious he was to be judged justly by posterity. This, however, is only possible with the know- ledge of all circumstances, which cannot pos- sibly be acquired so long as certain transactions i ,. r-*' * X • PREFACE. remain a secret, and the documents referring to them are kept by persons who have a particular interest in preventing their publication. The Emperor held these documents in very high estimation, and feeling that his position in Mexico was rather precarious at the time when the Empress left for Europe, and when he was surrounded by traitors, he did not think these documents safe enough in Mexico, and confided them to the Empress to keep them safely in Europe. I have no certain knowledge about the contents of these papers; but I know how uneasy Maximilian felt about them, when he received the news of the illness of his consort, and that he asked me most urgently to get possession of them, if required, ** even revolver in hand," and to write by the use of them, the history of his government. In the last Will of the Emperor it is stated, that these documents were in England and 'n Miramar, but a great personage to whom I wrote on that subject, answered in reference to the documents, and especially the correspond- ence between the Emperor of the French and Marshal Bazaine: ''On dit aujourd*hui que le Pape en est le depositaire." TREPACE. XI It is most likely that different parts of those documents are in England, Miramar, and Rome ; but I had only a certainty about those in Miramar, for which reason I began to take steps in that direction ; with what success may be seen from the above letters. I do not know yet upon what further mea- sures I shall decide, but I believe I am justified in my hope that His Majesty the Emperor of Austria will readily support my efforts in vindi- cating the memory of his brother. I do not know who is the keeper of the documents in England. It is said that they are in the hands of Her Majesty the Queen ; but before I have more certain information I do not think it proper to obtrude on a mere " on dity" either His Hohness the Pope, or Her Majesty the Queen of England. As soon as I shall be placed in a position to satisfy the desire of the late Emperor, I shall enter into communication with Don Fernando Ramirez, to fulfil together with him, and as well as I can, the last Will of our be- loved late Emperor. Supposing that it would be desirable to the Imperial family of Austria to receive as soon as possible an authentic account of the last months Ill xu FBEFAOE. ! i! t J 1 •111 of the Emperor, I wrote, when still in prison in Quer^taro, a narrative of them, and for- warded it to the Secretary of State, Baron Beust, in Vienna. To this I did not receive an answer, and when I had the honour afterwards of an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, he did not mention anything about it either. As probably a considerable time will elapse before I shall be in a position to write the history of the government of the Emperor Maxi- miliar, and as I have received from many sides the intimation that a publication about the occurrences in Queretaro was expected from me, I resolved to publish such a narrative, with the assistance of my diary. This would have been done perhaps sooner, if I had not been detained a prisoner in Mexico until November 13, 1867, and after my arrival in Europe, had I not had to wait several months for the arrival of my effects and papers. As to these papers, I am sorry to say, that a good many of them have been lost, partly during the occupation of Queretaro by the Liberals, and partly during my imprisonment. I regret especially the loss of those contained in a small trunk, which I confided to a Liberal officer when I was suddenly transferred from FBEFACE. xu- one pnson to another. When I got the trunk again, all the papers had disappeared, though a sum of money had not been touched. I beg to remind the reader that it is by no means my intention now to write a ** history " of the last months of the Mexican Empire, but only to give a narrative of my personal expe- riences. The following pages make no other pretensions than to be faithful to truth. Relative to this truthfulness I refer to the evidence of General and ex-Secretary of War, Don Severe de Castillo, my esteemed friend and companion in sorrow, as also to my other friend and fellow-suflferer. General Escobar, men of high honour, and held in respect by every one. These gentlemen, who for a long time lived with me in the same prison cell, gave me many explanations about things of which I had only an imperfect knowledge, and completed my narrative of the well-known facts by giving me authentic details. In regard to my judgments about persons who played a part in the events which occurred in the tragedy of Quer^taro, I must say that they are generally the result of an exchange of ideas between the late Emperor and myself. As my wife took an active part in many of V. ^ f i I XIV PREFACE. the events related in the following pages, I requested her to add her narrative with mine. Though more than a year has elapsed since the death of the Emperor Maximilian, and the interest of the public in this tragedy may have become somewhat weakened ; and though others may haye anticipated me in some particulars, still I hope that this true, simple narrative of an eye-witness will not be thought superfluous. FELIX SALM-SALM. l!^^ III! BOSSCHACK, OK TUB LaKX OF GOKSTANCE, September, 1868. nil CONTENTS. March to Quebetaro . Occupation of Querbtaro . Siege of Quebetaro . Attempts at Escape Capturb of the City by Treachery Imprisonment of the Emperou Trial of Maxdiilun rAOB 1 . 56 119 . 177 208 . 269 Execution of the Emperor 294 m II 1 :iT THE DIARY OF PfilNCE SALM-SALM, MARCH TO QUERBTARO. luEiNG the great civil war in North America, I served the United States from 1861 to the close )f it, first as Colonel and Chief of the General Jtaff of the German Division, then as com- lander of a regiment, and later as Brigadier- general and civil and miUtary Governor of Forth Georgia, under J. B. Steedman, com- landing division. After the war I was recommended by bwenty-six Senators for a position in the U. S. regular army ; but I never felt at home in that [country, and was horrified at the idea of living dreary and idle life in some little garrison )eyond the pale of civilization. I had been a Isoldier from my early youth ; and, having been [educated in the Cadet-house of Berhn, became |an ofiBcer when still very young, and saw active TOXhZ. 1 ! I 1 hJiiiii 2 MARCH TO QUEBETAKO. service in the Holstein war, for wliicli I -wa decorated, and received besides from the Kii of Prussia a sword of honour, with the word " Fuer Tapferkeit ** engraved on it. To speak the truth, I was a soldier with my soul, and war was my element. What had seen of it in Europe and America serve only to make me more eager to extend my ex| rience ; and I resolved to offer my services the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, for vrhoj person and civiUzing task I had always f«| gi'eat sympathy. As I was not personally known to the Ei peror, I had to provide myself with testimonia in reference to my military ability, and wij letters of recommendation from influential pe sons. The former I got with the most frien( readiness from the President of the Unit States and the generals under whom I had ms the campaign ; and letters of recommendatij were given to me by the Prussian minister | "Washington, Baron Gerolt, the French minist Marquis de Montholon, and the Austrian mii ter. Baron de Wydenbruck, who kindly wrd a letter to the Emperor Maximilian, to be livered to him by Count Thun, the Austi minister in Mexico. Thus prepared, as I imagined, quite si ciently, I embarked for Mexico from New Yoj (III MARCH TO QUEBBTABO. 8 February 20th, 1866, accompanied by Captain laron von Groeben, a distant relative of mine, rho had been my aide-de-camp in the U. S. rars. On my arrival in Mexico the Emperor was lot there ; but I applied, by letter, for a position ^n the army, and was assured by the Imperial 5ecrotary of the Cabinet, Mr. Pierron, that the )mperor was very much inclined to grant my request, but that my appointment was delayed )y the eflforts of Count Thun, who retained 3ven the letter which he had received for the Imperor. When the Prussian minister in [exico, Baron von Magnus, asked him for the reason of his opposition against me, he an- swered, ** The prince has been recommended as *rince Eugene of Savoy : could not have been )etter ; but it is against my principles to re- 5ommend him." To his efforts, and those of reneral Count Thun, his relative, who com- landed the Austrian corps, it was owing that 10 Prussian found a position in that army. When, later, I was invited, together with Jaron Magnus, to dine with the Emperor, [aximilian told the Baron that many intrigues lad been practised to prevent my appointment, |.nd that it had been even said I was not Prince Salm, but an impostor. The kindness and exertions of the Prussian J- !|!li m 4 MABOH TO QUBBBTABO. minister succeeded at last, however, in con- quering all opposition, and on July 1st, 1866,1 I was appointed colonel of the general staff and detailed on the staff of the French General! Negri, who commanded the so-called auziliaryl division, which consisted of one French brigade, the Austrian and Belgian corps, and the troops| of the city and the valley of Mexico. As the princess, my wife, intended to follow] me to Mexico as soon as I should have a posi- tion in the army, the Emperor gave me leave tol bring her; and I proceeded to Vera Cruz, where I fell ill with the yellow fever, to which l| nearly became a victim. The departure of my wife from New York I had been delayed, and when I was on my way to the United States I met her in Havana, and| returned with her directly to Mexico. Soon after our arrival one of the ministers I proposed to enter into certain negociationswitli| the United States* Government about the recog- nition of the Emperor; and as my wife and I I were well acquainted with the President, the senators and members of Congress, we were ordered to go on this mission. For expenses that might occur, we should take with us two millions of dollars, in gold, under the superin- tendence of the Councillor of State, von Herzfeld, or some other higher officer. ■.I '■'■'' , MARCH TO QUEBETABO. 6 Beforu this affair was arranged, however, the distressing news of the illness of the Impress arrived. The Emperor went to Ori- saba, and the whole business was at last drop- )ed, as circumstances materially changed. An idle life was utterly disgusting to me, md I heartily desired to see active service in the field. I requested the Secretary of War to )ermit me to accompany, as a volunteer, an 3xpedition of the Belgian corps into the in- terior. We marched over Pachuca to Tulancingo, rhere we relieved a detachment of the Austrian jorps, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Pollack, rho was to assist Jalappa, and left, November [2th, at five o'clock a.m. At eleven o'clock i.m., the Liberal General Martinez, with six thousand men, appeared already before Tu- mcingo. The city was not fortified, and our troops jonsisted only of eight hundred men of the Belgian corps and eight hundred Mexicans ; and bheir commander. Colonel Van der Smissen, sent three Indian messengers, with letters hidden in Icigarets, to Lieut.-Colonel Pollack, requesting Ihim to return and to assist in attacking the enemy. The gallant colonel consulted his gal- llant officers, and they gallantly resolved not to Ifollow the invitation. 6 MABOH TO QX7EBETAB0. 1! jlllj .'I fii ' 'ill Hill i! iir Too weak to undertake anything against the besiegers, I took care to fortify the place as well as circumstances would permit. Whilst occupied in this manner, I was in- formed that Colonel Peralta, who commanded] the 6th Mexican regiment of cavalry in the city, was in communication with the enemy. As my proofs were not sufficient to convict him, mea- sures were taken to prevent bad consequences. I had fortified the palace of the bishop and a church in such a manner as to serve us as a j redoubt. The Mexican troops were quartered! in the palace, and the Belgians in the church, from which all the fortifications of the palace could be flanked. T had, moreover, laid a mine under the building by a number of competent Belgian sergeants, to blow up the whole con-| ceirn should the Mexicans prove traitors. The measures taken by us seemed to impress! the enemy, who did not dare to attack us, but who tried to obtain possession of the city in a less dangerous manner. On December 1st I received, in a myste- rious manner, a letter from the Liberal Colonel Brulio C. Picazo, in which I was requested to | come alone and unarmed to the hacienda St. Nicola el Grande. He promised me safety on I his word of honour, and that he himself would j also be there alone without any escort. The I! II! MARCH TO QUEBETAAO. 7 time for the appointment was eight o'clock the following morning. After having consulted ith Colonel Van der Smissen, I resolved to run the risk of the tempting adventure. Accordingly, next morning I was on my way bo the hacienda, alone, and armed only with a small revolver in my pocket. When on arriving it the hacienda, I was rather surprised to meet there two videttes ; but, passing them without my sign of distrust, they saluted me respect- My. Colonel Picazo was a very well-educated [gentleman, who spoke several languages fluently, and had the manners of a man of the world. He assured me that the cause of the Emperor was a lost one, and, moreover, sketched the whole state of affairs in a manner which I was not flattering, but imfortunately was true. Then he endeavoured to induce me to persuade I Colonel Van der Smissen to surrender the place, in which case he would pay me twenty thousand [piasters. As I knew that such an offer is thought a matter of common occurrence in Mexico, and that no offence was intended, I contented my- self with simply declining his proposal, on which the colonel told me that if we did not surrender within five days, we should be attacked with ten thousand men. I answered that we should be 8 HABOH TO QUEBETABO. m happy to receive them. The whole affair was discussed over a cigar and a glass of brandy. When leaving, the colonel accompanied me to the yard, shook hands with me, and I re- turned to the city, glad to escape thus, as !• had seen in the hacienda a detachment of thirty horse. "We had, however, no opportunity of show- ing our courage on this occasion; for at the close of December we received the order from Marshal Bazaine to surrender Tulancingo to General Martinez. The chief of the staff of this general. Colonel Cruz, came on the 27th under a flag of truce, to arrange about the surrender. I saw in his hand the same order which we had received, and signed, in the name of Bazaine, by Colonel Boyer, chief of staff of the French expeditionary army. Colonel Cruz made no secret of it, that they had been on the best imderstanding with the French, and that as to this retreat, they kept purposely out of the way. The troops of General Martinez advanced the same evening close to our works. We were also informed that a noted guerilla chief, of the name of Carebajal, had arrived with a band of eight hundred men, from IJacin- ango, and Colonel Van der Smissen gave orders that no officer or man should go outside the MARCH TO QUEBETABO. 9 barricades. Captain Timerance, of the Belgian corps, who wished to say " good-bye " to a lady friend outside, passed the barricades at ten o'clock p.m., was attacked and wounded by Carebajal's guerillas and taken prisoner. On being requested to send back the ofl&cer, Care- bajal answered that he would do so if we would first let him enter the city ; but Van der Smissen told him to keep the disobedient captain, who was, however, released later, at the request of the Spanish consul, and sent to Mexico. At seven o'clock in the evening Colonel Peralta, previously mentioned, appeared at the lodging of Colonel Van der Smissen, for orders in reference to the marching next morning. His unusually nervous manner was noticed by everyone present, and when he left. Colonel Van der Smissen said to me : " You will see that he will go over to the enemy ; but I shall be pre- pared for it.** Peralta had been ordered to form with his cavalry the advance guard, and one company of the Belgian corps was now ordered to follow him closely, and its captain was instructed to fire upon the Mexicans as soon as they should attempt to go over to the enemy. At six o'clock next morning the Belgian corps and the Mexican infantry, under Colonel Campos, a true and reliable officer, stood ready f I: ■mRHIi! iiiillll m iM m m iii ii ,1 I ! 10 MABOH TO QUEBETABO. in the market-place, when we suddenly saw coming, in full gallop, with drawn sword. First Lieutenant Goslich, the only German officer serving in the 6th IMexican cavalry. Colonel Peralta, who had ordered his regiment to be ready at four o'clock a.m., requested Lieutenant Goshch to come to his side, and he then in- formed him that he intended to go over with his regiment to the Liberals, and that he might consider himself a prisoner. The lieutenant was silent, as he could do nothing ; but when after a time the colonel turned aside to speak to some other officer, he drew his sword, set spurs to his horse, and, brandishing his blade over his head, succeeded in passing unharmed through the whole regiment, and arrived safely in the market-place. Peralta was, however, not the only cvjc who deserted : another far more valuable dog, Jimmy, the pet of my wife, was missing. My wife had accompanied me in all my campaigns in North America, and frequently shared my tent for months. She had joined me in Mexico, and of course her Jimmy also, as he had never left her during the whole war in America. But instead of becoming used to warlike noise, he had brought home from it the most intense aversion against any sound resembling gun- shots or drums. When he, therefore, arrived MABOH TO QITEBETABO. 11 at tlie market-place, and heard the drums and' [ saw so many shooting engines, he popped off to our old quarters at the Spanish vice-consurs, [Mr. Gayon, and no servant being thought worthy to touch his precious skin, my tyrant I insisted on my going myself. "When I — the rather long-legged favourite under my arm — stepped out of the house, I was not very agreeably surprised on seeing before me an officer of the enemy with five men, who, according to agreement, ought to have entered the city only at the moment when we left it. However, nothing happened; the men of the enemy saluted, and I joined my troops. Half an hour after we left Tulancingo our rearguard was attacked by Carebajal's robbers, who retired, however, after having lost a few dead. In Tulancingo the Belgian corps had already received the order by which it was disbanded, and at the same time the offer of Marshal Bazaine to provide for the passage of the men to Europe, which was gladly accepted by most of them. When we came to Buena Vista, which is on the road between Puebla and Mexico, orders came to stop there until further notice. On the evening of January 2nd, 1867, we were informed that the Emperor would pass 12 HABOH TO QUEBETABO. tlie place on his way from Oiizaba to Mexico, next morning, and we were of com*se ready to receive him. The Emperor drove in a little carriage with four white mules, and was accompanied by an escort of the lancers and hussars of the Austrian corps, which was going to be dis- banded in Mexico, and also by a detachment of French Zouaves on horseback. With the Em- peror were General Marquez and his staflf. Colonel Schaffer, Colonel Lamadrid, Captain Von GroUer, of the Austrian frigate " Elisa- beth," Father Fischer, and Dr. Basch, his physician. General Don Leonardo Marquez is a little, lively man, with black hair and black, keen eyes. He wears a full beard, to hide a disfiguring scar on his cheek from a bullet-wound. His atrocious cruelty has won for him the name of the "Alva of Mexico," which he richly de- serves. As an old chief of the Church party, he was very intimate with all the priests. Though an extremely brave soldier, he was but a very indifferent general, as he had no idea whatever of strategical move- ments. His most valuable talent was that of organizing troops. Colonel Lamadrid, a very able and amiable oflEicer, who commanded a regiment of Cazadores MABCH TO QUEBETABO. 13 a caballo, was killed a week later on an expedi- tion to Cueraavaca. Colonel Schaffer had served formerly in the Austrian navy, under the Emperor, when still high admiral, and was very intimate with him. He was always near him. Father Augustine Fischer is a tall, portly gentleman, very intelligent, and just as ambi- tious. He had been appointed only a few days ago " Cabinet-Secretary '* of the Emperor, and was in citizen dress. About his morals very queer reports were in circulation, and it was well known that he, though a priest, had many children in different parts of the country. When the Emperor, after the news of the distressing state of the Empress, went to Orizaba, and the French and Americans ex- pected every moment his abdication, Marquez, Miramon, and Father Fischer, followed him to that place, and succeeded in persuading him to stay. Marquez and Miramon promised that the Church party would assist him sufficiently with troops and money, if he would only rely en- tirely upon his Mexican subjects, and were very free with their word of honour. The Emperor knew very well the unreliable character of such promises, and would, perhaps, not have been induced by them to stay, had not p mr ilili!'' 14 XABOH TO QUEBBTABO. ' 1 ■III 'I ,'ii ii !i! ' i liijilli i lii'l'l!!! hi: ■!! Father Fischer, who wqII knew his noble and self-sacrificing character, painted in the darkest colours the future condition of his friends in I . Mexico, after his departure from the country. The Emperor therefore resolved not to I abdicate, to the great consternation of Marshal Bazaine and General Castleneau, who were sent on a special mission by Napoleon III., as it prevented their whole scheme of arranging afiairs with the Liberal Government, under] General Ortega. Father Fischer perhaps meant well to the! Emperor, but the interests of the Romanj Church ranked first in his estimation. Dr. S. Basch is a little, very intelligent,! modest gentleman, and excellent physician, and! was very devoted to his master. Later, inl Quer^taro, he was made also chief physician of all the hospitals, and sacrified himself day andj night to his onerous duty. In the evening the Imperial headquartersj were at Ayotla, about fourteen leagues froml Mexico. I rode over thither, and after having! requested, through Father Fischer, an audience,! I received authorization from the Emperor to! raise a regiment of cavalry, with EuropeaDj volunteers from the Belgian legion and others. On the 6th of January the Belgian legionl marched over Rio Frio, Puentes Esmalucan,! illiiiJ!! MABOH TO QUEBETABO. 15 and San Martin to Puebla, where they gave up their rifled battery and their excellent muskets to the French General Douai. I was very much astonished when I found later these identical arms in the hards of the troops of the Liberal General Porfirio Diaz ! The Belgian legion now marched to Vera Cruz, where they embarked for Europe on January 20th, 1867. I had accompanied the legion to Puebla, in the hope of winning some recruits for my new regiments. In this undertaking I was, however, hindered very much by .a circular of Mr. Hooricks, secretary of the Belgian legation, in which the Belgians were warned against at- tempts to persuade them to remain in Mexico, the Government at home requiring their services. A similar paper was pubUshed by the Austrian charge (Taffaires, Baron Lago, and many Austrian officers also did all they could to prevent their countrymen from enlisting. Seeing that it was impossible for me to raise a regiment, I returned to Mexico, and requested the Emperor, through Father Fischer, to employ me somewhere else in active service. The oily priest promised. I went every day to see him, and he continued his promises, but my affairs did not make any progress at all. Count Khevenhiiller, and Baron Hammer- i i i'-il i; ■ill I : 'lit i 1 ;. t ,f 1 i i i il i ; li il 1 i 1 I 1 ill' i| si i i ! t i: i|i 1 ill I J ! ii II i! i 16 MAROH TO QU£BETABO. stein, two very brave Austrians, succeeded better in raising troops. Under great diflBculties the count organized a regiment of hussars, and the baron a battalion of four or five hundred men. At last came the 5th of February, the day which was to free Mexico from its tyrannical liberators, the French. It was one of those clear and bright Mexican mornings ; all the population was in the streets, and in a pleasant excitement. The departure of the French was a happy event for everybody, for they had made themselves hated by all parties. I need not speak about the behaviour of Marshal Bazaine, it has been appreciated in many publications. He may have acted according to his instruc- tions, but if so he did it not only in his own] peculiar brutal manner, but j^robably over- stepped them in many things, as it suited his| boundless and rapacious ambition. The French officers imitated the marshal, and| their arrogance and covetousness were intoler- able. This Mexican expedition was for them I merely an agreeable change, and was preferable to a dreary garrison life in France. It was also a good opportunity of enriching themselves; they did not care a straw either for Maximilian | or the alleged humanizing or civilizing inten- tions of their Emperor. They despised thel MABCH TO QUERBTABO. 17 [exicans with French arrogance, and insulted the inhabitants of the [city every day. Gentle- len on the side walks who did not get out of their way fast enough, were kicked from it in the jtreet ; and ladies who ventured to go out were fnsulted by their low importunity. The oflBcers )f the Imperial Mexican army preferred to go in jitizen*s dress, as French officers and soldiers lid not return their salute. Early in the morning already the numerous )alconies of Mexico were filled with black-eyed ladies, the rebosso thrown coquettishly over the lead and left shoulder. I stood with my wife )n the balcony of the hotel Iturbide, in the jalle Francisco, and beside us were Count and Jountess Seguier and several ladies of French )fficers. The French marched at nine o'clock i.m., past the Alameda, through the calle San I'rancisco and calle Plateros, over the Plaza de irmos, passed the Imperial palace, and left by the Garita San Antonio. At their head marched Vlarshal Bazaine, followed by a briUiant staff : 10 friendly word, no farewell, greeted the hated )ppressors ; the people saw them pass in silence, md the beautiful women looked down from the )alconies on the fine and coquettishly turning )fficers with a contemptuous smile. The Em- )eror did not go to the window when they )assed, but he could not forbear looking from TOL. I. 2 f^ I ■'!>■!'• ^i^ iiiiiiiiiii I 18 MABOH TO QUEBETABO. behind the curtain on the soldiers of treacherous ally. When the troops passed our hotel thj French ladies waved their handkerchiefs as went into ecstacies. " What a brilliant army with such soldiers the world may be conquered, And that they will do. Let them only retu: to la belle France, and they will march againsi Berlin and take it a la bayonet /" I did nol regard their talk, but only wished to be Berlin to meet them there. The citadel was evacuated only a day laterj for the garrison required time to destroy fo guns, together with the ammunition. Six riflei guns and four thousand shells were carefiillj buried that the Liberals might dig them u again at a later period. This purpose was, how ever, betrayed, and they fell into the hands ol the Imperialists. I am able to affirm thai Bazaine offered General Forfirio Diaz to delivei Mexico into his hands, as the general told me si himself in November; but Porfirio Diaz d clined, adding that he hoped to be able to taki the city himself. The day after, the people of Mexico we; firightened again by the appearance of man; French soldiers in the streets. They we: however, only deserters from the French army, In this manner the marshal lost on his way MARCH TO QUEBETABO. 19 Vera Cruz not less than six thousand men, who belonged for the greater part to the Legion etranger. The marshal claimed them, but General Marquez answered that he might [come and fetch them himself. As it was the urgent desire of Napoleon to [induce the Emperor Maximilian to abdicate and to return to Europe, the marshal did all he could to compel him to do so by assisting the Liberals. He delivered to them not only many cities and arms, but placed as many impedi- ments as possible in the way of organizing a new army, in which he was aided by the Austrian and [Belgian ministers. Thus the Emperor was, after the departure lof the French, in a very precarious position ; but Marquez did all he could to make good his word, lat least, so far as to exert himself to the utmost pn organizing new troops, whilst Father Fischer poured soothing words into Maximilian's ear, [and the cabinet promised golden impossi^."Uties. About the plans of the Emperor nothing [was known, but on the evening of the 12th of February, a report ran through Mexico that he [would plaoe himself at the head of all disposable jtrobps, and leave Mexico next morning, to join liramon in Queretaro, where also the Generals |Castillo and Mendez were expected to be. 'ith their combined troops it was his purpose 20 MAECH TO QUERETARO. :J ir m to endeavour to prevent the concentration oJ the enemy in the north, and its advance again8t| Mexico. As soon as I heard of it, I went to see Baron Magnus, who confirmed the report, and I asked him to support my request to be perJ mitted to accompany the Emperor. He waa ready to do so, but he did not succeed. MJ request was refiised, as the Emperor had pre mised to leave all foreigners behind, and to relj exclusively on his Mexican subjects. Marquea and his comrades feared the influence of thj Germans on the Emperor, and perhaps sti more their superior knowledge in the science o| war. When I was awakened on the following morning by the well-known noise in the street^ preceding the marching of troops, I went out] and soon became convinced that all foreigner had been indeed left behind — even the onlj rifled battery which the army possessed. The Emperor joined his troops outside th^ garita at six o'clock a.m., and commenced march to Querdtaro. On his way to the nei halting-place (Feb. 13th, 1867) he was attack€ by the guerilla bands of Forgoza, who wei however, soon beaten off. It seemed to me against nature that I should not accompany the Emperor on his expeditioi MARCH TO QUEBETABO. 21 md I was very unliappy. As early as was jonvenient, I went again to see Baron Magnus, loping to find some consolation. On this )ccasion I was not disappointed. The minister )ld me that General Don Saniago Vidaurri ras to join the Emperor at his first halting- )lace (Quicliclan), and that he would, perhaps, jonsent to take me with him. I thereupon lastened to see the general, who promised to ittach me to his staff, if I could procure an luthorization to that purpose from the Secre- tary of War. "With that answer I returned to Baron [agnus, who ordered his carriage to drive me bo the secretary. But the coachman unluckily lanaged to run a wheel against a corner post, md in some manner or other the pole broke, ^e did not pay any attention to this bad omen, )ut continued our way on foot. The Secretary )f War gave the required order with more readiness than we expected, and by one o'clock ).m., I reported myself at the quarters of the reneral. General Don Saniago Vidaurri was a tall, lank man, of about sixty, who did not look in pe least like a Mexican, but resembled, both in lis external appearance and manners, a North Lmerican. He was, in my opinion, the most re- larkable man in all Mexico, Juarez not excepted. f 22 MABCH TO QUBBETABO. For years he had been one of the principal chiefs of the Liberal party, and had frequently fought against Marquee and Miramon. He was then governor of the S^^^*^ of Nueva Leon, and the order of this Stat :as the wonder of all Mexico. The mails went regularly there, and oven money could be sent safely by them with- out an escort. General Vidaurri was disgusted with the anarchical state of Mexico, of which he did not see the probability of an end. He had, more- over, personal difficulties with Juarez, and pro- nounced himself in favour of the Emperor Maid- milian, of whom he expected, what appeared to him the most essential thing, the restoration of | a regular government. As he was a very pro- minent and veiy popular man, his going over | to the Imperial party had a great influence on the inhabitants of his State, and many respect- able men and officers followed him. As he did j not pronounce at all for the Church party, but | always remained a Liberal, the party of Marquez distrusted him, perhaps, and kept him awayj from the Emperor. A man, however, of his influence and talent could not be neglected; and a few days before the Emperor left, Jie sent | for Vidaurri. He was to accompany the Em- peror to Quer^taro, in order to go thence to the j north, where he was so well and favourablj MABCH TO QUEBETABO. 23 mown, there to organize the states politically md military, for which task a better fitted man ;ould not be found anywhere. The general was also a very good man, and jspecially kind and amiable towards me, which jreated at first some jealousy amongst his fol- lowers, who looked on me with coldness. An jxception should be made by me in favour of stout German captain, of the name of "Will- lann, who had been more than twenty years bhe aide, or rather the " maid of all work," of the general. I saw him even black his boots. [e had been originally a watchmaker, and was, imagine, a Suabian : the broken German in rhich he conversed with me had, at least, a rery strong Suabian twang. He was a very rood, little, nervous fellow, who did all he could ko assist and serve me. The son of the general, )olonel Don Ignatio Vidaurri, myself, and the factotum-captain, were always with the general. The general was to be escorted by a de- tachment of the hussars of Khevenhiiller, Icoramanded by Captain Echegaray, and the Lieu- jtenants Pawlowski and Koehlig ; and by a Idetachment of Cavalleros des los Fronteros, for Ithe most part men who followed Vidaurri from |the north. We were to leave Mexico at one o'clock p.m., [but our march was delayed until five o'clock, as wm lipiil mi 24 MABOH TO QUEBETABO. p^liill iiiiiiiiiii ll.i! liji ■!!i : the Secretary of War could not make up his mind to part with the money which Vidaurri was to take to the Emperor. Aide after aide had to be sent for it. At last it came at half- past four. To persuade the Emperor to stay, the mi- nisters had been still more extravagant with their promises than even Marquez, MiramoD, and Father Fischer. They promised golden mountains, and laid before the Emperor ficti- tious financial statements, which dazzled him, and which he believed to be true, as he was no great financier. However, all the money the ministers could furnish the Emperor for his campaign were 50,000 miserable pesos I General Vidaurri drove in a carriage to the garita, where he mounted his horse. He was received by the great crowd in the streets witt loud acclamations, which showed the popularity of this distinguished man. On our march we were also attacked by the guerillas, but the hussars drove them off" sabre in hand. When we arrived past midnight at Quicliclan we found all quarters occupied by the troops of | the Emperor, aii j;jifj:|!P;.'!^ 1 'iii 62 OCCUPATION OP QUERETARO. very troublesome for our right flank, General Mendez made a reconnaissance in force in this direction, with the regiment of the Empress and the hussars. After a little skirmish in the valley between San Gregorio and San Pablo, he retired. In consequence of this reconnaissance, General Castillo advanced next morning, with one brigade, against San Pablo, his flank covered by cavalry. The battalion of the Cazadores, who were at the head, chased the infantry of the enemy from the garita, stormed the hill San Pablo, with its chapel, and retired, after having discovered on the other side of the hill several thousand infantry. In this attack the commander of the Cazadores, Lieut.-j Colonel Yillasana, was wounded. The Emperor sent for me at noon. Asll had commanded a brigade in the United States'l army, he excused himself for asking me whether! I would accept the command of the Cazadores,! as no brigade was vacant. The corps, whose! command he offered me, he said, was a select! one, and could be managed only by great energy.! As I was utterly tired of my position without! any definite duty, I accepted it with pleasure. My commission was drawn out immediately, and! the major in charge presented me to the battalion. I was well received by both officers and! soldiers, though the major was perhaps a littlfl OCCUPATION OP QUEEETARO. 53 dissatisfied, as he might have expected to be promoted himself. The Cazadores consisted of nearly seven hundred men, of whom the greater part were French ; but there were also Germans, Hungarians, and about a hundred and fifty [Mexicans. It was a wild corps of the bravest I soldiers that could be found. The battalion stood in the centre of the position of General I Castillo, near the road from Querotaro to San Luis Potosi, and four twelve-pounders were I attached to it. In the afternoon lively movements were I seen amongst the enemy. The heights of San Pablo and La Cantara were occupied by them, and the same was the case with that of the Cuesta China, where they constructed a battery. Nothing was done to impede these movements, but it was thought advisable to change our position. General Castillo fell back behind the Rio Blanca, and occupied the whole line of the river along the city. A brigade of General Mendez's division was sent to the Convent de la Cruz, where the Emperor took up his head- quarters, and where he was followed by his cliief of stafi", Marquez. The cavalry under |Mejia remained in their former position. In consequence of these changes, I and my I Cazadores were charged with the defence of the bridge at the end of the Calle Miraflores. HI'' "' m '%''- ■ vK •i • 1 1-^ m 1 • ;■ t \'i m I;- ^i 54 OCCUPATION OP QUEEETARO. On the same evening, about six o'clock, the enemy opened fire against the cruz from his battery on the Cuesta China. As the cruz will occupy from this time the most prominent part in the siege of Quer^taro, a description of it will be required. The extensive convent, Santa Cruz, which stands on the rock on the south-eastern comer of the city, and commands it, dates fi:om the time of the Conquest, and is built of very solid stone, against which cannon-shot makes but little impression. The length of the whole building is little more than six hundred metres, and its width about four hundred. The whole is surrounded with a solid stone wall. Another wall divides the whole area into two parts. The western division, which is only two hundred and sixty metres long, contains on its northern half the convent, the southern half is occupied by different yards. The eastern half of the area belonging to the convent ia occupied by a large yard, which would be rectangular also, if its northern wall did not form a projecting angle. On the eastern wall, projecting outside, stands a solid stone building, called the pantheon. It is the burial place of the convent, and at its southern side is a chapel. As the ground slopes down from the east towards the west, this pan- OCCUPATION OP QTTEEEtAEO. 55 theon, with its chapel, stands on the highest point of the city. On the west side, before the convent, is a square, called Plaza de la Cruz. . From this description it will be seen that the cruz may be considered as the citadel of Quer^taro. When General Marquez arranged for the defence of the cruz, he left the pantheon and its chapel unoccupied, and when the Emperor and other persons remonstrated, he said, " that they did not know the enemy with whom they had to deal." Marquez had always told the Emperor that the ar^/ of the Liberals was nothing but a worthless rabble. ffl SIEGE OF QUERETARO. ill M The 14tli of March is, in the siege of Quere- taro, a very memorable and glorious day. Movements in the army of the enemy in the morning indicated that a general attack was intended, and this really took place, at about ten o'clock a.m., against three different points : the cruz, the bridge, and the position between the Alameda, and the Casa Blanca, which latter was occupied by the cavalry, under Mejia. A fourth attack against the Cerro de la Campana | was only a feint. As soon as the batteries of the Cuesta China! had given the signal, strong columns of cavalry advanced from the south against the Casa Blanca and Alameda. When they arrived on the plain before them, Mejia attacked them with his cavalry, and with such impetuosity, that the enemy, after a short resistance, fled in great disorder. Our cavalry pursued them beyond the Cerro Cimatario, which offers no impedi- ments to the movements of cavalrv, and drove them to their camp, near the Estancia de las SIEOB OF QUERETARO. 57 ''acas, killing and wounding one hundred and bhirty men, and making seventy prisoners. Supported by a tremendous fire from the Juesta China, dense columns of infantry now idvanced against the eastern side of the cruz, md, thanks to the stupid or treacherous negli- jenco of Marquez, the unoccupied pantheon jliapel was stormed, its walls towards the yard )rovided with loopholes, and the azotea or flat Iroof of the chapel occupied with soldiers, who jfired from their elevated position against our troops who defended the convent. Before relating the attack against the bridge, 11 must describe the ground. Along the river runs a street. The flat roofs of the houses next the bridge had been provided by General Castillo with breastworks during the previous night. This side the bridge, leaving only a narrow passage for one man abreast, was raised a battery of adobes, which are bricks made of sun-dried clay, of a foot square and four inches thick. Between two walls made by them earth was filled in, and this wall contained embrasures for three twelve-pounders, one of which raked the bridge. On the other side of the bridge, in the suburb San Luis, ran also a street along the river, and there was a free space directly before the bridge of about one hundred paces' length. At the south-west comer of this open 58 SIEQE OF QUEBETABO. place, therefore, next the bridge, stood an ex. tensive building, called meson, an inn for mule> teers and such people, with a corral surrounded by a solid stone wall. Before the houses oppo. site the bridge, on the north side of the free place, stands a well, and to the right and left of them two not quite parallel streets run up the slope of the Cerro San Gregorio, on which the suburb is built. The next street, running parallel to the river, and intersecting the two above mentioned, leads to the right to the church of San Sebastian, and from it runs another street down to the river. The church stands on higher ground, and from the gallery of its steeple one can see directly into the streets of Quer^taro, and sharpshooters may reach them with their guns. At the signal given from the Cuesta China,! columns of infantry moved down the two streets, formed on the square, and advanced | against the bridge. At a distance of one hun- dred paces they were received with a shower I of canister and bullets, which made them turn tail at once, and retire behind the church of| San Sebastian. Cautioned by the warm recep- tion at the bridge, they moved down the street I leading from the church to the river, and where | it is fordable. As soon as their intention was noticed by General Castillo, I received orders to SIEGE OF QUERETABO. 69 !'■ leet them with my Cazadores, whilst the bridge remained occupied by our reserve, the battalion ;elaya. In double quick time I marched through the next street behind me, and was just in time to pour one volley after the other into them, whilst the right wing gun of the bridge )attery greeted them with canister shots. They lad to retire for a second time. Though the enemy must have suflfered con- siderable losses, they again attacked the bridge rith renewed force between eleven and twelve )'clock, and succeeded in occupying some of the opposite houses, and also the Meson Sebas- tian, from which they kept up a rather lively ire, to which we responded. Whilst this useless firing was going on at the bridge, the fight was continued at the [jruz. Supported by the guns of the Cuesta ;hina, which sent over the cruz and its yards shower of shot and shell, the infantry in the }antheon, and fi'om the roof of the chapel, fired igainst the convent and about forty men who lad placed themselves in a very exposed posi- tion on its roof. They were commanded by an Lustrian captain of the name of Linger, whom reneral Thun used to call the captain with the Bordeaux nose and the Mayonnaise face. Not- rithstanding his remarkable complexion, he was r flfFw m.: 60 SIEGE OP QUEEETARO. J:' '4 a very brave man, and kept his dangerous place with great courage, until he was killed bj a bullet entering his forehead, after which his men left the position. No longer hindered by them, the enemy tried to advance into the large yard, protected by densely-growing cactusl plaiits, with which the ground was covered. This protection, though sufficient against tbel eyes, was not sufficient against the bullets froml the convent, and the enemy had to fall back! again to the pantheon. About the same time the cavalry of tliel enemy, opposite the Alameda and Casa BlancaJ had recovered from the beating they receivedj from Mejia, and made a second attack, butl fared still worse than the first time. Bravel Mejia, always tbe foremost, made a very bril- liant charge, and drove them back between! Cerro Cimatario and El Jitcal. Here they lost! several hundreds of dead, wounded, and pri'| soners. Had Mejia availed himself of his glorious suc-l cess to attack the battery of the CUiesta dunal in the flank, which attack would have been sup«| ported by the guns from the cruz, the victor of this day would have been still more complete But I believe brave Mejia felt a little astonisheil at the unusual pluck of the enemy : at least, heard him say to the Emperor, that as long SIEGE OP QHEEETAEO. 61 I he had been fighting in Mexico he had never [seen the Liberals in such force and perfection. During the fight on the cruz the Emperor [was on the Plaza do la Cruz, exposed to shot and shell sent in abundance from the Cuesta IChina. All remonstrances proved as useless as [those made by a deputation of the generals the Iday before, who besought him not to expose Ihimself so much. Bold Mejia said, in his plain llangiiage, " Consider, your Majesty, if you are Ikilled all of us will fight against each other for [the presidency ;" but, though these words [made some impression on the Emperor, he jsaid that the place where lie stood was the right place for him. The lull in the fight at the bridge, inter- |rupted only by firing from the houses, was of 10 long duration. A little after noon great lasses of infantry were seen forming near the [Chapel de la Cruz del Cerro, which is higher up the slope of San Gregorio, at tlie end of the suburb, and at the same time a rifled Parrot m, placed in the street to the left of the place )efore the bridge, commenced firing with shells igainsfc the battery at the bridge, raking at the same time the Calle Miraflores, and reaching 3ven the Plaza de Armos, in the centre of the 3ity, where several citizens were killed. When the shells burst amongst us, my Caza- ?* 62 SIEGE OP QUERETAEO. dores, elated by their success, became impatientl They surrounded me, crying, " Lead on, colonel;! lead on! we will whip them. The Cazaaores| always go a-head ! " In Europe it would be difficult to imagiiie| such a corps. The wild fellows were alwa fighting among themselves, and I had to do all! in my power to prevent bloodshed and murder;! but as soon as they were led against the enemy, they were like one man, and every one tried toj outdo his comrades in daring deeds. Even tliel very buglers, boys between fourteen and six- teen, stole sometimes outside the lines, armed! with a gun and a box full of cartridges, to huiit| " Cliinacos " (Liberals) on their own hook. I comforted my Cazadores as woll as 11 could by promising them that the right momentl was near at hand; and I soon received the! most welcome order from my biigadier, General! Valdez, to drive away the troublesome Parrot! and to occupy the meson and a j'aceiitl gun, houses, whilst the battalion Celaya was tol occupy our position. The cavalry regiment] Empress, commanded by Colonel Lopez, re- ceived orders to protect our left flank. I thought it well to address my impntientl boys, and made a speech to them still morel effective than any of those with which I once! encouraged my soldiers in the United States, w .3- SIEGE OF QUERETAEO. 63 then in broken English, now I did it in still more broken Spanish. I told them that did not want to hear a shot until I order'^.d bt, and that the main business had to be lone with the bayonet alone. I then formed them for the attack, keeping them under 3over as long as possible. While I did so, ly men actually quivered with eagerness, ike a pack of hounds waiting for the signal, ^ith a tremendous cheer, in as many lan- lages as were spoken around the tower of Jabel, and a ^'Viva il Emperador" they stormed the bridge and road before it. When we had peached about the middle of the place, we re- jeived a shower of canister at a distance of fifty )aces, and discovered the dangerous Parrot )efore us. I raised my sword, and calling out, \*Viva il Emperador ! alapieza muchachos!" we pushed up to the gun. My major, Don Mace- lonio Victorica, and a little swarthy Mexican, rere close at my heels. The brave Liberal ^ommander of the gun, a lieutenant, fired at the lajor with his revolver, and wounded him keverely ; but it was his last shot, half a dozen bayonets were immediately buried in his body. 11 the artillerymen belonging to the rifled |annon were bayoneted or killed with the stock |f the guns used like clubs. The conquered fiece was sent back to the bridge, whilst the MiiiK' 64 SIEGE OP QUERETAEO. battalion Celaya fired on the Liberals in ttel meson, who soon saved themselves, and fledl through the gardens up the hill. The infantrjl we saw before us fled panic-struck into tliel houses, of which they locked the doors ; but ll advanced into the street to dislodge them, and| the doors were opened by well-applied shots. There were many wild deeds done in thosel houses which I could not hinder, though I trieil| to do so. The French in the Cazadores, in- furiated by the butchery of San Jacinto, hadl promised themselves to spare no enemy, and least of all Frenchmen who served with thel Liberals. They made good their word in thel most horrid manner, and I had even to use my I sword against some of my men, who would noti obey my orders to spare those that cried fori mercy. At some of the thresholds the deadl were piled up, and in one of the houses was per* formed a m.ost singular and cruel scene. Onej of my sergeants, a Frenchman, had killed in al house four Mexicans ; a fifth man, a FrenchniaD,| was on his knees praying for mercy. His cod* queror, in charging his musket, said, " All tliel mercy I will grant you is, that I will not des- patch you like a dog, but give you the honour of a bullet." With that he very calmly shot! his countryman dead. The stampede which I saw amongst tk t ' SI£QE OF QUEBETAUO. 65 lense mass of the enemy before me, induced me to follow up my success. Driving tliem before le like a flock of sheep, I turned the next Icorner in the street leading to San Sebastian, md then, following again the street leading up Ihill, we arrived at the chapel De la Cruz del Cerro, at the end of the suburb San Luis. From [this position I saw that the enemy had formed again at the chapel San Trinidad, which was Ito my right, a little higher up San Gregorio. Before they succeeded, however, I had drawn up my battalion in line of battle, placing a com- Ipany in reserve, and I poured volley after volley into the enemy, who fled over the edge of the mill in great disorder. At this moment I saw emerging from a street the head of the regi- ment E Tipress, under Lopez. I sent him two officers with the request that he would pursue the enemy, and when he refused I rode up to him myself and repeated my request, but he answered, " That he could not expose his regi- ment in such a manner, and that the ground was not fit for cavalry." If he could not use his cavalry on that ground, I cannot see of what use he was there. I have myself been an officer of cavalry in Prussia, and know very well where cava]''y may be used. The ground was certainly not 80 smooth as a parade-ground, but it was practicable. VOL. I. 66 SIEGE OP QUERETARO. Hi «ll As I had only orders to silence the Parrot gun, and to take the meson, which was satis- factorily accomplished, I dared not to transgress further without waiting for orders. I there- fore sent Lieutenant Montecon, my aide, to I General Yaldez, to report our success and position, and to request him to send another battalion, that I might take and maintain Saii| Greo'orio. General Valdez, however, sent me, with his I congratulations, the order to retreat, as a further advance was against his instructions, and to put a company into the meson. I had of course only to obey orders, but my Cazadores were furious. They had killed more than th] ee| hundred men ! I mentioned a little black Mexican, who, withl the major, was first with me at the gun. He was! n very queer fellow, who showed me great attach- ment, and was anxious for an approving word, and happy if I gave him some dangerous com- mission. At every opportunity he was affectedl to tears, which made a very striking contrast! to his wildness and bravery. During the*figlit| he came to me crying, and holding up in liisl hand a thin^f which I recoofnized with difl&cult| as the barrel of a gun. " Colonel,'* he cried,! " Colonel, I have done my duty — ^yes, I did ml duty ; I have deserved a new gun, or I cannot^ SIEGE OP QUERETABO. &7 fight any more." On my questioning him as to what he had done with his gun, he said that his ])ayonet broke when he spitted a Chinaco ao^ainst the wall, and his stock when he dashed another's brains out ; but the skull of a third, whom he hit with the barrel, proved harder, and the barrel bent in the manner he showed me. We had lost in dead and wounded about thirty men. Our retreat to the bridge was quite an ovation, and I must say T felt some satisfaction when the Cazadores cheered their [new colonel. When I arrived on the place before the bridge, I met Mr. H. C. Clark, cor- respondent of the '' New York Herald," who became so enthusiastic that he pulled me almost off my horse in giving me the Mexican embrazo. |Mr. Clark was, however, no American, but a rery amiable English gentleman, though cor- respondent of the " New York Herald," to whom was happy enough to render some service jivhen he came with the Emperor to Queretaro, md was ordered by Marquez, in a brutal manner, IS a suspected foreigner, to leave the city. I lad alreadv known him in the United States, md he therefore applied to me in his diflBculty. spoke at once to the Emperor, who gavo him a rritten permit to remain, whilst Islv. Clark gave le privately his word of lionour not to hold ^ny communication with the enemy, and to re- 68 SIEGE OF QUERETAEO. Hi I I) I port truthfully. He was afterwards neany killed in his room by a cannon-ball. Under re- newed cheering the captured Parrot gun was passed thrc igh our barricade and sent to the cruz. The Cazadores occupied their old posi- tion. "When I saw Castillo and Valdez they congratulated me on my success, and gave me the embrazo. The enemy were so much scared by the severe punishment we had inflicted on them, that they dared not show themselves all day. Even San Gregorio remained unoccupied ; but early next morning they had constructed a battery there. During our fight in San Luis, severe fighting was also going on on the south side. Beside i their battery on the Cuesta China, the enemy had placed there two regiments as a reserve;! and in the plain between the city and the Cerro Cimatario, four regiments of horse, with four field-pieces. As these troops were threatened | by our cavalry under Mejia, on their left flank, another column of cavalry was sent over the I cerro to protect it. When Mejia attacked it. General Miramon sent from the Alameda some | infantry with four guns, which made a very suc- cessful attack, and beat even the reserves of the | enemy. While this was being done, the Liberals in I SIEGE OP QUEBETARO. 69 the pantheon had received reinforcements, and advanced over the large yard to attack the con- vent itself. At this perilous moment the garri- son of the cruz made a decisive movement. The brave Colonel Don Sefferino Rodriguez sallied out at the head of the 3rd battalion of the line, and not only drove the Liberals fro^ the yard, but even took the pantheon and the chapel, pursuing the enemy even for some dis- tance. The pantheon was now well garrisoned, and not lost again durin; the whole siege. About five o'clock p.m., the enemy was re- pulsed everywhere. We lost about six hundred men, but the loss of the enemy, who had to fight in the open field, counted by thousands. We, moreover, made between seven and eight hundred prisoners, of whom a good number joined our army. Between five and six o'clock the Emperor, followed by Miramon, Marquez, and staff", visited the lines. Wherever he came he was received with cheers, for the courage with which he ex- posed himself, and the friendly and appropriate words with which he acknowledged every meri- torious deed, had won him the enthusiastic affection of the soldiers. On coming to the Cazadores, he gave me his hand, and thanked the regiment in a short speech, in which he called them " the Zouaves ;P9P 70 SIEGE OF QUERETARO. of Mexico," on which the shouts of exultation were deafening. For the night the battahon Celaya had taken our position, and we rested at a less exposed place ; when there, a Capuchin friar came, who had the image of the Holy Virgin hanging by a rope round his neck. The Mexicans, amongst my troops, whose hands were not cleansed yet from the blood they had spilt, rushed up to the priest with exultation, crossing themselves, and devoutly kissed the image. At last, night spread its brown mantle over the city, and the thunder of the guns and the rattling of the musketry was followed by a weird stillness. The streets were deserted, and not even a footfall was to be heard. All were sleeping after that hard day's work except the outposts. Even the clocks were silent, for it had been forgotten to wind them up ; . and the night watchmen, who on other nights, pro- claimed the weather and the hour, snored in some corner as they did not know the time. The dogs also, which make the nights in Mexican cities only too noisy, had disappeared, allured by the horrid meal which was dished up for them outside by the grim god of war. On the morning of the 16th we heard from deserters that the Liberals were very much dis- com-aged by their great losses of yesterday. SIEGE OP QUE RETARD. The more joyous and liigh-spiritecl our men became ; and when my Cazadores, who occupied again their post of honour, became aware, by the pecuUar whizzing of the projectiles passing over our heads, that Santa Cruz sent its iron cartes de vlsite to San Gregorio from the mouth of the rifled gun we had taken, they exulted loudly. All those non-commissioned officers and privates who had distinguished themselves yes- terday were at noon assembled on the Plaza de la Cruz, forming a hollow square, in the middle of which stood the captured gun. To the battalion who had retaken the pantheon, and whose brave colonel had been severely wounded by a bullet in his chest, the Emperor said, " You have all behaved so bravely that I cannot make any distinction. We therefore resolved to decorate the whole battalion." This he did by attaching the cross of the Mexican eagle to their colours. The eight Cazadores, who were first with me at the piece, received two the gold, and six the silver medal for bravery, and beside each had an ounze, that is, a new gold twenty dollar piece with the head of the Emperor on it. The little terrible Mexican, whose w^ater- pumps were always at work, even when he was tapping blood, had received, on my recommen- H t ■». -fA IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 :?:■- 1 i I.I lii|28 12.5 •^° 1^ 1 2.2 1^ 2.0 L8 1-25 1 1.4 16 « 6" ► % ^'^./ HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y 145S0 (716) 872-4503 72 8IEQB OF QUEBETABO. m' \^ dation, a gold medal, and was so beside himself with pleasure that he gave me, before the whole front, the Mexican embrazo, beating with his hand my back, and shedding torrents of tears | over my shoulder. Before the assembling of the council of war, which was to have been held in the evening, I was ordered to the Emperor, who desired to hear my opinion about what was best to do under present circumstances. I declared that I thought it best to take ad- vantage of the discouragement produced on the | enemy, by our yesterday's work, and to make an attack against San Gregorio and San Pablo with the whole of the infantry, whilst the cavalry that protected our left flank beat that of the enemy standing before the Cerro de la Campana, and then to advance against San Luis Potosi, the temporal seat of Juarez and his government. Hazardous, and even foolish as this proposi- tion to attack an enemy four times more nu- merous, in a strong position, may appear to Europeans, it would be from want of know- ledge of Mexican warfare and Mexican spirit. A defeat may, perhaps, not discourage a good European army, but with a Mexican army it is usually equal to a dissolution, even if many times larger than the conquerors. It is almost impossible to make them stand fire again. They SIEGE OF QUEBETABO. 73 throw away their arms, and run away to their homes, or over to the enemy. After our success of yesterday, and the enthusiasm of our troops, I had not the slightest doubt that we should win a decisive victory, and disperse the army of the Liberals, especially if we attacked them promptly, before the arrival of the new reinforcements, which were an- nounced. To permit the enemy to shut us up in a place situated so unfavourably as Quoretaro, which had neither a political nor strategical import- ance, seemed to me not only ridiculous but even fatal. Moreover, it was not in accordance with the intentions of the Emperor, and with those of Marquez either, which, at least, might be concluded from the circumstance, that Mar- quez left all the haciendas round Querdtaro perfectly untouched, whilst the securing of their superabundance, in every kind of provision, would have been his first aim if he intended to sustain a siege. How richly these haciendas were provided was experienced by the army of the enemy, which was mostly fed by them. If we advanced against San Luis Potosi and the west, and sent General Vidaurri to the north of the country, where his name was of the utmost importance, all the resources of those rich districts, now used by the enemy, would t -m If?' S] »;i5^ 74 SIEOE OF QUERETARO. fall into our hands, and in a short time wei should have a considerable army. Vera Cruz was still in our possession, and since the departure of the French, the revenue from the customs again became ours ; we had means for| the support of such an army. However, Marquez was of a different opinion, and his opinion was then all powerful with the I Emperor. After having heard me, he said that my view of the case disagreed with that ofl Marquez, who had grown old in these revolu-l tions; who knew the country and the people; and whose honesty and loyalty could not be doubted. Marquez had been one of the princi- pal persons who called him to the country; and it I was also Marquez who convinced him that he ought to remain in Mexico ; that he must not forsake his party, but prove that he could exist without the help of France. His honour re- quired that he should show the world he had not degraded himself so much as to become a | mere tool of another man. The Emperor was perfectly infatuated by| Marquez. Though a man of good sense, h character was too noble and too pure to suspect I the honesty of others. A Napoleon and a| Marquez had easy work with a nature Uke his. Marquez carried his point, and it was decided | on being shut up in Queretaro. SIEGE OF QXnSBETABO. 76 About nine o'clock p. m. (15th), the enemy I had recovered so far from their panic as to at- tempt, under the cover of night, another attack I against the bridge, but the battalion Celaya i easily beat them off. These nightly attacks against the bridge I were repeated very frequently during the siege, as the bridge and the cruz were considered to be the key-points of the city. Whenever such I an attack took place the city was bombarded from all their batteries, if there was not a scarcity of ammunition in the enemy's camp, as happened now and then. Liberal officers told I me afterwards that they received not unfre- quently ammunition by the diligence, which conveyed it to Celaya. Ammunition, especially cannon-balls, was I also not in sufficient quantity in the city, and General Arellano took care to manufacture it. We also were provided by the enemy, whose shells were very badly made, and the greater number did not explode. Men or boys who I delivered a soimd shell received a dollar ; for a shot half a dollar was paid. On the 16th of March the enemy must have received a fresh supply of ammunition, for they j poured over the city eveiT" kind of missile. These bombardments, however, became now an [every day occurrence, only enlivened now and lU V . •to.-' 1 76 SIEGB OF QUEBETABO. then by some outpost skirmish. Though I sa^r frequently the inhabitants killed in the vei)! streets, they became so accustomed to tbel bombardment that it did not generally interrupti their business. The ladies, who at the coe,.I mencement kept in their houses, now made theirl usual aiternoon promenades, and resumed theirl old places on the balconies, though many ofl them had to pay for it with their lives or limbs.! The favourite targets of the Liberal artillerjl were the cruz, the convent Santa Clara,! occupied by our artillery-laboratory, the Cerrol de la Campana, the Alameda, Casa Blanca, andl the bridge. The greatest damage was perhapil done at the cruz and the post office, whickl received a great many of the shot which wewl intended for Miramon's headquarters, whickl lay in the same direction, and which had hm\ betrayed to the enemy. Theatre and arena were closed, but all shellingl could not prevent people from collecting togetherl for their amusement. The coflTee-houses werel crowded, and a French one at the Plaza del Armas was the favourite resort of all officers.} Here one was always sure to find the freshes news, for every one who came from a fight wen there to exchange news as soon as he was from service. The time firom 15th to 20th March SIEGE OF QUERETABO. f1 employed in fortifying the city as well as possible, )ut all that could be done was to build breast- works, and to provide some buildings with embrasures and loopholes. Our batteries stood )ii the Cerro de la Campana ; between it and ^he bridge, at the bridge, on the cruz, at the thapel San Francisquito, the Alameda, Casa Jlanca, and between the latter and the road to ;elaya. To the right of the bridge, Castillo iad made some openings in a solid wall, which lid not look like embrasures, but behind them le had placed mountain guns, from which the jiberals, to their great astonishment, were reeted with canister. Amongst our generals rere some who were not judged able enough mder present circumstances, and they were therefore removed from their commands. Lmongst them were the general of division ^asanova, and the brigadier-generals Herrera y iozada and Calvo. The Emperor sent every day for me ; when ledid so again on the 20th he gave me the bommand of the first brigade in Mendez*s divi- kion, as a reward, he said, for my behaviour Jn the 14th. This was a very fine brigade, and |;onsisted of the Cazadores, the 2nd, Sthj and i4th battalion of the line, the battalion of Tira- iores under the command of Colonel Don ;arlos Miramon, and the battalion Zamora. 78 SIEOB OF QUEBETARO. On my recommendation the Emperor gaTel the command of the Cazadores to Major ErnestI Fitner, who had been a captain in the Austriaii| corps. In the battle of Santa Qertrudis Is year, he fell, severely wounded, into the hands the enemy. This fight was the first success the Liberals, and it was the more welcome them as they captured several millions of mone which were to be conveyed to Monterey] Escobedo, who won this victory and captui this money, did not forget himself. By tl banking house of Brach and Schoenfeld Monterey, he sent ten thousand pounds sterlii to England for his personal account. At the time when the Emperor marched Quer^taro, Captain Pitner was discharged, ai received from Escobedo a pass to Vera Ci with the understanding that he should go fi'on thence to Europe. But when the captain cai to Querdtaro, and saw that the Emperor had few European officers with him, he offered services again. Marquez treated the capl who arrived in citizen's dress, very roughly, had him even imprisoned as a suspicion foreigner, but when the misunderstanding wa cleared up he took him as a major on his sta^ Colonel Lopez received also a reserve brit composed of different troops, and was char^ especially with the defence of the cruz. Pa SIEQE OF QUEBETABO. 79 )r my brigade stood between the Cerro Campana iind the left wing of Castillo's position, and livitli it I had my headquarters. The other part ras at the Casa Blanca with Mendez, who had left the cruz with one brigade, and now occu- )ied the hne from the Garita Pueblito to the Ihapel San Francisquito. I had with my brigade a battery of smooth-bored eight sounders. The gun taken on the 14th was the [nly rifled one in the city. My Major del Ordenes — Don Ramon Robles •brigade-adjutant, was a stout stupid fellow, Ind besides him I found as an aide a Mexican [eutenant, who was still more inefficient if pos- ible. I took therefore with me my personal i(le-de-camp, Don Julian Montecon, who showed reat attachment to me, and whom I loved very Mich. He was only seventeen, very modest id agreeable, and spoke a little French. I ice said to him, that if I should be wounded killed, he might take care of my body ; and |om that time he followed me in battle like [y shadow, and if the fight was very sharp was close upon my heels, as it were with )en arms ready to receive me if I should hit. The brave boy never thought of iself. On the 20th of March an important council war was again held, of which I have in my at; \ 80 SIEGE OF QUEBETABO. possession the original record. The following is the translation : — Record of the Council of War held in the Fort de la Cruz, on the 20th of March, 1867. H. M. the Emperor ordered a council of| war, consisting of the undersigned generals, to assemble at headquarters, in the Fort de la I Cruz, of the city of Querutaro, on March 20tli, 1867, at three o'clock p.m. When the generalfl| were as^ cmbled, the sovereign said : "Gentlemen, five different opinions about I what we have to do in our present position have been submitted to me to-day by the chief of artillery, our secretary of the present council of war. We have not decided upon any of them ; but, true to the rule laid down in Ori- zaba, when the Cabinet and the Council of State resolved on our remaining at the head of the empire, we have assembled you here, that you, without occupying yourselves with ourselves, but only having in view the general good and the salvation of Mexico, might propose to us measures calculated to lead to this most desi* rable end. Your opinion about the present state of the army, and the future operations of I war, will be accepted by us without hesitation, and be executed immediately. As we desire 81E0E OF Q(7£BETAB0. 81 that this serious deliberation might be entirely free, we have resolved that you enter into it without our being present, and charge you to treat this important question conscientiously, and in general, as it is required for the honour of the army and the welfare of Mexico." His Majesty then retired, and the council of war conatituting itself, nominated as presi- dent S. E. General Don Miguel Miramon, commander-in-chief of the infantry. The un- dersigned secretary then took the word, and, complying with the orders of the Emperor, ex- pressed himself in the following manner : " Gentlemen, there are five opinions here before you, of which H. M. the Emperor has spoken to you. The first proposes a retreat with the whole army, together with our artillery and train ; the second will only save the army, Ibut spike the guns, and give up the whole materiel of war and means of tra.nsportation ; the third will continue the defence of the place j with the whole army ; the fourth proposes to divide the army into two equal parts, of which one should continue the defence of the place, the other to go to Mexico, to bring up from I thence reinforcements, in order to compel the enemy to raise the siege ; the fifth will charge a small reserve with the safety of the important person of the Emperor, in the case of a disaster. ,f* TOl. 1. 6 Vli] r f 82 SIEQB OF QUESETABO. I and that one of his generals be appointed to command in chief the whole army, in order to | attack the main force of the enemy. "After haying communicated to you these I dififerent opinions, of which one is mine, I must explain to the council of war the reasons why 1 1 gave it to the Emperor. "When His Majesty asked me whether ml should endeavour to retreat with our whole artit leryand train, or give up these two latter, I had the honour to declare to the sovereign that the former proposition appeared to me bad, but the latter still worse, as it would be equal \>o a defeat prepared by our own hands, by which n\ would demoralize our army, and thus ruin I definitively ourselves and the national cause. " Should we be placed in the necessity of| retreating, and, above all, of spiking our artil- lery, it seemed to me, as I told His Majesty, to| be preferable to leave here a reserve to save t Emperor, and that the army be given to one of I our generals, in order to attack the main force of the enemy with all decision. In this case, if a defeat should happen, it would occur only after having tried to save our country and our army, but not appear as an act resolved on and executed by ourselves. I do not believe tliat we have already arrived at the necessity of giving up the place, as we may still retreat SIEQI OF QUEBETABO. in one manner or the other. There are still provisions and forage for a considerable time ; though the state of the park, after a siege of fourteen days, and a valiant defence like that of the 17thr, is not so satisfactory as might be desirable, yet it is still better provided than at the time when the enemy appeared in our front, as may be seen from the statement which I submit to the council of war, and which is drawn up ^vith the most scrupulous exactness. For all these reasons, I am of opinion that the defence of the place should be continued, and that in an extreme case the enemy should be attacked with decision, instead I of endeavouring to undertake a most dangerous land barren retreat.** General Don Ramon Mondez spoke as fol- llows: "About the difl&cult question under discussion, I have no opinion of my own, and, therefore, I will subscribe to that of the ma- Ijority, and do what it resolves.** After him Don Severo Castillo, chief of the Isecond division of infantry, took up the word, land said: "Provided that there is a park sufficient for a certain time, I declare that I do lot see any danger, and am of opinion that we should maintain our present position, having in new exclusively its defence, until the moment rhen we shall be attacked by the enemy, in i 11: '1 1> 84 SIEGE OF QFEBETABO. which case the same will be repulsed without i doubt. In this case we have to throw curl columns against the Cerro San Gregorio, and, profiting by the confusion of their retreat, to I endeavour to outflank their position. I do not judge it prudent to attack the lines of the in- surgents at the present moment, as, both in| regard to the strong position occupied by t enemy, and the small number which we could I employ for the purpose of an attack, its success might be doubtful. However, if this state of things should be prolonged indefinitely, altered circumstances must of course alter this de« cision, as necessity and our best interests niay| require.** General Don Saniago Vidaurri, deputy ofl the department of war and finance, with His Majesty, expressed himself in the foUowingl terms : " We must persist in the defensive; but, at the same time, destroy the force of tBel enemy to the left of the Cerro de la Campaua, and occupy ourselves with the means of extri- cating ourselves from the present position, above all, if the present circumstances shouldl grow worse. it General Don Thomas Mejia, general-in-chie of the cavalry, declared : " I am for the con*! tinuation of the defence. Should the enemj offer later an opportunity to defeat them, SIEGE OF QUEBETARO. 85 must avail ourselves of it, and, if possible, draw reinforcements from Mexico.** General Don Leonardo Marquez, chief of the general staff, spoke as follows: "I concur in everything with the opinion just expressed.'* General Don Miguel Miramon, chief of tlie infantry, declared: "I also concur with the I two last opinions. We shall, however, have to occupy ourselves with the task of defeating the j enemy on the roads of Celaya and San Juanico, and, if our present situation should continue, to attack San Gregorio in force.** After the council of war had thus decided to continue the defence of the place, and re- I jected the idea of giving it up, and had declared j against retreating, either with the whole artillery I and train, or with spiking the former and giving up the latter, the chief of the general staff proceeded to the apartments of His Majesty the I Emperor, to inform him that the council of ! war had discussed and come to an agreement I about the questions submitted to them. The Emperor thereupon came at once to the I place where the council of war was assembled. The sovereign had been meanwhile in great in- quietude. The two hours during which the discussion lasted were passed by His Majesty in great anxiety. The undersigned secretary has- tened to submit the different points of the 86 SIEOB OF QXTEBETABO. present record. From the first opinion whicli was made known to the Emperor he abandoned himself to a sincere and ever increasing gladness. As soon as he had been informed of the collec- tive opinion of the council of war, the sovereign declared that he accepted with grateful pleasure what had been decided upon. " Our wishes and hopes," he said, "were entirely in accord with your opinion. However — in doubt whether you might not think a retreat convenient, and considering our promise made to you, to accept freely your decision— we passed two hours in real agony. Now we accede not only to the excellent idea of continuing the defence of the place, but also to all inferior points referring to| the different opinions. After a short discussion it was resolved :— 1. To disembarrass the left wing of the] Cerro de la Campana. 2. To put in action the whole force of mounted] guerillas against the rear of the enemy. 3. To come to a conclusion in reference tol the question, whether reinforcements froin| Mexico were to be brought up. 4. To resolve on a simple method, proposed! by the chief of the general staff, to provide for| the pay of the army. Finally, His Majesty the Emperor declaredl the council of war as closed, and charged thel SIEGE OF QUEBETABO. 87 secretary of the same to draw up the present record, and to have it signed by the generals who formed the comicil. Maximiliano, General-in-chief of the Army. The General commanding the infantry, Miguel Miramon. The General Deputy of the Secretary of War and Finance (vacant). The General commanding the Cavalry, Thomas Mejia. The General commanding the Second Division of Infantry, Severo Cas- tillo. The General commanding the Brigade of Reserve, Ramon Mendez. The Commander-in-chief and Secre- tary of the Council, Men. R. Arellano. It will be seen that Vidaurri and Marquez I did not sign. I therefore suppose this record was signed after they had left Querdtaro. On the 21st, General Miramon was informed Iby his spies, that in the village San Juanico, a league from Queretaro, reinforcements of artil- lery, ammunition, arms, and four hundred wag- gons, with provisions, and several herds of cattle, had arrived. 88 SIEGE OF QUEBETARO. ':^^':i In consequence of this news, I received orders to be with the Cazadores and Tiradores, and my battery, at the Cerro Campaua, next morning, at five o'clock, and to take Juanico. The whole cavalry, under Mejia, was to protect my right, and the cavalry regiment of Quiroga| my left flank. On the 22nd, we were accordingly ready atl dawn. The Cazadores constituted the advanced guard, the battery was taken in the middle, and the Tiradores marched in the refir. "We advanced on the road to Celaya, which leads directly to Juanico. The road is planted witli trees, and to its right is the Rio Blanca. At a distance of about ten minutes from the I village we met the outposts of the enemy, whom we followed close on their heels. Thel infantry at the entrance of the village retired precipitately, and we pursued them to an open place, where they made some resistance. But we did not give them time to form ; I calledl out, " Viva il Emperador /" and the Cazadores| rushed upon them with their bayonets. Major Pitner and myself were at theirl head. I rode, on that day, not my piebaldl horse, but a little stallion, which was struck byl a bullet in his head, and fell on his knees, biit| recovered directly, and went on again. The enemy did not like cold steel, and fled to SIEQB OF QUEBETABO. 89 large Hacienda de Juanico, at the end of the village, the headquarters of the commanding Liberal oflScer. The regiment Quiroga, which protected my left flank, and marched outside the village, was somewhat ahead of my column, and arrived before us at the hacienda. It made a good charge against the cavalry standing there ; and at the same time Mejia advanced on the open plain to my right. The enemy did not show much resistance, and retired to the woods be- hind the hacienda, which latter we entered. Here we took possession of the office of the commanding officer, wiuh all its papers, and amongst them a statement of the whole army before Quer^taro. But, to our great regret, the artillery and greatest part of the pro- visions had been distributed already amongst the army, and we captured only twenty- four waggons with corn, a great quantity of arms, and many oxen, cows, goats, and sheep. At our right stood about eight thousand men of the enemy's cavalry, against whom I opened fire with my battery, placed near the hacienda. Whilst we collected our booty, pro- tected on our loft flank by the regiment Quiroga, and on our right by the Tiradores, Mejia*s cavalry stood opposite that of the enemy, at a 90 SIEOB OF QUEBETABO. short distance, but neither of the parties felt inclined to attack. As our expedition had succeeded as well as could be, I commenced my retreat, remaining in the rear with the Cazadores. Where a bridge leads over a brook which crosses the road of Celaya, I halted, in order to protect the retreat of Mejia, who crossed the Rio Blanca at a ford to my right. At the same time, my battery, which was placed at the other side of the bridge, and also the artillery from the Cerro de la Campana kept the enemy at a respectful distance. When I passed the bridge with the Cazadores, I met General Miramon, who cheered the battalion and their leader. At the Cerro de la Campana we found the Emperor, who thanked his Zouaves of Mexico, and I rode — it was between noon and one o'clock p.m. — to the above-mentioned coffee-house, where a skilful German veterinary surgeon cut the bullet out of my horse's head. It had entered in an oblique direction, and struck over the eye of the animal. In consequence of the council of war on 20th March, the Emperor had resolved that Marquez, who was made Heutenant-general of the empire, should go to Mexico, to bring from there all troops he could collect, and as much money as possible, to Quer^taro. He was ex- SIEGE 07 QUBBETABO. 91 pressly forbidden to undertake any coup do maim, or other expedition, but was bound to return as soon as possible. Before all the generals assem^ hledf Marquez gave his ivord of honour to return to Queretaro within a fortnight, coUte que coUte ! With Marquez was to go General Vidaurri, who had been appointed secretary of war and finance, with the presidency in the Cabinet. Both were to be escorted by the excellent regi- ments Quiroga and No. 6 — together, one thou* sand one hundred horse. On the 23rd, shortly after midnight, Marquez and Vidaurri started with their staff and escort, marched between the Cerro Cimatario and El Jacal, over the hills, and taking the road over Tuluca, arrived safely in Mexico. In the place of Marquez, the Emperor made General Castillo adjutant-general of the army, and deputy se- cretary of war in the field. His division was given to my former brigadier-general, Valdez. The march of General Marquez produced great excitement in the enemy's camp, for it was said that the Emperor had gone with him, and a large cavalry force was sent after them, as we learned, a few days later. This day the Liberals were considerably reinforced by the Generals Eiva Palacio, Mar- tinez, and Carebajal. The latter was not otir old acquaintance from Tulancingo, but a general 92 SIEGE OF QUEBETABO. II .-fi m •! m of division, who had been formerly a chief of bandits. The army of the Liberals, increased by them, amounted now to above forty thousand men, with about seventy to eighty guns ; and ours, diminished by the different engagements, and by the troops which had left with Marquez, mustered only six thousand five hundred men, with forty guns. It was, however, somewhat recruited by deserters and prisoners, who took service with the Emperor. On the evening of the 23rd, we were in- formed by a man from the hacienda where Escobedo's headquarters were, and whom the Liberals had made furious by taking everything he possessed, that there had been held in the afternoon a council of war, at which was re- solved, by a majority of two-thirds, to make a very energetic attack next morning, as it was supposed that the troops which had left with the Emperor must have very much weakened the garrison. Unfortunately, the man could not tell anything of the dispositions made for this attack. On the 24th, early in the morning, the signal ofl&cer on duty on the tower of the cruz, re- ported the enemy in force moving with infantry, cavalry, and artillery from the heights of the Cuesta China towards the Cerro Cimatario, where the Liberal columns took up a position. SIEQE OF QUEBETABO. 93 In consequence of this, I received at ten o'clock a.m., orders from General Mendez to quit my position on the river and to proceed to the Alameda, where I found the Tiradores placed behind the wall enclosing that promenade. Be- fore this wall, in the middle, was planted a battery for three guns, and a fourth stood at the right corner of the Alameda. The Tiradores did not belong any longer to my brigade. Colonel Miramon, who did not like to serve under the command of a foreigner, had managed by the influence of his brother, to have a brigade of two battalions made up for him. I occupied, with my 2nd battalion of line, the trenches from the comer of the Alameda to the Casa Blanca, where Mendez placed my battery, and remained with the rest of my brigade in the Alameda. All the batteries of the enemy now opened fire against the city, and at the same time we saw from the movements of the enemy on the hill, that an attack against the right corner of the Alameda was intended. A column of about six thousand men, under General Martinez, supported by the fire of the batteries, advanced with great resolution. They were newly arrived troops, and had been assured that they would have easy work with us. As they thus advanced they looked very 94 siEQE OF quebi:tabo. i:,i)tilikiti(iitill«i 1 well. All of them wore white linen trousers and jackets, with patches of differently-coloured cloth, to show the regiment to which they belonged. In action they looked always uncommonly clean, for it was their habit to wash their clothes before it. As they had only one suit, you might see them stalking about in the camp in a half or entirely Adamite costume, whilst waiting for their clothes to dry. At the order of General Miramon I de- bouched with my brigade from the Alameda, passed over a small bridge there, and formed in line to receive the Liberals. We permitted them to advance until they were a hundred and fifty paces from us ; but then they received froin three sides a tremendous shower of canister and bullets which astonished them so much, that they very promptly faced about. At the same moment the regiment of the Empress, commanded now by Colonel Don Pedro Gonzales, rushed upon them, made several hun- dred prisoners, and only retired when the much- scattered column reached the summit of the Cerro Cimatario, where it was protected by the great mass of infantry which had taken up position there. The brown acre before the Alameda was densely covered with dead and wounded, whose white dresses formed a striking contrast with the dark ground. SIEOB 01 QUBBBTABO. 95 As dense columns of infantry were seen moving along ^he Gimatario towards its western slope, it was supposed that they intended a renewed attack against the Garita PuebUto and the Casa Blanca. I therefore received orders from General Mendez to march with my brigade to these places, whilst Golonel Miramon re- mained in his former position behind the walls of the Alameda. Without communicating with me, General Miramon withdrew my second battalion from the trenches, where I had ordered them, and relieved them by the Cazadores. I now marched in a parallel direction with the enemy, and wlien they made front on the broad road which leads down from the western slope of the Gimatario, past the Casa Blanca to the Garita de PuebHto, I made front also. It was now obvious, that the enemy intended to attack us here, and General Mendez gave me orders to defend the Casa Blanca. This place consisted of a solid stone bam I close to the road, and next to the enemy. The space before it was overgrown with cactus plants. Forty paces behind that barn was the Gasa Blanca itself, also built of sohd stone, and close Ito it, towards the Alameda was a yard, or |corral, surrounded with a stone wall. I placed the 2nd and 5th battalions of the line m 96 SIEOE OF QUBBBTABO. H- in and near the bam, and in the Casa Blanca; whilst the battalion Zamora stood at the garita, where also my battery was placed, in such a manner as to rake the above-mentioned road from the hill. The 14th battalion of the line I kept in reserve, and General Mendez placed at its side one hundred and twenty horse under Majorj Malburg. After an overture of the artillery by botkl parties, the columns of the Liberals commencedl moving at three o'clock p.m. The foremost! column consisted of four thousand men, andl that which followed of six thousand. The white columns came with great courage| down the broad road, which was not protect on either side, and permitted our guns from tlie| Alameda and the garita to pour their shots inti the dense mass of the enemy, which was donij with great precision, especially from the garit where General Arellano was himself present. The composure and bravery of the enemjl under this raking fire, were indeed admirable] but when their column came up to within fon hundred paces of us, and was overshowered hen by a hail of canister, they began to waver] They recovered, however, promptly, and vanced two hundred paces more, when to tl fire of our artillery, volley after volley fro^ our infantry was added. They again wavere 8IB0E OF QUERETABO. 97 and we expected to see them turn about. It was a thrilling moment, and comparing our small number with their many thousands, some [doubt about the issue might well be permitted. The enemy stopped, but their officers jumped lout in advance of the column ; their brave be- haviour again encouraged the soldiers ; they [rushed on in double quick, and succeeded in reaching the barn before the Casa Blanca. There stood the 2nd battalion of the line ider Colonel Madrigal. I rode up to him, and said, " The Casa Blanca must be held under all jircumstances, even if we should all bo buried lere, for with the occupation of this place the bity would be lost." The brave colonel answered Confidently, " The enemy must yield, or we will kll die here.'* Although I had much confidence in the |ravery of the gallant colonel, I was still afraid lat he might have to give up that place, over- whelmed by superior force. My anxiety in that ^ing moment was so great, that the perspi- ition rolled down my forehead, and I ordered b reserve to advance. The place to which the enemy had advanced |as not tenable ; they had either to go ahead to retreat. At that critical moment, on lich hung the fate of the city. General rellano jumped from his horse, pointed a gun If V ■1 TOIi.1. • 1 98 SI£GE OF QUEBETABO. himself against the densest crowd of the enemy, and poured into them a hail of canister, whict at this short distance did fearful execution. At the same moment the brave Major Malburg, "with his detachment of horse, swept round the house | and attacked the enemy on their left flank. The effect of the canister, and the sudden attack of the cavalry, whose number, was pro- 1 bably over-rated, was too much. The Liberals were seized with a sudden panic and fled. No? the battalion Madrigal was not to be checked j any longer. They rushed out from their i bravely-defended position, and commenced a I dreadful slaughter with their bayonets and the stocks of their guns, together with Malburg's cavalry, until a superior force of Liberal cavalry appeared for the protection of the defeated | column. Major Malburg captured a standard, and he I and the 2nd battalion made several hundreds of prisoners. About one thousand five hundred | dead and wounded covered the battle-field, which looked as if a large flock of sheep were I resting on it. Behind the bam lay, in the fore- 1 most line of the dead, ten officers of the enemy, amongst them the gallant Colonel Mercador,| who led the van of the attacking column. Our loss was, comparatively speaking, small, as the Liberal colunm attacked us with tbei SIEQE OF QUEBETABO. 99 bayonet, and even the guns, and the higher standing reserves had to stop their fire when we came to close quarters. General Miramon was present during this engagement, and held the position near the garita. The enthusiasm of the troops was tremen- dous when the Emperor appeared on the battle- ground. He rode up to me and pressed my hand. He had tears in his eyes, and was so deeply agitated that he could not speak ; but he whispered three words which made me happier than any decoration whatever could have done — words that will re-echo in my memory and heart until the end of my life. I also was so much affected that I could not utter a single word, but silently kissed that generous hand which rested in mine. Only he who has experienced such moments can under- stand the feehngs produced by them ; they are not to be described. Colonel Miramon remained in the Alameda, and trenches from there to the chapel San Fran- cisquito. My brigade occupied the line to the right from the Alameda until beyond the Garita Pueblito. The other troops remained in their respective positions. General Mendez had his headquarters in the Casa Blanca, and I occupied the same room with liini. This offered me the best opportunity for *^t>:.^| fl 100 SIEGE OF QTJEBETABO. a nearer acquaintance with this distinguished chief. He, Castillo, Mejia, Escobar, and Yaldez belonged to those Mexican generals who were not jealous about the partiality the Emperor showed me ; for envy and jealousy are not the exclusive qualities of the Germans in America, who are noted for it. "Whilst the other generals j treated me with a certain reserve, those I have named, on the contrary, showed me not only| great cordiality, but also regarded with atten- tion my suggestions. Mendez entreated me to I induce the Emperor to leave Queretaro, where we could only lose life and honour. In all his conversations he showed a relentless hostility to | Miramon. During the night the enemy had removed I some of his wounded nearest to them. When I heard next morning the moaning and cries ofl the woimded in front of our trenches, I went] out with six men .to take in as many as possible, and to carry them to our hospitals. "When I ventured a little too far, I was nearly captured by ten or twelve horsemen of the enemy, who chased me. I ran through the prickly cactus, as I never did in all my life before, and t> lien 11 safely arrived inside the trenches, I hterally brokel down utterly exhausted. As we were fired at when we went out again for the same mercifiil| purpose, we could not but leave the poc SIEGE OF QUEBETABO. 101 wounded to die a miserable death. Had the Liberals only evinced the desire to take away their wounded, we should have assisted them with all our hearts. In a day or two the smell from the dead before us became so intolerable, that I had them piled up in heaps during the night and burned by means of wood placed around them. The enemy, who did not know what we were about, fired furiously into the burning funeral piles. In the evening of the 25th March, the enemy again made one of their usual attacks against the bridge, and was as usual repulsed. On that day the Emperor ordered that all the disposable troops should be employed at the fortifications. He himself directed the building of those at the cruz, and exposed himself fre- quently to the musketry of the enemy. Several houses on the other side of the river, which were occupied by the enemy, were destroyed this day by our artillery. We were now closely encircled by the lines of the enemy, who even occupied some parts of [the city, as will be seen on the plan. The Liberals also took care to strengthen their for- tifications, and employed for this purpose about one thousand Indians, who seemed not to like theu* work at all, and whom I frequently saw run away when our gunshots fell amongst them. 102 SIEGE OP QUBEETARO. They worked, however, mostly during the night. The city was everyday bombarded, and our trenches were closely watched by sharpshooters, who fired as soon as a head appeared above them. I beUeve that for this service the one hundred and fifty Americans, who served in the army of the enemy under the name of a " Legion of Honour," and commanded by a Colonel Green, were employed. Not only the soldiers, but the citizens also, had to undergo many dangers, and the ungallant bullets did not even respect the weaker sex. On j the 12th a poor woman was killed by a piece of a shell. Another woman, who carried herj baby Mexican fashion on her back, received a bullet through her neck, which killed botli| mother and child. From the door of my lodg- ing I saw a woman, who had brought her hus- band his dinner, killed by a bullet. The first I thing the unfeeling wretch did was to dive with his hand into the bosom of his poor wife, not to feel whether her heart was still beating, but to secure her money and cigarets, which they always hide in that part of the dress ; then he carried the body away without losing time on| lamentations, and I even believe that he lighted] first a cigaret. During the night from the 27th to the 28tli| l;yi^iv SIEGE OF QUEEETAEO. 103 of March, skirmishing \vas going on every- where along the line. Towards morning the firing ceased, and I had fallen asleep in the trenches. Suddenly, on being shaken at the arm by my aide, I awoke, and still rubbing my eyes, I saw before me the Emperor, with a smiling face. Oh, he had such a kind, benevo- lent smile, which warmed every heart. In this manner, without an aide or orderly, armed only with his inseparable little glass, he used to visit the trenches during the night or in daytime. As he knew the Mexican officers, and that they not only maltreated their soldiers, but also de- prived them of part of their pay and allowances, he was in the habit of asking them whether they had received their pay and rancho. This care had a very good effect, and was so new and j flattering to the soldiers that they loved the Emperor for it, especially as he shared with them all dangers and privations. I offered to accompany His Majesty, but he dechned in a friendly manner, and continued his dangerous torn* of inspection alone. In the afternoon the Emperor came again, [but on horseback, followed by his suite, and the [enemy, who must have recognized him, compH- jmented the party with a number of shells. He dismounted at the Casa Blanca, and sat lown in our room with Mendez, smoking a V- V, '^^ r ■ him two hundred thousand pesos in order t he may transmit them to ua. ' Yours, etc., * (Signed) Maximuiano." 140 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. (( (( Q,UTiVXTJLRo,AprU 17tht 1867. The Emperor to General Marquez. To General Marquez, — In case that Prince Salm on his return here should not desire to take General Moret bach with him, you will give the latter, on our order, a temporary employment in Mexico. "Yours, etc., " (Signed) Maximiluno." The 16th and 17th of April passed with the writing of these important authorizations, and with other preparations. The hussars had been increased by volunteers from fifty to one hun- dred men, and the Espladores de Valley de Mexico, under Captain Don Antonio Gonzales, were to go with me. In order to have my brave Alsatian, Muth, with me, I had him trans- ferred to the hussars. Beside my shadow Lieutenant Montecon, brave Major Malbarg, and Lieutenant Bieleck, were to accompany me as aides, and also a German merchant, Mr. Schwesinger, an Imperiahst, who desired to leave Queretaro. and who had rendered until then very acceptable voluntary services in the hospitals. I had orders to be at the Oerro de la Campana at midnight, and if everything went right we might expect to reach the Sierra Gorda early in the morning. It was bright ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 141 moonliglit at that time, which was not favour- able at all to a secret expedition, yet without it it would have been impossible to find our way over the works of the enemy, which enclosed us. I took my leave of the Emperor at nine o'clock. Ke gave me his hand, and said, "Salm, I confide to you much, but I feel perfectly happy in the conviction that I have- placed my confidence in good hands.'* I felt very sad at leaving the Emperor, surrounded as he was with all kind of dangers ; but the commission he gave me promised salvation, and I could not but do my best to respond to his wishes. After taking supper at a French coffee- house, with the officers of my staff, I went at half-past eleven to the Cerro de la Campana, where I already found the regiment Empress and the 4th of cavalry, under Colonel de la Cruz, who were to assist in our undertaking. In a tent standing there I found Miramon in company with General Moret, Colonel de la Cruz, and Colonel Don Pedro Gonzales. The regiment Empress was to follow me, and the 4th to cover my left flank. At the same time infantry was to advance to our right and left on the roads running there. After an embrazo Miramon left with the colonels, and I remained with Moret, to whom the Emperor had inculcated in the afternoon i'. ■ 142 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. I ■:lsi that lie must go hand in hand with me. When arranging our march, I expressed the desire to march with my troops in the advanced guard, but Moret requested me to leave it to his Mexi- cans, who had been for the greater part guerillas, and who were acquainted with every inch of the ground. As his reasons were plausible, I agreed to follow him with my hussars. As soon as we should have passed the river we were to put the spurs to our horses, and ride on without taking any notice what occurred be- hind us. Should we be separated, by some acci- dent, we were to meet at a certain road behind the village Santa Rosa, at the foot of the Sierra Gorda. From here we should endeavour to find General Olvera, and act in concert with him. The moon shone brightly as we started. Turning round the Cerro de la Campana, we came to the river. It was rather deep, and its banks were steep. We had to pass one by one, and much time was thus lost. During our cross- ing we noticed in the camp of the enemy signal rockets, which indicated the direction of our march, and arriving at the opposite bank, we heard to our left and right firing of infantry, which astonished us the more, as the enemy generally guarded this plain with cavalry only. It had the appearance as if the enemy had in- formation of our plan, and I believe now what t^l, J ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 143 e river nd ride red be- 16 acci- bebind B Sierra to find bim. started, a, we and its ly one, cross- signal of our tnk, we fantry, enemy I did not then believe, tbat we were betrayed by Lopez, to wbom the Emperor confided things which he ought not have communicated to any others but the persons to whom it concerned. Instead of advancing at a gallop, we went on slowly, and kept on going thus for about ten minutes, when we received fire in front and fi^om both flanks, on which occasion I got a grazing shot in my leg, and my horse one at its croup. Instead of dashing onwards we came to a dead stop, and I sent Major Malburg to inquire what was the matter. It was long before he returned, and when he came he told me that dense columns of infantry were immediately before us. I sent him again to Moret with an urgent request to advance by all means, and not to care how many might fall, but Malburg returned again with the request of the general to come to his side. I found him before a water ditch, but which was no serious impediment, as the sixty men of the advanced guard had passed it. On my asking'why he had not followed them, the general said that masses of infantry had come between him and his advanced guard, and prevented it. I saw indeed at a distance of about eighty paces mfantry before us, who fired into us. Moret asked what we should do under these circum- stances, and whether it would not be better to postpone the undertaking. 144 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. I saw that it was now an absolute impossi- bility to ride through the masses of infantry before us, and regretted very much that I had not remained at the side of the general all the time ; for some forty of the sixty men of the advanced guard reached the Sierra Gorda, as I w as informed afterwards ! Underthese circum- stances nothing was left but to think of retreat- ing, for the fire in front and on both our flanks had become still more intense, and at the same time we were fired on by two batteries to our right, which had not been there in the after- noon. Never in all my life was I so furious and mortified as on this retreat, which was owing to the want of decision of General Moret, and still more to the folly of General Miramon, to en- cumber me with this man, whose unfitness for such an expedition was very well known to him. General Escobar told me at a later period that before my arrival in the tent, Miramon had re- primanded Moret rather sharply about several previous blunders, exhcHed him to behave pro- perly on this occasion, wiiich he gave him, to re- establish his military character. The careless- ness of Miramon was unpardonable ; for though I do not think very much of him, I cannot dis- cover any other reason for his desire to prevent our success. ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 145 ia, as I circum- retreat- ir flanks he same J to our le after- ious and .owing to and still 1, to en- Ltness for to him. |riod that had re- [t several ave pro- |m, to re- careless- ir though inot dis- prevent I cannot describe the feelings with which I went to the Emperor next morning. When 1 entered he called out, " I know the whole affair already ! " I tried now to induce the Emperor to let me repeat the attempt on another evening, and assured him that I would not return a second time. He liked the proposition. On April 19th fifteen officers wrote a letter to General Mejia, in which they gave it as their opinion that there remained nothing to be done but to surrender, and which they most earnestly advised should be done. At the head of these faint-hearted officers stood General Ramirez, Colonel Rubio, and Major Adami. These three were put under arrest the same day, and re- mained so during the whole siege. The Emperor bpcame more and more aware of the difficulty of his position, and expressed the desire to have me always with him. He would not let me go to Mexico now, and I re- ceived his order to remain thenceforward per- manently at head-quarters. He still believed that Marquez was on his way back to Queretaro, and Miramon declared, with the greatest assu- rance, that Queretaro could be held still for months. Therefore, instead of sending me my- self, he gave me orders to find a person who would undertake to make inquiries for Marquez. TOL.I. 10 I. ^' t 146 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. To leave the city was not impossible to a brave and discreet man, as was proved by the example of our advanced guard. For this adventure I knew no man better fit- ted than my brave Alsatian, Muth, and I made him the proposition. I promised him two thousand pesos if he would transmit a slip of paper, hidden in the soles of his shoes, to General Marquez, and bring an answer, or at least, reliable news about him. I gave him twenty-five pesos for pocket money, and he went on his perilous expedition during the night of the 20th and the 21st. Amongst the foreigners in Queretaro, brought there by the chances of war, was a Mr. "VVells, a North American. On the road, with a train of waggons and mules, he had the mis- fortune to meet Mejia, who thought it conve- nient to take him and his whole concern with him to Queretaro. Mr. Wells was a very clever and agreeable gentleman. Instead of losing his time and temper, and bewailing his fate, he, with true American versatility, accommodated himself to circumstances. To make himself useful, he attached himself to a hospital, and rendered very good services there, and with such a good heart and will that the Emperor thought it proper to acknowledge them by giving Mr. Wells the decoration of the Guadelup ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 147 berfit- [ made n two slip of oes, to r, or at leretaro, las a Mr. ,, with a \\e mis- It conve- |ern witli •y clever if losing fate, te, odated himself lital, and id "witli Imperor .em hy uadelup order. He was extremely pleased, republican as lie was, and wore the decoration during the whole of the siege. On April 21st I was appointed first aide-de- camp of the Emperor, in the place of Colonel Osmachea, who was transferred to the cavalry, I do not know why. He was extremely devoted, and during the whole fight of the 14th ult. he was on his knees, praying for victory. On the other side of the river we saw to-day, hanging on a tree, a man, who had attached to liis breast a sheet of paper, on which was painted a large B 5, to show that the man who had been hanged was the fifth of our spies which had been captured. In the course of the night from 21st to 22nd of April, I was awakened by Severo, the Empe- ror's Mexican body-servant, and ordered to go to his master. I found him already half dressed. He told me that some person whom he did not name had just informed him that Miramon inten- ded to arrest him this very night. " Though I do not believe this for a single moment," said the Emperor, " I think it convenient to take mea- sures against any emergencies.'* As the Emperor did not name the person I who brought him this information, I did not hke to ask his name; but I suppose it was Mendez. ■-Tatv.! . Ki ■'• 148 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. I ordered the hussars to be ready, and watched myself the whole night, which passed, however, without any incident. In the morning of the 22nd of April the Emperor sent for Miramon, with whom he had a conversation which lasted two hours. I do not know its object; but when I made my morning report, the Emperor said, " I believe, Salm, the young general is faithful after all." In the afternoon a man, who was a relative of a priest in the city, and lived then in the hacienda de Jacal, the head-quarters of the Liberal Gene- ral Corona, who held the lines opposite those occupied by Mendez, came to the head-quarters. He had overheard a conversation between several generals. "The generals,'* he said, "rejoiced very much about ^he defeat of General Marquez between Puebla and Mexico." " That's not true," said the Emperor, in- terrupting him; "for Marquez has nothing to do between Puebla and Mexico. The man also stated the generals had dis- cussed the question what would be best to be done with "Maximiliano," and whether he should be made prisoner. All agreed that he ought to be shot ; but some of them expressed the fear I that the government would pardon and send| him to the coast. ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 149 ', and )assed, iril the he had . I do ide my believe, ;er all." bive of a lacienda al Gene- te those quarters, n several ed very Marquez )eror, in- •tiling to had dis- Ist to be le should ' [ought to the fear' Ind send] "Against that," said Corona, "is still a remedy. He may be shot by his escort, like President Commonfort." On the 23rd I dined with the Emperor, but our fare was so extremely bad that he could not help laughing about it. I told him that I dined much better the day before with Dr. Basch, whose dinner was cooked by his Hungarian servant. "That bad fellow!" said the Emperor, jokingly; "I sha?i take that precious servant from him." The thing was arranged, and our dinners afterwards became better. In those days I dined now and then at the Hotel de Diligencias, where we, for a piastre, got some roast horse or mule, beans, and tortillas. I generally carried with me a little piece of bread, which was tno small to bfe divided, and for which I was very much envied. The Em- peror received every morning some bread from the good nuns of Santa Teresita, and Dr. Basch, Pradillo, Blasio, and I received each a piece. General Arellano had been busy for two days past with building two batteries in the projecting angles near the pantheon: one di- rected against the Garita de Mexico, the other against a battery which the enemy had erected on the road close to the aqueduct a few days w 160 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. ago, in order to attack the cniz also from the east side. My position did not permit me now to visit much in the city ; but, at the desire of the Empe- ror, I frequently saw General Mendez, who was in a vei y bad humour, and whom I tried to cheer up. I was more frequently in the company of General Castillo, Colonel Don Manuel Guzman, of his staff, Pradillo, and Father Aguerre. Sometimes we had a rubber of whist with Dr. Basch and the Majors Pitner and Malburg. From six to half-past seven o'clock p.m., the Emperor promenaded regularly on the Plaza de la Cruz, and the enemy must have known it; for at that time the Plaza was always shelled, which, however, did not disturb the Emperor in the least. He was much more disturbed by begging women, especially soldiers* wives, who would not be refused, and whoever was in company with the Emperor had to empty his pockets. During one of these promenades I spent in this manner twenty-five dollars. On the 24th of April, at seven o'clock a.in., General Arellano tried his new batteries against the Garita de Mexico, and evidently with good success, as the enemy's fire was silenced now and then. The Emperor went into the cupola of the cruz, to observe the effect of our fire. Witb ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 151 him, in tlie confined little room, were Mejia, who was out again for the first timo, Miramon, Arel- lano, Reyes, Moret, Lopez, Pradillo, and I, with my shadow Montecon, the adjutant of Lopez, and a Frenchman, Captain Kuries. The windows of this small room were half closed by adobes. A twelve-pounder ball entered one of these windows, and struck against the opposite wall, covering us all with dust and lime ; but nobody was hurt ! The ball remained harmless on the ground, and the Emperor said he would send it to Miramar as a keepsake, and have inscribed on it the names of all present. Miramon, who himself looked like a miller, had a good laugh at me, as I wore for the first time a new uniform, and because I kept to my eye my powdered lorgnette, wondering why I could not see any- thing. The firing lasted until ten o'clock a.m.^ when it was stopped, for reasons of economy. The head-quarters of General Escobedo, who commanded the forces of the enemy, had been in the valley between San Gregorio and San Pablo — I suppose in the Rancho de Jesus Maria; but since our attack on the San Gre- gorio, it had been removed to the south-eastern slope of the Cerro de la Cantara. On the 25th of April, Colonel Leiza, of Cas- tillo's staff, a very amiable, active little gentle- 152 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. man, was struck on the azotea of tho cruz by a shell, which shattered both his legs. He would not have Dr. Basch, who offered to am- putate them, but preferred a Mexican sur- geon, who cut off only one, and in conse- quence of which operation he died a few days afterwards. I had on this day a long conversation with General Castillo about our present position, and we agreed to unite our efforts for the purpose of inducing the Emperor to leave Quer^taro. The Emperor agreed to our proposition, but only under the condition to take his whole army with him. He was always troubled by the fear of not having done enough for his military honour, and then he repeated still, " Marquez will come yet." This hope was taken from him, however, this day by my brave Muth, who returned from his adventure. In the room of the Emperor I wrote down what he said, but as the original has been lost, I can only give the contents of the document. When Muth, on leaving Quer^taro, crept j through the cactus thicket, he suddenly encoun- tered the enemy's outposts pointing their guns I at him. As escape was impossible, he waved his handkerchief, and reported himself as al ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 163 deserter. He abused, of course, all and every- thing in Quer6taro, and was led to the head- quarters of some general, where he met a German aide-de-camp, I suppose a German- American, from the staff of Escobedo, a Captain Enking, whose acquaintance I had the misfor- tune to make later, as I shall relate in its proper place. Muth was detailed to a battalion which occupied the Garita de Mexico, and collected all information which he thought useful to us. As all his former statements had proved true, we had no reason to disbelieve what he now told us. It was well known in the enemy's camp that General Marquez had been beaten by Porfirio Diaz at San Lorenzo, a place between Mexico and Puebla, on the 8th or 9th of April ; that he had lost all his artillery, and escaped only with a few " sombreros chicitos,'* as the hussars were called by the Mexicans, from their little Hun- garian hats — and that he was now besieged in Mexico. He also brought the important news of the fall of Puebla, and that three Imperial generals and fifty officers had been shot by the Liberals, which proved unfortunately only too true. Muth said that the Liberals did not intend to make a general attack again, as they were con- 154 ATTEMPTS 4T ESCAPE. fident of getting the city soon, bj starving the garrison. The Emperor asked him what was the meaning of the ringing of all the bells in the suburbs, and the " Diana " in the Hues of the enemy, which was heard some days ago. He stated that this was caused by the good news about the victory over Marquez, received on that day. This reminds me of General Moret, who had the assurance to order the " Diana " to be sounded, on the Cerro de la Campana, when ho returned from the nightly expedition which miscarried by his inefficiency ! I paid Muth one hundred piastres on ac- count, promising him five hundred or six hun- dred more on account on the 15tli of May, but which was prevented, I am sorry to say, by sad and important events. The neve's brought by Muth seemed to con- firm the Emperor in liis decision to break through with the army, and General Castillo was charged with the task of making proposi- tions in writing for the execution of such a plan. He sent for Miramon, and told him of the information received, and his decision in consequence of it, and gave me many orders, which I executed, with the assistance of Mr. Schwesinger, who spoke and wrote Spanish ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 155 perfectly well, whilst Basch had to write many confidential letters for the Emperor. On the 26th of April, preparations were made for our breaking through the enemy, which was to take place next morning at five o'clock. Nobody knew our intention except the Emperor, Castillo, Miranxon, and myself. The Emperor ordered me to put his papers and archives in little valises, which the hussars were lO take behind their saddles; and the steward of the Emperor was occupied with this work all day in my room, with locked doors. I was appointed by the Emperor chief of liis household, and he placed under my especial command both the hussars and the Mexican body-guard. I forgot to mention that the com- mander of the hussars, Captain Echegaray, had been transferred to the infantry, and that his command had been given to Captain Paw- lowski. This officer was a very powerful man, who on one occasion greatly astonished the Mexi- cans. The cavalry fights of the Mexicans were generally the most ridiculous affairs one could see. Both parties halted at a certain distance, and commenced firing at each other, until one party had enough of it and ran away, when the other pursued them with great noise. When the hussars, instead of conforming to this cus- 156 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. Mi • SHH ! c>:im -tW^B >T^X^^^Hj i. in)'. 1 torn, rushed upon tlie Mexicans sabre in hand, they were utterly shocked at such rude beha- viour, and the more so as Captain Pawlowski, who always carried a very heavy regulation sabre, cut down seven of them with his own hand before they recovered from their asto- nishment. I had to prepare everything for our leaving as secretly as possible ; and the Emperor, who never forgot anything, ordered that every one near him should carry a note-book in his pocket, in order to write down immediately even the most trifling order, to which he very strictly adhered. To deceive the inhabitants and the enemy, who knew, however, our position better than we did ourselves, all buglers assembled in the afternoon in the Plaza de la Cruz, to sound " Diana," and at the same time all the bells were ringing — that is, all which had not been transformed yet into cannon-shot. I was contented and happy that at last we had arrived at a decision, and slept better than I ever did before. The exact dispositions for the 27th of April were not known to me ; but from what I heard, it would seem as if Miramon cared more for inflicting a severe blow on the enemy than to fulfil our chief purpose. ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 157 and, elia- vski, ition own asto- iving who y one 1 his f even trictly memy, than m the sound bells t been ist we r than Ith of rhat I more than Whilst Miramon attacked the enemy at the foot of the Cimatario, Castillo, who volunteered to do so, was to make a feigned attack against the Garita de Mexico. Should he, however, by chance be able to take it without much sacrifice, he might do so. The Emperor was to wait in the cruz for the result of Miramon* s attack. With him re- mained the hussars, the body-guard, and the regiment Empress. Everything was packed up, and ready for our departure from Queretaro. Between five and six o'clock a.m., Castillo and Miramon advanced at the same time ; the former on that road which I had desired to take on April 11th, and the latter from the chapel San Francisquito. Yrith Miramon was the division of General Mendez, who did on that day his utmost, as he bad noticed that the Emperor of late had treated him with some coldness. At the head of the attacking column were, as usual, the brave Cazadores, and next to them was the battalion of the municipal guards of Mexico. Cavalry covered their right flank. The first line of the enemy and a battery were taken on 'he first assault by Major Pitner. The attack was made with such impr^tuosity that a panic seized the Liberals, who fled ;ilmost without making any stand. In this attack, 158 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. i I Pitner met the Liberal brigade from Morelia, whicb was commanded by a German, Colonel Charles von Gagern, whose adjutant, Mr. von Gluemer, was taken prisoner. After our troops were once in the enemy's line, it was easy work to roll it up, as they were flanked and fired in the back. The Liberals fled like a panic-struck flock of sheep. Fifteen guns, seven stands of colours, and five hundred and forty-seven prisoners, including twenty-one officers, a great quantity of ammunition and arms, officers* baggage and provisions, were the result of this short engagement. The strong hacienda de Jacal, the head-quarters of Corona,, was also taken. The panic of the Liberals was so great, that many, and amongst them some generals, ran until beyond Celaya, which is foui' leagues from Queretaro. Castillo had also good success. He took a battery of six guns ; but as the gaiita itself, and the hacienda opposite it, were like a fort, and built of solid stone, it was not so easy to take it as an earth breastwork. We had scarcely sustained any loss, and the purpose of our attack was fulfilled most glori- ously, and beyond any expectation. Nothing prevented us from leaving the city, as some hours must necessarily pass before Escobedo could send fresh troops from the opposite lines ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE., 159 irelia, [•. von lemy's y were lis fled Fifteen undred ity-o"ne 311 and rere tlie strong Corona;, -als was |m some is foul' [e took Ita itself, ]e a fort, easy to an^ .1 tbe 1st glori- iNotliing IS some ;scobedo site lilies around the city. Whoever knows Mexican warfare, knovrs also that any return or collect- ing of beaten troops was not to be appre- hended. Liberal officers told me later, that their army lost, on that day, not less than ten thou- sand men by desertion, and cavalry was sent after them into the country, to bring back at least some of them. The defeat was so com- plete, and appeared so decisive, that some of tlie Liberal generals proposed to raise the siege, r.nd all admitted that it must have been done, if Miramon had at once assisted Castillo, and the Garita de Mexico been taken. The poor Citizens were jubilant. As soon as they became aware of our great success, they rushed into the lines of the enemy, and helped themselves to all victuals they found there. When the Emperor saw that our troops were victorious, he ordered his household to remain prepared, and rode on the battle-field, accom- panied by Pradillo, myself, Lopez, and the hussars. The troops received him with tre- mendous cheering. On all our lines " Diana'* was soundfc5, and all the bells of Queretaro prochiimed our victory to the country around. When we arrived, I saw, with astonishment, that the troops of Miramon retired to the Casa Blanca, thougli no enemy was before us ; and 160 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. nothing prevented him from marching up tlie Cimatario, to occupy the Cuesta China, and to fire from there into the Garita de Mexico — if nothing beside the original purpose was in- tended. The Emperor rode along the lines which had been occupied by the enemy, in a lively conversation with Miramon, and visited also tlie hacienda de Jacal. In this conversation, I suppose, General Miramon tried to persuade the Emperor to give up for the present his intention of leaving Queretaro, and to make another attempt to annihilate the rest of the enemy's forces, as it had been done with such facility on the south side. The eloquence of the jc g general was the more convincing, as it was F pported by such a stupendous success. It was resolved now that Miramon should advance on the right of the Cimatario, sweep the crest of the Cuesta China, cross the liver, and attack San Gregorio. Had this plan been carried out immediately after our success, it might, perhaps, Ifave been followed by a still greater one; but hours had passed, during which nothing was done. The Emperor was, however, full of hope, and said to me, "Well, Salm, the young general is good, after all." It has been stated, at a later period, by a Major von Goerbitz,.a German, of Miramon's ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 161 staff, that it was not this general, but the Em- peror himself, who ordered that a second attack should be made. On my questioning him how the major could know what had been transacted privately between the Emperor and Miramon, the major said that the latter had always been in the habit of assembling his staff after a con- versation with the Emperor, in order to commu- nicate to them what had been said or resolved upon. I asked General Escobar, who had been always with Miramon, and he flatly contradicted thit this general ever had this extraordinary habit. General Escobar is still living, and ready to repeat now what he then asserted. But if Major von Goerbitz heard Miramon make this statement, then I must suppose that the general said so for some particular purpose; for, from a conversation between him and the Emperor on that subject, at which I was pre- sent, it became obvious that the second attack had been proposed by Miramon. I have not misunderstood this conversation, for I asked the Emperor himself, and he said that I had rightly understood the matter. Formerly, Marquez was the evil spirit of the Kmperor ; now it was Miramon. The first is a vile traitor ; the latter paid with his blood shed at the same time as that of the Emperor ; and as VOL. I. 11 162 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. long as there are n^ proofs to the contrary, we will believe that Miramon, though full of per- sonal ambition, was blinded more by his own illusions, and carried away by his lightness, than that he purposely deceived the Emperor, and advised him badly, in order to rise by his fall. General Escobedo made a better use of the time squandered by Miramon with such culpable carelessness. As soon as he, from his head- quarters on the Cantara across the city, saw the broad side of the Cimatario covered witli his panic-struck soldiers, h? sent his best troops over the river to repair the losses. Amongst these troops was the battalion de Supremos Poderos, the body-guard of Juarez ; the brigade of Nueva Leon, under Colonel Palacio; and even Escobedo' s own body-guard, the cavalry regiment of the Cazadores de Galeano, who carried eight-shooters, American Spencer rifles. It was past nine o'clock a.m. Miramon placed t^vo brigades — one to the right, another to the left of the broad way leading from the Casa Blanca up the Cimatario; the same on which the enemy advanced on March 27th. A third brigade followed as a reserve, and the 4th regiment of cavalry, under Colonel de la Cruz, covered the right flank. Whether Miramon had neglected to obtaui information about the movements of the enemr, ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 163 •y, we f per- 3 own 3, tlian ir, and , fall, of tlie ulpable s head- ty, saw ed witli ,t troops Amongst upremos ^ brigade 10 ; and cavalry no, wlio er rifles. ^[irainon anotkr from tlie same on 7tli. A and tlie el de la Ito obtain le enemy, whether lie, in his intoxication produced by his success, had not even thought it necessary to place a look-out on tlie crest of the Cimatario, I cannot tell ; but it is a fact that the reinforce- ments sent by Escobedo were already near this crest, on the opposite slope of the hill, when our troops commenced ascendin <^ it on the other side. By his negligence Miramon had lost the great advantage of position ; and another j^roof of bis carelessness was, that the Cazadores went to this new attack with only two or three car- tridges in their boxes ! The Emperor, excited also by success, and believing now more than ever in the genius of Miramou, advanced with tlie general. When our brio-ades had asc jnded about two- thirds of the hill, they were received by a tre- mendous fire from its crest, where Escobedo' ri troops had arrived. At the same time, the Cazadores de Galeano swept round the left wing of the enemy, and made an attack against our 4tli regiment of cavalry, which was routed, and thrown back upon the infantry. Our troops baited. Their intoxication had not been last- ing, for their victory had been w^on too easy. Moreover, they were already tired by their work of the morning, especially by the running up to make prisoners. The fire from the top of the hill, strength- 164 ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. ened by that on their flanks from tho victorious Cazadores de Galeano, who fired on that occa- sion fourteen thousand cartridges, as I was informed afterwards, was too much for them, and they began to waver. At this moment the Emperor drew his sword and stepped out before tlio front line. Miramon was on his right, I on his left side. But the fire from the heights proved more effective than the eloquence of h^'s encouraging words and his example ; our troops made right about face, and the Liberals advanced from their position. The Emperor was beside himself; he would not retire, and remained on the spot where he was, the target for every bullet. That he did not find here a soldier's death is wonderful. The danger became more and more urgent, for the enemy advanced. Miramon and I entreated him in vain to retire ; he would remain. At last I laid my hand on his left arm and said, " I implore your majesty not to expose yourself in such a useless manner, you owe it to your army not to throw aAvay your life !" This had the required afffect. The Emperor slowly turned about his horse, and walked his horse to the Casa Blanca. The slope of the hill offered now a spectacle which cut me to the heart. It was covered with our troops flying in disorder, chased by ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. 165 onous occa- I was them, sword iramon iut the ve than and his ice, and n. The uld not he was, not find B danger enemy him in ,st I laid implore such a y not to required bout his 16 Casa spectacle covered lased by tlie Cazadores de Galeano, wlio killed every wounded man. In the short distance from the hill to the Casa Blanca wo lost two hundred and fifty men, among them Lieutenant Wols of the Cazadores, who remained on the field wounded in tlie face. The enemy made a feint to follow us to the city, and advanced at once against the Casa Blanca, which had been occupied in tho old manner. General Miramon who was on the azotea of the Casa Blanca, requested the Emperor to join him there, that he might see liow the Liberals would run their heads against our walls. Miramon was not mistaken this time. The enemy halted at about two hundred paces, and when a brave attack of the Cazadores de Galeano against our battery between the Garita de Pueblita and Celaya was beaten off, tlie Liberals contented themselves with re-occu- pying the lines which their comrades had lost in the morning. AYlien I stood with the Emperor and Miramon on the azotea of the Casa Blanca, I asked tho latter what measures he had taken for the security of the cruz ? He answered, "Up to this moment none whatever." He had for- gotten the cruz altogether, and had it depended upon him the Liberals might have taken it without difficulty. It was, however, not left quite unprotected. The regiment Empress * IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3} 1.0 I.I 11.25 2.5 2.2 2.0 m U 11.6 .^ ^ / M'*.'' ^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WBT MAIN STRUT WnSTIR.N.Y. 14SM (716) •73-4503 ^\ ^ r to the] ^ing friendly CAPTDEE OF THE CITY BT TBEACHEBY. 179 with almost everybody, now jumped from my lap and attacked the legs of the colonel with inconceivable fury, and would not be calmed. The Emperor reminded me later of this occur- rence. Towards night great activity was noticed in the enemy's lines, and at half-past eight com- menced, in celebration of the day, a most ter- rific fire from all the batteries. It was indeed a rare and wonderful spectacle, as each projectile showed its fiery line against the dark sky ; and the concert made by about a hundred guns, and the bursting of so many shells was not less affect- ing for nervous people. The Liberals had been made drunk in hopes that under the influence of liquor they might succeed in their often-tried attack against the bridge. They came on this time with great fury, and advanced till within twenty-five paces from the bridge ; but they were then mowed down by bullets and canister, and fled in confusion, leav- ing a great number of dead on the field. The Emperor stayed during the bombard- iraent, which lasted until ten o'clock, on the Plaza de la Cruz, and hussars and body-guard [were in readiness. The 6th of May was a day of rest in both [camps. Accompanying the Emperor in his pual promenade on the Plaza de la Cruz, he , ;■ :A^ ISO CAPTUEE OF THE CITY BY TEEACHEKT. complained bitterly about Marquez, and the quarrels amongst his other generals. The end of all his complaints was, however, " It is only fortunate that we can break through whenever we like." He spoke also about his relations with Europe, and the French and their Em- peror were mentioned, but by no means in flattering expressions. The most approving were his remarks about the Crown Prince of Prussia, for whom he had a most particular pre- dilection. He said, if Prussia should have a war with France, he would accompany the Crown Prince, provided that there was not war against Austria. I paid General Mendez a visit to-day, whom I found at home, not bodily sick but in an awful humour, and he expressed himself in a manner which made me seriously afraid that his words would be followed by corresponding actions. I therefore thought it to be my duty to draw the attention of the Emperor to the subject. This was the sixty- second day of the siege proper. On May 7th, several officers were promoted j on the recommendation of Miramon. I wasj very much astonished not to see amongst them Major Pitner, who distinguished himself so much at the various actions, whilst much less] deserving and younger majors were promoted. I spoke to the Emperor about this injustice, and! R»l CAPTURE OP THE CITY* BY TBEACHEBY. 181 had the satisfaction to find that Major Pitner was made heut.-colonel on the same day ; brave Major Malburg got also at last his medal for his splendid behaviour on the 24th March. On the 8th of May I accompanied the Em- peror to the trenches. Near the Chapel de San Francisquito we saw the soldiers cook cactus leaves. The Emperor asked them whether they got their allowance. They answered that they received their correct ration of mule meat, but less maize, coffee, and beans than usual. Between the chapel and the Alameda, we bad, about one hundred and fifty paces before our lines, a small lunette, protecting a mortar. When the Emperor left with mo the trenches to go to this lunette, he was at once fired at. "Salm," he said, "remain here and wait for me." " But," I rejoined, " I cannot sufier your Majesty to go alone !" " Yes, yes, I order you to stay here." I therefore remained on the spot where the Emperor left me, on the field between the line and the lunette, until the Emperor re- tu od, who was astonished to find me there, as he wanted me to return behind the breastwork. "Well," I excused myself," your Majesty ordered me to stay here, and here I am." He shook his head without saying a word, and walked on. He exposed himself always, and frequently very unnecessarily, but wac always very anxious ■I ^i 182 CAPTUEE OP THE CITY BY TEEACHEEY. that it should not be done by persons he loved. On our way home I tried to persuade the Emperor to visit General Mendez, in hopes that this distinction would act well upon the latter ; but the Emperor declined, being afraid that it would be against his dignity. I told him, how- ever, that brave Cevallos was lying with Mendez in the same room, and that the brave colonel, who could only survive a few days longer, would be highly gratified by seeing his Emperor once again. The Emperor made no reply, but going with me to different places until dark, he then went to the house of Mendez. On entering the room, he stepped at once to the bed of Cevallos, and, whilst I took my place at the bedside of Mendez, he spoke some words of comfort to the dying colonel. Then he came to Mendez, asked how he felt himself, and, after a few indifferent words more, as Madame Mendez and other persons were in the room, he said, " I shall send you Colonel Salm, who has something more to communicate to you." After having seen the Emperor home, I re- turned to Mendez, whom I found quite delighted with the Emperor's visit; but his delight was still increased, when I told him that the Em- peror had at last decided to cut his way out of CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TRBACHEBT. 183 the city, and asked his opinion about it. Mendez promised to be well next morning, to consult with Mejia, and to acquaint the Emperor with the result. On the 9th, about noon, Mendez came. His health and good spirits had returned, and we had a long conversation over a bottle of wine. I told him, also, that the Emperor wanted him next day to attend a Council of "War, in which was to be decided how this plan was to be carried out. General Miramon, for a joke, frightened General Escobedo to-day, whose aversion against bullets was known to him, by direct- ing a battery against his headquarters on the slope of La Cantara. It was, indeed, amus- ing to see the confusion created by our shot, and the hurry with which everybody decamped from the headquarters. But Escobedo did not relish the fun of this joke of the young general, taking it very ill. In the afternoon I accompanied the Emperor again on his usual promenade in the Plaza de la Cruz, though it was just at that time rather a hot place. The cruz was not only bombarded with shell and shot, but from the houses near the plaza, which were already occupied by the enemy, a Uvely infantry fire was kept up against any person who dared to show himself. lif M 184 OAFTUBE OF THE 0IT7 BY TBEAOHEBT. fr ^1 I' J The Emperor was in a very sad mood to- day. Eight shells burst around him ; he heeded them not, and continued his walk, but noticed on a stone bench near the entrance several oflRcers, amongst them Captain von Fuersten- waerther and Dr. Basch, who seemed to coquet a little with the danger. He sent me there to reproach them, but they remained, probably not thinking it proper to go away whilst their Em- peror remained amidst a shower of bullets. However, I was again sent to them to order them peremptorily away. When I returned, the Emperor said, " Salm, I do not send you away, for I know it would mortify you too much. Stay with me." We continued our walk for about a quarter of an hour. Shells and balls struck near us in disagreeable quantities, but none of them would satisfy the secret longing of the Emperor. In the evening Colonel Lopez asked permis- sion that the cavalry, under a Lieut. -Colonel Jablonski, might be permitted to occupy a line of the cruz near the pantheon, to relieve the duty of the infantry a little. As the suggestion of the commander of the Cruz seemed to be reasonable, the permission was given. Jablonski was a Mexican, but probably of Polish descent. He was a particular friend of Lopez, with whom he was very intimate. '■'"Si- CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TREACHERY. 185 On the 11th of May provisions for man and beast were nearly exhausted. Horses and mules did not get any rations at all, and had to be satisfied with what they found on the plazas of the city. The regiment of the ^Impress and the body-guard still received quarter rations. The horses of the Emperor were kept alive by pro- visions which Lopez had got somewhere, and I bought for mine old straw beds, of which the contents were chopped. We still had wine. "We had discovered the secret store of a wine merchant, and confiscated it for the benefit of the hospitals, and sent them as much as they required. The rest was sold to officers, and the money employed also for the benefit of the hospitals. In this manner a box of champagne was also acquired for the Imperial cellar. At noon the Council of War assembled in the room of General Castillo. I remained in the adjoining room of the Emperor, who frequently entered to tell me what the generals said, and to hear my own opinion. It was resolved to break through the hues of the enemy with the whole of our little army, which was still possible at any point we chose. It is true the enemy had encircled us closely with his lines, but his whole army was employed occupying them, without keeping any reserve at his disposal. J.i 186 CAPTUEE OP THE CUT BY TREACHEttY. } ■ i'i Si •■'. To prevent the enemy from becoming aware of our intention too soon, it was resolved to arm three thousand Indians of the city, who were to occupy the lines whilst we evacuated the place. All the guns were to be spiked by Arellano, with the exception of three or four to make a noise. The Indians were also to fire their muskets now and then. Towards morning they were to throw their arms away, and to retire to their houses. This, however, was to be told them only at the last moment ; at present they were to be made to believe that they were to defend the lines, whilst we made a vigorous attack. General Mejia undertook to organise the Indians, who did anything to please their " Pap Tomasito,*' and to put the required guns in tolerably serviceable condition. Mendez was very glad, though he told me we might depend on losing half our infantry by desertion, but that we should reach the Sierra Gorda. The troops would not be harmed by the Liberals ; they would be mustered in at once with the army, according to Mexican fashion, but the generals would be certainly shot if captured. He requested me, however, not to say anything about it to the Emperor, for fear that it might induce him to give up his plan. With making preparations for the great event, the 12th and 33th of May passed away. The OAPTUEE OP THE CITY BY TREACHERY. 187 Emperor sent me to Mejia to ask how far he had advanced with his Indians. He said that three thousand of them were ready, but not as yet many guns, and he requested, therefore, that the undertaking might be postponed until the night from the 14th to the 15 th, to which the Emperor consented. In the morning of the 14th I accompanied the Emperor to the hospitals. He was much moved, and frequently repeated how much it grieved him to be compelled to leave the wounded behind ; but that they might not re- main without proper care, he ordered that doctors and nurses should remain behind witli them. That we intended to break through this night was known only to the generals, but at what point was known to no one ; as it was to be decided in a Council of War, to be held immediately before the execution of the plan, in order to make treason impossible. On our way from the hospitals to the cruz, the Emperor told me that he had appointed me general, and given me a decoration, but re- quested me to keep it for myself until after the evacuation of Quer^taro. The Emperor was afraid of the jealousy of some Mexicans, and did not wish to excite it at this moment. He feared this especially of Miramon, who had frequently 188 CAFrUEE OF THE CITY BY TREACHEEY. asked him in vain to make his friend Moret a full general. This general asserts that he had received his commission, notwithstanding what I have stated, but he could not show it. All I know is, that the Emperor once said, " I will not make a general of him.** General Moret wears, also, the medal for valour, and the Guadelup cross, but I know with certainty that he received none of these decorations from the Emperor. Mendez came to see me. He was in a very good humour, and promised me to address his troops before we attacked. Since the night of the 10th we had every night from ten to twelve deserters, and at last about one hundred ; but a far superior number of Liberals came during the siege into the city. These Liberal deserters were highly satisfied, as they were treated and paid far better than in the Liberal army, where they were also flogged, a mode of punishment which had been abolished in ours. On the evening of the 14th of May, every- thing was ready for marching. The small store of maize we still had was distributed amongst the regiment of the Empress, the hussars, the body-guard, and the oflBcers, that they might strengthen themselves by a somewhat sufficient meal. The treasure of the Emperor was divided between Pradillo, Dr. Basch, Campos, Blasio, CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY THEACnERY. 189 U myself, and Lopez. We had the goldounzes round our waists. Still later in the night came Lopez to Blasio, to fetch the money which was to be confided to him. He was very indignant that nothing was left to him but silver, and resented it as an apparent mark of distrust, which was not in the least intended, as nobody distrusted him. About eight o'clock p.m., I was sent by the Emperor to Lopez to inquire whether every- thing was ready. Mr. Schwesinger was with We found the colonel at home, and he me. answered with the most perfect ease that all the orders of the Emperor had been executed. The Council of War assembled at ten o'clock to decide about the place of attack ; but Mejia reported that he had only twelve hundred guns ready, and requested another delay of twenty- four hours. None of the generals opposed, and Miramon said ** that it was still time enough, and a longer delay would have the good effect of making the enemy more secure and careless." However, the Emperor decided that this must be the last delay, and that we certainly should break through in the night from the 15th to the 16th of May. Afler the generals had left, the Emperor sent for Lopez, and decorated him with the medal for valouTk Why and for what deeds has i.-i ijlll him )r;T 11 f-S'l: f'P 190 OAFTUBE OP THE CITT BY TREACHEBT. remained a mystery to me. "When Lopez had gone, the Emperor told me the resolutions of the council, and said, "I know you are not satisfied with this delay.** " Your Majesty,** I replied, " I must confess that I am as little satisfied with this delay as I can approve the reasons of the generals. I should think that twelve hundred muskets and four guns were perfectly sufficient for masking our attack by noise.'* "Well,*' said the Emperor, in dismissing me, " one day, more or less, will be no matter. Take care that the hussars and the body-guard remain saddled." After having attended to this order, I in- spected the house, and, not noticing anything, I went to my room in rather a bad humour. To improve it, I sent the Emperor's valeUdC' chamhrc for a bottle of champagne, which I emptied with M. Schwesinger, who slept in the same room with me. After this I laid down on my field-bed without undressing, placing my sabre near my head and my revolver under my pillow. When I awoke in the morning of the 15th of May it was still dark ; it was about five o'clock a.m. I heard a noise outside, but did not take much notice of it, as it was always somewhat noisy in the house in the morning. I did not suspect any particular disorder, and OAPTUEB OP THE CITY BY TREACHERY. 191 the less as I had examined the house only a few hours before, and might expect that anything of an alarming character would be reported to me by the guard. On a sudden Colonel Lopez entered my room, and said, in a very queer and excited manner, " Quick ! save the life of the Emperor, the enemy is already in the cruz !'* With that ho disappeared, without giving any explanation or waiting for a question. When I had buckled on my sword and put my revolver into the belt, the Emperor's steward, Mr. Grill, came and ordered me to his master. When on the point of following him, Dr. Basch entered, and asked what was the matter ? " We are surprised. I must go to the Emperor. Hurry up, and tell Fuerstenwaerther to order the hussars to mount, and to be ready before the cruz."* When I came to the Emperor, I found him dressed and perfectly calm. He said, " Salm, we are betrayed ! Go down, and let the hussars and body-guard march out. We will go to the cerro, and see how we can arrange the matter. I shall follow you directly." * Dr. Basch says in his book " saddle," but that is a mis- take, as I had ordered them myself to remain saddled, and I could not know then that Lopez had afterwards ordered them to imsaddle. 'W^^ 1 I M 1 ■ I 192 CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TEEACHEEY. I hurried to the Plaza de la Cruz, and was very much astonished at not seeing a single soldier anywhere ; even the guard before the Emperor's room had disappeared. Just as still and deserted was the plaza. The company which had to guard the entrance of the cruz had disappeared, and also the detachment of the regiment Empress, which ought to have been there. At last I met Captain Fuersten- waerther, and ordered him to go to the hussars, who were quartered just across the plaza in the Meson de la Cruz, and also to the body-guard, and to bring them here. Before I reached the entrance of the cruz on my return, I saw, in the nearly dawning light of the morning, that a gun in the battery there had been upset, and that seven or eight soldiers crept caiitiously through the embrasure from the outside. Their manner seemed very suspicious, and on looking sharper I thought I recognized the grey uniform of the Supremos Poderes. I now hurried to the cruz, and met the Emperor descending the staircase. He was in his usual dress, but had over it a great coat, as the morning was cool and he was not well. He had buckled on his sword, and carried in each hand a revolver. General Castillo was close behind him. I ran up to the Emperor, who was on the seventh step from the bottom of the CAPTURE OF THE CITY BY TJIEACHERY. 193 bind was a. single fore the t as still -ompany the cruz iment of to baTe Fuersten- 3 hussars, aza in the dy-guard, ■ the cmz ' dawning he battery or eight embrasure 5ined very thought I Supremos ;, and met He was ;reat coat, not well, [carried in was close teror, who )OiD of the staircase, took his pistols to carry them, and in my excitement, taking hold of his left arm, I called out, " Your Majesty, this is the latest moment ; the enemy is there V* When we stepped out of the door to go over the plaza to the quarters of the hussars, we were stopped by soldiers of the enemy. In- voluntarily I raised one of the Emperor's revolvers, but he made a gesture with his hand, and I dropped it. At the same moment Lopez stepped from amongst the enemy, and at his aide was the Liberal colonel, Don Jos^ Rincon Gallardo. The latter recognized the Emperor, but turned to his soldiers, and said, " Que ^assen, son palsanos** (May pass, they are citizens). The soldiers stepped aside, and we passed — the Emperor, Castillo, Pradillo, and myself in full uniform, and Secretary Blasio. It was obvious that it was not intended to capture the Emperor, but to give him time to escape. The whole proceeding was so aston- ishing and striking, that I looked inquiringly up to the face of the Emperor. He understood my look, and said, *' You see, it never does any harm to do good. It is true, you find amongst twenty people nineteen ungrateful; but still, J now and then, one grateful. I have just now [liad an instance of it. The officer who let us TOl. L 13 yw' ■'*»! 11 j 194 CAITUEE OF THE CITY BY TREAOHEET. pass has a sister,* who was frequently with the Empress, and who has done much good to her. Do good, Salm, whenever you have an oppor. tunity." Dawn now broke. When we passed the meson the hussars were not yet ready. Pra- dillo was sent to tell them that the Emperor would wait for them on the Plaza de Indepen- dencia. On going there, we were followed hy two men of the body-guard, and Castillo en- treated the Emperor to mount one of their horses and ride to the cerro; but he refused, and sent one of the men to Miramon, the other to Mejia, with orders to come with as many troops as possible to the Cerro de la Campana. A moment afterwards Lopez came on horse- back and armed. He entreated the Emperor to go to the house of M. Eubio, the banker, where he would be perfectly safe ; but he was answered, "I do not hide myself." Lopez turned round and rode back. On a sudden, as if risen from the ground, the Emperor's piebald, in the hands of his groom, stood there. I sup- pose he was brought by Lopez himself, who obviously did not wish to include the liberty and life of the Emperor in his treason. Strange that none of us suspected Lopez to be a traitor, though we all had seen him at the * Or mother ; I have forgotten which. r. CAPTUBE OF THE CITY BY TEEACHEBY. 105 vitli tlie t to lier. i oppor- ssed tlie y. Pra- Emperor Indepen- lowed by ,stillo en- of their e refused, , the other 1 as many lampana. on horse- Emperor Le banker, ,ut he was Lopez [sudden, aa •'s piebald, ■e. Isttp- iself, who ihe hberty Lopez to Ihim at the side of the Liberal colonel, and he was free now! The Emperor waited for the hussars, but they did not arrive ; but, instead of them, we saw coming round the corner a battalion of the enemy, and amongst the officers riding at their head we saw Lopez again. Castillo and I im- plored the Emperor to mount ; but he refused, saying, " If you, gentlemen, walk, I will walk also." When the Liberal officers at the head of the battahon recognized the Emperor, they shortened their steps, and we walked along the Calle de Hos- pital, through the western suburb, to the cerro. At the foot of the hill the strength of poor, delicate Castillo was exhausted. The Emperor took one of his arms within his and I the other, and thus we dragged him between us up the cerro, which was occupied only by one battalion. It was now bright daylight, and a most beau- tiful morning. Suddenly we heard the bells from the cruz give the agreed signal that the vile treason had been successful, and the "Diana" in aU the lines of the enemy answered the bells exultingly. We had scarcely arrived on the cerro when the batteries from the San Gregorio and Casa Blanca opened fire against us. When dense imasses of infantry advanced towards the 196 CAPTUEE OF THE CITY BY TEEACHEET. latter, we saw our troops go over to the enemy. Soon after us came Mejia and Colonel Campos, with a part of the body-guard and several mounted officers, amongst them my faithful shadow. Lieutenant Montecon, Lieut.- Colonel Count Pachta, who was once in the Austrian army, my chief d*escadron, and who died, on his return to Europe, of the yellow fever, Lieut.-Colonel Pitner, and other officers, who would have served the Emperor better if they had remained with their troops. The Emperor sent for Miramon — but he was out with his staff — to assemble as many troops as possible. Id one of the streets he was unexpect- edly attacked by a detachment of Liberal cavalry, and shot by the officer commanding it, in his face. The bullet entered his right cheek, and came out near his ear. He was carried to the house of a certain Dr. Licea, an old acquaint- ance of his, who betrayed him to the enemy the same afternoon. The anxiety with which the Emperor and we all looked towards the city may be imagined. "We hoped to see some of our troops arrive ; but, instead of them, came news that several bat- talions had gone over to the enemy. At last I the Emperor saw debouching from the suburb j some cavalry in red uniforms, and, with tears, L* to t\ie Colonel ird and lem my , Lieut.- 3 in tlie md who le yellow • officers, better if )ut bewas f troops as unexpect- al cavalry, it, in bis keek, and iied to the acquaint- 3nen:iy tk jeror and I imagined, rive; but, [veral bat- At last] le suburb yith tears, CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TEEACHBEY. 197 he called out, "Look, Saim, there come my faith- ful hussars." But this was a mistake ; it was only a detachment of a regiment of the Empress, who also wore red jackets. The hussars had followed us immediately; but on entering a street, they saw before them the battalion which we met at the Plaza Independencia. Between this and the Plaza de Armas they were stopped and summoned to surrender by the traitor Lopez. They were compelled to dismount, and were disarmed, with their two brave officers, Pawlowski and Koehlig. The old hussars were furious, and as they could not do anything else, at least they would not give up their horses. Two hussars shot theirs, and the rest drove the others away. They ran up the street directly to their stable in the meson. When they ap- proached the Plaza de la Cruz, the enemy, who still felt very uneasy, was alarmed, and thinking it an attack, the poor horses were received with a volley. One of our battalions, however, approached the cerro, but when five hundred paces from it, they turned about face. The Emperor sent an officer to persuade them to do their duty ; but the noble commander of the battalion laughed directly in the face of the messenger. The Emperor asked me to speak to Mejia about the possibility of cutting our way out ; but i 198 OAPTUEE OF THE OITT BY TEEACHEEY. the general declared it to be utterly useless to attempt it. Our position on the cerro now became very hot. A third battery fired against us fii'om the western plain, and that from the Casa Blanca had advanced to the Garita de Celaya, which was not far from us. The fire was so severe that the battalion which occupied the lines sought shelter in the ditches. The shells bursting to our right and left, frightened poor little " Baby," which had followed its master, and came for help to me. It was lost afterwards, and got into the hands of Colonel Cervantes, the late commander of Queretaro, who refused to sell it to me, and had the bad taste to call it ** Imperatrice." I intended to take the little dog to Europe, and to present it to the Arch- duchess Sophia. In the city scattered musket-firing could be heard. Dense columns of infantry, followed by horse, advanced against the cerro, and the three batteries redoubled their efforts. " Salm," said the Emperor, " now for a lucky bullet." But that bullet would not come, and the Emperor turned again to Mejia, asking whether it was indeed impossible to break through ; but he remained of the opinion that it was impossiole. Now the Emperor called Castillo and myself, and asked Mejia for the CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TREACHEEY. 199 third time ; but the brave and bold chief an- swered : " We have only a handful of cavalry, and part of that is little reliable. Your Majesty may look around and judge whether there is any chance left. I care but little whether I am killed ; but I will not take on me the re- sponsibility of leading your Majesty to certain death." In addition to the fire from the three bat- teries, we now received also musket-fire from two sides, and on two places of the cerro the white flag waved already. A longer delay would liave been madness, and, submitting to dire necessity, the Emperor sent off Lieut.- Colonel Pradillo, under a white flag, to treat with Esco- bedo about surrender. The Emperor, who preserved his composure, drew a parcel of papers from his pocket, and di- rected them to be burnt in a tent by Blasio and Captain Fuerstenwaerther. What papers these were, the Emperor did not tell me. Our fire, of course, at once ceased ; but that of the enemy lasted at least for ten minutes after the hoisting of the white flag. Other Liberal battalions came from the city, and the cerro was soon entirely surrounded by them. A detachment now approached, at the head of which was General Echegaray, who ad- vanced alone and very cautiously. I r ■,'■•' ■I. t 200 CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY T. iEACHERY. The Emperor prepared to receive him. He placed himself in the centre. To his right stood Mejia and Castillo, to his left myself, and the rest of his officers grouped behind us. The Emperor unbuttoned his great-coat, to show his uniform and orders, and, leaning on his sword, he expected the Liberal general. General Echegaray approached in a polite manner and bareheaded, addressing the Em- peror, " Vuestra Majestad," and declaring him his prisoner. After a few words, the Emperor desired to see General Escobedo. The horse of the Em- peror was brought, and also those of Mejia, who gave one to Castillo. My horses had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and I left the lines to look out for one. I saw there a groom holding the Emperor's tall American grey, which had been ridden always by the Empress. At the same moment a Liberal horseman asked the groom whose horse it was, and the fool answered, " The Emperor's ;'* on which the Liberal took it away right under my nose. I tried, unsuccessfully, to unhorse a trumpeter of the regiment Empress, when my faithful Montecon became aware of my need, and offered me his horse. He had done so once in battle, when my own horse was wounded. Then I declined ; but now I accepted it with pleasure, CAPTURE OF THE CITY BY TREACHERY. 201 and was soon again at the side of the Em- peror. "We rode towards the Garita de Celaya. At the foot of the cerro we saw two Mexican horsemen quarrelling, probably about some plunder. One shot the other in his breast, and a jet of blood gushed from the wound in his back, as the bullet passed clear through his body. "Look; how horrible I'* said the Em- peror, pointing towards the two. "We met a troop of officers on horseback. One of them, who was rather excited, approached the Em- peror, and, embracing him, called out, " I greet you, not as Emperor, but as Archduke of Austria, and admire you for your heroic de- fence." Another officer behaved in a very noisy and brutal manner. He pointed his pistol at the Emperor* s face, and that of other officers, and would perhaps have lived to im- mortalize himself with infamy by shooting MaximiUan, had not Escobedo threatened to shoot any one who should kill the Emperor, if he should fall into the hands of the Liberals. It served his purpose better to take him alive. In the neighbourhood of the garita we met Escobedo, with his staff and his body-guard, the Cazadores de Galeano. "We now halted, and a ring was soon formed round the Emperor. I was crowded off from him, but he noticed my 202 CAPTURE OP THE CITY BY TIIEACHEBY. •I I i absence, and called me to his side. We now turned our horses, and rode back to the cerro. I saw Escobedo here for the first time. He is a man of about forty, of middle heigh; dark hair and beard, and very dark complexion. He wears spectacles, and has remarkably large ears, which stand off on both sides. He is very friendly after the Mexican fashion, but his face has a treacherous expression. He had been formerly a muleteer, then studied the law superficially, and joined the Liberal party, for which he organized some bands. He had the good luck to surprise an Austrian column, which was escorting a good sum of money, at San Gertrudis, and got some political influence. He is no soldier at all, and careful not to expose his person to fire. On our way Escobedo was at the side of the Emperor. General Mirafuentes, of his staff, requested the latter, in the name of his general, to deliver up his sword. Another general took mine, and the revolvers of the Emperor, which I had placed in my belt. On the cerro we dismounted. Escobedo invited the Emperor to enter a tent standing there, and I followed, as Escobedo had also an officer with him — I beheve Mirafuentes. Be- sides us four, nobody was a witness to the conversation ensuing. After the Emperor had •v:ll CAPTUEB OP THE CITT BY TREACHERY. 203 been standing a few moments before Escobedo, and the latter remained silent, the Emperor said: "If more blood must be spilled, take only mine.'* This and two other requests were made by the Emperor ; first, in order to spare his army ; and, secondly, to enable all persons belonging to his house, and who wished it, to get to the coast, for the purpose of embarking for Europe. Escobedo replied that he would report to his government, but that the Emperor and those belonging to him should he treated as prisoners of tvar. Officers of the staff of Escobedo have de- nied this, and it is possible that the general will deny it also, in order to escape the re- proach that he broke his word ; but I assert, on my word of honour, and am ready to swear to it in the most sacred manner, that Escobedo said what is her estated. I neither misheard nor misunderstood him, for the Emperor re- ferred very frequently to this promise, and an error is therefore not possible. The Emperor was then delivered to the care of General Riva Palacios, a noted chief of party. I do not know in what relation he may have stood with the Emperor, but the Emperor always made, much of him, and had given espe- cial orders to treat him well if he should fall into our hands. The general behaved extremely 204 CAPTUBE OP THE CITY BY TBEACHBBY. well, and, as this is an exception, it ought to be especially mentioned. We were to return to the cruz, and the general had the tact not to lead us across the city. We were escorted by the Cazadorcs de Galeano. One of their officers, a German- American, of the name of Enking, addressed me. Ho said that he knew me in North America, yhere he had been a first lieutenant of artillery, but I did not recollect him at all. He told me, moreover, that my wife had arrived before Queretaro a fortnight ago, and requested permission to enter the city. As her request was refused, she had gone to San Luis Potosi to obtain this permission from Juarez, which could not be refused under present circum- stances, and I therefore might expect her ar- rival soon. This as well as other German officers serving in the Liberal army told me in this way details about the treason of Lopez; but they were blamed for doing so, and pre- vented by their comrades. When we came on the Plaza de la Cruz, we found there part of our brave Cazadores as prisoners. When they saw the Emperor they uncovered, and looked on him with an expres- sion of deep sorrow, and many of these old soldiers wept. At the entrance of the cruz we dismounted, CAPTUUE OP THE CITY BY TREACHERY. 205 and the Emperor presented General Riva Pa- lacios with his horse and saddle. The Emperor was then brought to his old room, which, how- ever, like all the rooms, was entirely cleared out. In the Emperor's room, indeed, nothing was left but his field-bed — of which the mat- tress was cut in search for money — a table, and one chair. Part of the stolen things, amongst them the silver washing toilet — as basin, pitcher, etc. — and many papers, were found in the room of Lopez. The anger expressed by this fellow the night before, when he found silver instead of gold was confided to him, is quite sufficient to characterize him. Many officers of the Liberals crowded the room to see " Maximiliano de Habsburgo," whom they could not conquer otherwise than by treason. Amongst them were Colonels Jose (Peppi) Rincon Gallardo, and his brother. The former is the same officer who said in the morning the " Que passen" Speaking to the Emperor about the treason of Lopez, he said: "People like him are made use of, but then kicked." In the corridor before the Em- peror's room stood a company of the Supremos Poderes, and a sentinel before his door. On a flat, balcony-like roof, opposite the door, at the other end of the room, stood another detach- ment of soldiers. f 2i,l» li' I ? . 206 CAPTUEB OP THE CITY BY TEEACHEEY. Pradillo, Count Pachta, Blasio, and myself, were taken to a room which was ent..^red from that flat roof, so that, on going over it, we could communicate with the Emperor. Later, Dr. Basch joined us. The Emperor embraced him. Mejia and Castillo were quartered in the room of the latter. It was ten o'clock a.m. when we re-entered the cruz. The health of the Emperor had suffered by bad food and other circumstances : he had not been well before, and went to bed. He was, however, visited by a Liberal general, whose name I did not hear ; he sat down at his bed- side, and asked the Emperor many questions about Mexico and Vera Cruz, which he an- swered in his open manner. As he spoke a great deal too much, and I feared he might tell many things which it was not necessary that the enemy should know, I placed myself behind the chair of the general, and laid my finger on my lips. The Emperor understood, and soon broke off the conversation. We were all very hungry, as we had not eaten anything since last night. Senor Rubio sent the Emperor a slight dinner towards even- ing ; but he ate only a few bits, and we divided the rest amongst us. The other officers — about four hundred — were quartered hi the church of the cruz. Hi CAPTTJEE OP THE CITT BY TBEACHEKT. 207 where they were much annoyed by Liberal officers, who came to stare at them. Lieut.- Colonel Pitner and Major Malburg joked about a sentinel at their door, whose thin, hungry figure and ragged state amused them. Colonel Doria, a man known in the Liberal army as a bloodhound, noticed it, and said : " Laugh on, gentlemen ; these fellows are still good enough to shoot you.'* This observation damped sk little the merriment of these officers. The command over the cruz and the prisoners was given to General Don Pansho Velez. :■)!:! 'JHc I iii IMPRISONMENT OF TE^ EMPEROR. In the morning of the 15th, we were awakened already before five o'clock, by fiirious drumming in the yard below, where the soldiers had done all they could to make a noise during the nigbt. I looked down, and saw a Liberal officer with a drum hanging round his neck, and beating it like a madman, at the same time animating his soldiers to support his efforts by more noise. Amongst the soldiers I noticed some Mexi- cans of our Cazadores, who were already mus- tered into the Liberal army. The foreigners, however, were not trusted, and locked up. This day, was published the following army order of Escobedo : — ''Manano Escobedo, Division-General of the Mexi- can Bepuhlic, General-in-Chief of the Northern army, and commanding the troops operating around Queretaro. "Soldiers, — The RepubHc owes to your valour, constancy, and sufferings, one of its tri- IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEBOE. 209 EBOR. Lwakened rumming tiad done ■he nigbt. ;er witli a Deating it animating by more me Mexi- ady mus- breigners, up. g army the Men- Northern operating to your I of its tri- umphs, the greatest it has obtained in the great struggle of the nation against the invaders and their accomplices. The rebel city of Quer^taro, the strongest fortress of the empire, has succumbed, after an heroic resistance, worthy of a better cause. Ferdinand Maxi- mihan, the titular Emperor, Miramon, Mejia, Castillo, and a large number of generals, com- manders, and officers, together with the whole garrison, are our prisoners. I should fail in my duty as a soldier, and commit treason against my conscience as a free man and loyal Mexican, were I not to speak of your heroic deeds and your sacrifices. "With the faithfulness of sol- diers, who defend the independence of their country, without provisions, and frequently, without even a cartridge, you looked upon the face of death without flinching, opposing the numerous troops of the traitors and foreigners, who were excellently provided with every kind of war material, excellently fortified, and com- manded by the best generals of our former army, who, unfortunately, forgot their duty in joining the intruders, and supporting, to the last mo- ment, the foreigners whom another foreigner, the Emperor of the French, placed on a throne erected by the bayonets of his soldiers. But these soldiers are no more here ; the remain- der of them have flown to France, to hide their TOk I. 14 210 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROB. 4 *■' I disgrace, loaded with the curses of a whole people ; and the sad news, that more than half their comrades paid for the caprice of their ruler with blood. " Companions in arms 1 It does not matter whether ambitious, ill-disposed persons, try to disparage your heroic deeds, veracious history will put every one to his proper place; and neither the enemies of the Republic, nor those who remained in the places occupied by the in- vaders, looking with indiflference on the misfor- tune of the country and Republic, will be placed above those who, like you, fought without rest for the sacred principles of independence and liberty. ** Soldiers I With all the devotion of my soul, I congratulate you in the name of the Republic, and the Supreme Government ; and, true to the programme which I have made, we will continue to strengthen the hands of peace and order, and with them, the prosperity of our country. "Viva the Republic! Viva the National Independence 1 Headquarters, at la Purisima frente, Quere. taro, May 16, 1867. "Mariano Bscobedo." I need not add a single word to this pom- pous document, which I translate for the IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 211 a whole ,han talf teir ruler )t matter s, try to s history ace; and Dor those )y the in- le misfor- be placed lut rest for nd liberty, on of my me of the ent; and, made, we s of peace •ity of our National be, Quere. )BEDO. >» this pom- for the amusement of the reader, in order to give them a sample of Escobedo's veracity. Besides this, the Liberal commander-in-chief published a notification directed to all Imperial, miUtary, and civil ofiScers, to report themselves within twenty-four hours, threatening that every one should be shot without any trial, who should not obey this order within that time. In consequence of this. Generals Escobar, Casanova, Moret, Valdez, the ^Minister Aguirre, and some others, reported themselves, and were quartered in the room of Castillo. The Generals Arellano and Gutierez, and Colonel Don Carlos Miramon, had succeeded in making their escape from Queretaro, and General Mendez, after whom the Liberals were searching most eagerly, was still con- cealed in the city. When old General Escobar, after having [given himself up, was marched with an escort [through the streets, he met there the traitor [Lopez, who had always been on bad terms with [tliis honest man. The dastardly traitor had the evolting impudence to give his unarmed enemy slap in the face. We saw much marching amongst the Liberal roopa in the afternoon, and heard that all bse who could possibly be spared, were sent Porfirio Diaz, who was besieging Mexico. u^^m 212 IMPRISONMENT OP I'HE EMPEROR. organizoa intention of "ioinii.;- Eacobedo remained in Queretaro, as he was an enemy of Porfirio Diaz, and would not serve under his command. General Don Pansho Velez nlso was sent to Mexico, and was re- placed by General Echegaray, a relation of our major of the same name. The regiment Empress was left together, and .:rJ.My officered by the Liberals. All those ofoci were, however, killed afterwards, ^ y their mer en a march, and the regiment '■'^elf ' a guerilla band, with the some later conservative movement. General Escobar had made many friends amongst the citizens of Querdtaro, and from them he heard everything that happened. Hei brought us the sad intelligence that forty of our| officers had been shot or lanced the day before.] The soldiers had placed them, as in joke, againsi the walls of the corrals, and killed them witl shot, or with their lances. Amongst them wi Colonel de la Cruz, of the 4th cavalry, am Colonel Campos, who fell into the hands of tli| enemy when wounded at the cerro, and w immediately despatched. Towards evening we heard suddenly a pel« that ton fire in the cruz, and Dr. Basch was seiBMont for, from whom we heard the reason. In tlB shall church, where So many officers were quartereB^onall t P sj fir se n wh spo Lof he time the Esc( doci Emp gene H IMPEISONMENT OP THE EMPEEOR. 213 a number of cartridges were scattered on the ground. Some of them were ignited by cigars which had been thrown away, and on the noise produced by it, the ofl&cers, afraid of an explo- sion, thronged towards the entrance. Tho guard, believing that an outbreak was intended, fired upon them. Three of our officers were severely wounded, and one of them was killed. The same fate befell an officer of the Liberals, who was wounded in the abdomen. The officers of the Liberals with whom we spoke made no secret at all of the treason of Lopez ; and it was known amongst them that he had now practised this trade for the third time. The first time was during the war against the United States, under Santa Anna. General Escobar gave me the original of the following document, which General Miramon showed the Emperor when he intended to make Lopez a general : — General Staff op the Army. Section op the Archives. [Circular.^ His highness the General President orders j that the ensign of the active cavalry regiment Monterey, of Neuva Leon, D. Miguel Lopez, shall be dismissed from the army uncondi- tionally and for ever, and this in consequence m 11 I i 214 IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMFEBOB. of his infamous behaviour in Tehuacan, where he seduced the body-guard of his Excellency the President to revolt, commanding in person the troops operating against the army of the United States. This order will be made known to the army, that the same may learn that if the Supreme Government reward^ faithful servants, it also punishes those who are no longer worthy to belong to the honourable profession of soldiers. By high order, for your and your subordi- nates' information. (Signed) Quijano. Mexico, Juim 8th, 1854. 1-^ It is difficult to understand how the Empe- ror could confide the cruz, and with it his person, to a man with such antecedents. How- ever, I have already remarked, I did not believe Lopez intended to deliver the Emperor into the hands of the Liberals. Afraid of being shot, if captured, he endeavoured to save his life, aiid earn at the same time a good round sum of money, by giving up the city into the hands of I Escobedo. The Emperor frustrated all calcula- tions and arrangements to save him by his| refusal to conceal himself in the house of M. Rubio. A fellow like Lopez, without honour, | could, of course, not understand that a man, IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. 21ff in, "wliere Ixcellency in person nay of the the army, ) Supreme ts, it also worthy to )f soldiers, ar subordi- QuiJANO. the Empe- with it his nts. How- not believe iperor into d of being io save bis I round sum Ihe hands of all calcula- im by his lOUse of M. Hit honour, tat a man, Q an Emperor, might prefer death to an action which he considered to be, if not against his honour, at least against his dignity. On the 17th, early in the morning, notice was given to us to prepare to be transferred to the convent Santa Teresita, out of which the poor nuns, whose order had occupied that place for centuries, had been driven. We met, on tlie Plaza de la Cruz, the other officers. The uncertain fate before us made us all serious, and we embraced our friends in silence. We were escorted by a formidable force. One bat- talion marched at thQ head, another brought up the rear, and two companies marched to the right and left along the houses. The Emperor was with Dr. Basch and General Echegaray, in a carriage. The inhabitants of the city showed much sympathy for us, especially the women, who greeted us with tears. When we arrived at the entrance of Santa Teresita, many women passed through the lines of the guard, and gave the prisoners oranges and cigars. The poor nuns had kept the convent very clean. There was a yard inside, with a vaulted open walk around, and a fountain in the centre. The Emperor's room was very large, but entirely empty. The same was the case with an adjoining one, where all those persons were Wi "'' 11 T"; i 216 IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEEOR. quartered whom the Emperor had desired to stay near him. There were General Castillo, Minister Aguirre, Colonel Ormachea, Lieut.- Colonel Pradillo, Dr. Basch, Blasio, Colonel Guzman, and myself. We were not, however, allowed to communicate with the generals who were in a separate room, or with the other pri- soners who were quartered in other parts of the convent. As we had lost all our things, and must sleep on the floor, the Emperor ordered a serape, or Mexican shawl, to be bought for each of us. > On the 18th of May, a long list of all tlio prisoners was published. At its head stood, in larger print, Emperador Maximiliano, which was changed, in later issues, to Archduke Fer- dinand Maximilian " de Habsburgo." The health of the Emperor improved ; but we lost General Echegaray, probably because he treated us too well, and in his place came General Rufio Gonzales, who had been formerly a chief of brigands. We heard absolutely nothing about the in- tention of the enemy in reference to us, and the report was circulated that the Liberals were shooting all foreigners, when I was called out about eight o'clock p.m. I prepared for thoj worst, and my comrades did not expect to see me again ; but it was a false alarm, for the Liberals IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEEOE. 217 only wanted some information about my nation- ality, and other purely personal matters. In the yard, twenty- two sentinels were placed, who, all niglit long, called to each other at the top of their voice, " Sentinella alerta /" so that we could not close our eyes. On the 19th of May, General Escobedo, accompanied by General Diaz de Leon and Colonel Yillanueva, visited the Emperor. The visit lasted half an hour, and we were all very much excited; but this visit was only a for- mality, and we heard nothing positive. Some officer of Escobedo* s staff told me that my wife was expected to arrive very soon. During the previous evening. General Men- dez had been captured in a house, betrayed by his own servant for money. Escobedo was very glad to apply to him the rule he had made in his notification, for Mendez would have been shot under any circumstances, as he had once ordered two Liberal generals, Arteaga and Salazar, to be shot. To others who were cap- tured even later, this rule was not applied — at least, as far as I know. Next morning I stood with others near the window, when Mendez was led through the passage opposite us. He walked fast, as usual, and smoked a cigar. When he saw us, he smiled, and waved adieu with his hand. He ^1 !! iST^JW ■■ If:- .5 ~~Mft);-W.i^ had been employed mostly as paymasters, and who had done no other service during the siege, had offered their services to General Escobedo. As it would be a pity to bury in oblivion the names of these fellows who had the miserable courage to do such a thing, I will give them here as they were published in the "Sombre de Arteaga," a Liberal Queretaro paper — Captain Ernest de Rozeville, Lieut. Jean Ricot, Captain Charles Schmidt, Captain Henry Morel, Captain Xavier Gaulfreron, Lieut. Felix Kieffers, Lieut. Emile Trouin, Ensign Eugen Bailly, Lieut. Theodore Heraud, Lieut. Emile Pejuin, Lieut. Victor Nomel, and Lieut. Paul Guyon. Escobedo answered them in a letter couched in very severe and contemptuous expressions. He told them " that the cause of the Liberals j could be fought out by themselves, and that he could not accept the services of people who, in >/ ill] i l!i : 224 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. the face of their suffering companions, could make such an infamous offer, and from whom a similar behaviour might be expected on a future occasion.'* The steps taken by those twelve officers caused a storm of indignation amongst the prisoners; and the other French officers sent me the following lettf '^ for the Emperor, which I promised them to pablish later, with their names — Des Fraui^ais officiers prisonniers, a sa MajesU Mcurimilien, Empereur du Mexique. Sire, — N^ous avons appris que des Fran^ais officiers prisonniers, comme vous, avaient de- mande au General Escobedo loifaveur de servir dans son armee. La feuille Liberale a justement apprdci^e cet acte le taxant d'infamie, et le General ' Escobedo a bien fait de ne pas accepter des hommes qui n'ont pas craint de faire une pareille demande dans de telles circonstances. Comme ces officiers (qui, pendant tout le siege, n'ont assiste a aucune affaire), sont Fran^ais, et que voire Majestd pourrait croire quil ont ete les interpretes de nos sentiments, nous nous empressons. Sire, de rejeter toute, participation a cet acte inqualifiable, qui a| Bouleve notre indignation. ■■;,- ■ (■ ii^- IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEBOB. 225 8, could whom a a future 3 officers mgst the cers sent ■or, which vith their sa Majeste que. s Fran^ais .vaient de- r de servir appr^ci^e le General icepter des faire une Lstances. Int tout le lire), sent trait croire Sentiments, iter toute, )le, qui a I Nous' profitons de cette circonstance, Sire, pour donner a votre Majeste I'assurance de notre entier devouement et que, quoiqu*il puisse arriver, nous nous ne nous avilerons jamais. Nous sommes, avec le plus profond respect, Sire, votre Majesty les tr^s humbles, et les tr^s fiddles sujets, A. Page, capitaine ; Ena^ne Chardin, Adolphe Marie, Jean Marc, Jeaif Baptiste Gobin, Jero- nimo Guitard, Charles Bomet, Adolphe Charton, Charles Eloy, Antoine Vignoli, Charles Des- prez, Gustavo van Haecht, Gaspard Wery, Henzy Voignier, Eugene Laroche, Frederic Filliatre, Leopold Dreyss^, Adolphe Chigon, Adolphe Bouzeran, Chretien Ludwig, Charles Schupbach, Jean Lugeon, Adolphe Sibenaler, Zacharie Deplace, Albert Hans, Henzy Ehr- mann, Louis Depain, Jean Baptiste Parison, Ernest Coudray, Jean Nicolas Girardin, Leopold de Potter, — ^lieutenant*::. Of our captured soldiers the Liberals scarcely took any care whatever, as may be seen from the following letter, which I re- ceived : — Your Highness, — In the name "of all his I imprisoned comrades, the undersigned requests you, for the mercy of God, to represent to his VOL. I. 15 226 IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. Majesty the Emperor, our miserable position, that T^e, as faithful servants of his Majesty, may not be starved to death. Since our capture on the 15th, until now, most of us have eaten scarcely a morsel, so that every one of us al- ready wishes for death in any other manner. We, therefore, beg your Highness to induce his Majesty to favour us graciously with a charitable gift. Ivan Budsky, Imprisoned hussar, in the name of his comrades. "When my wife came in the afternoon, she had forgotter her pass, and was refused admit- tance by the officer of the guard in the most rude manner. I was furious at this, and paced the room in a rage. The Emperor, who was just then with us, and was a witness of the scene, pointed smilingly at me, and said to the other gentlemen, " There, look at the lion in the cage." When returning with her permit, my wife I brought for the Emperor and myself some mucli| welcome linen. On the 22nd of May we were informed that I the Emperor, some of his suite, and the generals were to be transferred, not to better quarters,| as we had hoped, but to the convent of the Ca-i IMPBISONMENT OF THE EMPEBOB. 227 position, sty, may ,pture on ye eaten of us al- ' « manner, ^ndnce Ms charitable Btjdsky, me of liis smoon, she sed admit- the most and paced who was Less of toe said to the lion in tie ' [it, my ^fel some muc^l iformed tliatl the generals ^r quarters,! of the Ca- puchins. The reason of this separation became known to us only later. Escobedo had received from the " Supreme Government" the order to shoot us all without delay; but he remonstrated, and said that it could not be done without a previous trial, and might involve the government in difficulties with the United States, which had already ex- pressed themselves officially about the proceea- ings at San Jacinto, highly disapproving of it. The Emperor was lodged in the pantheon, or grave vault of the convent; the generals were quartered in a large hall, and we in some place adjoining the pantheon. As the Emperor did not feel well, Dr. Basch was sent for at his desire ; when the doctor asked me where the Emperor was, I frightened him horribly, without intending to do so, by simply saying, " In the tomb." In this convent we met Miramon, his head still bandaged. The Emperor embraced him. The latter was to-day visited by the Hamburg Vice-Consul in San Luis Potosi, Mr. Bahn- sen. We were, however, not to stay long in that horrid place, but were transferred on May 23rd to another court, where we had a little more comfort, and three or four persons were quar- tered in a cell. My wife did not give up her 11 ■r ■* 228 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 'Hi "f i. '."S f„^f' endeavour to get a separate house for the Em- peror, but she was put off with promises. When, on 24th of May, I was sitting with the Emperor in the yard, in the centre of which stood a very large lemon-tree, Colonel Palacios, who under Gonzales, had the especial guard over the prisoners, called me aside and requested me to tell the Emperor to prepare for his re- moving to a separate room, as his trial was about to commence, he would have to be alone and without communication with the other prisoners. "When I had fulfilled this disagree- able duty, the Emperor ordered his steward, Mr. Grill, to pack up his things whilst I walked with him up and down the yard. He remarked, "You see they progress slowly, but securely. It will be soon at an end." I saw lying on the ground a thorn crown, which had fallen from the head of a wooden image of Christ, which had been used by the soldiers as firewood, and picked it up. The Emperor took it fiom my hand, and said, " Let me have it, it suits well with my position." He gave the thorny crown to Mr. Grill, and ordered him to hang it up in his room. The cell in which the Emperor was confined was in an upper story of the convent, as were also those of Miramon and Mejia. Before each of these cells a sentinel was placed. As the ■•yy.y-r?. -^'Sgv-. IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 229 Emperor desired to have Dr. Basch near him, he, Mr. Grill, and the valet'de-chambre, Severo, were placed in cells close to those of the Em- peror. From a conversation I had with Colonel Palacios, who had been a prisoner in France, and spoke French tolerably well, I learnt that there was but Uttle hope for the Emperor. In the course of the conversation I remarked that the Mexican Government would do well to take an example from the North American Govern- ment in their treatment of the rebels of the South, on which Palacios said, " The North Americans are our born hereditary enemies. "We will neither have anything to do with them or with you ; we can exist without any of you." I ridiculed the idea of living quite alone without any connection with other nations, and without any trade, after the example once given by China and Japan, but he sustained his opinion, and said thatMexico produced every thingrequired for her existence, and needed no foreign relations. I endeavoured to induce Colonel Palacios to permit me to communicate with the Emperor, as he before his death would have to make many arrangements. However, it is impossible to get from a Mexican a straightforward answer, and I could get nothing except some vague pro- mises. § kill ■■ If! 230 IMFBISONMENT OP THE EMF£ROB. When my wife came on the 25tli of May, she was in a state of great excitement, for she had heard for certain that the Emperor and myself would be shot, and that the trial of the former had commenced this day. The law of 26th of January, 1862, would be applied, which orders that every one captured in arms should be shot. The whole law proceeding, the execution included, would be finished within three days. At the same time with the Em- peror Mejia and Miramon were to be tried, and after them three others, according to their scale of rank. In this manner I was enabled to make the interesting calculation how soon my turn would come. With some difficulty I was permitted by Palacios to see the Emperor, but only in. the presence of the officer of the guard. Tnat officer happened to be my Swiss barber, who, for a consideration, remained standing at the door, watching that nobody disturbed our con- versation. I informed the Emperor of what I had heard from my wife, and we agreed that she should travel to San Luis Potosi to try her luck with Juarez, and obtain, if nothing else, a delay at least, as time is a great deal under such circum- stances. My wife was very busy that day. She came IMPRISONMENT OF THB EMFEBOB. 231 of May, b, for she )eror and ial of the he law of applied, d in arms eding, the Led within I the Em- » be tried, ording to ler I was calculation ■mitted by >nly in. the rd. Tnat biber, who, ,g at the Id our con- had heard she should luck witb la delay at ]^ch circum- She came several times to my prison, and for the last time at eleven o'clock p.m., when she prevailed upon some officer to bring both of us to the Emperor, from whom she received her instructions. From the Emperor she went to Escobedo, to tell him that she was going to see Juarez, and requesting him to postpone the execution until her return, which she would hasten as much as possible. Escobedo promised according to Mexican fashion. She departed the same night. On 26th May I had a long conversation with Colonel Villanueva, who was an educated man, and not so bloodthirsty as most of his fellow officers. The resume of his conversation was, " Maximilien est perdu," and there was no remedy against it. I endeavoured to go to the Emperor, and was at last successful. As nothing so much prevents vigorous action as weakly hope, I thought it to be my duty to represent to the Emperor the true state oi things. I did this chiefly to win him to an idea which had flitted across my brain all these days — viz., escape, which alone promised help. An officer of the troops occupying the con- vent, an European, visited me frequently, and smoked a cigar with me. As he was not par- ticularly disagreeable, and I always got news from him, I tolerated his company, and p^ave 4 !MI 232 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. V ; : Lim money as often as he applied for it. This officer was to assist me in the escape of tho Emperor, and I was almost certain that he would not refuse to do this service. The Emperor was first horrified at the idea of " running away," but I attacked his prejudice with all the reasons and arguments I could muster. I proved to him that he had done more than sufficient for his " military honour," and that it was a duty he owed the world to preserve his hfe ; that he was only thirty-five years, and a brilliant future was before him, and he might still be of very good service to humanity. The Emperor was at last persuaded, but bade me consider that I forfeited my own life if such a plan should be discovered. I re- quested him not to be troubled on my account, as, in the worst case, it was tolerably indifferent whether I was shot a few days sooner or later. When I returned to my room I prepared myself for my Liberal officer with a few bottles <^^ wine and other things, and he soon made appearance. I came at once to the point, saying to him : I will speak plainly to you. You are here a lieu- tenant, and have not been paid for months. You see most of the Mexicans, whether Liberals or Imperialists are blackguards, and you have IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 233 the idea prejudice I could bad done honour," world to thirty-five 5fore him, service to aded, but my own jd. I re- account, indifferent or later. 'ed myself )ottles ^^ made Ig to him : 3re a lieu- indeed very little chance here. I will propose something to you, by which you may make your fortune. Assist me in saving the Emperor. As soon as we have passed the gate of the con- vent, I will give you three thousand piastres (I held the roll of gold right under his nose), and on our arrival in Havana I will pay you a thousand oimces of gold (about four thousand pounds) more ; besides care will be taken of your future in Europe. The officer did not make any other objection, but accepted at once. I then gave him a little note for a personage in Querdtaro, whom I informed of my plan, and requested to assist me. As it was desirable for me to communicate freely with the Emperor, I requested the same to write to the Fiscal about it. He did so, and the Fiscal sent me on the 27th of May the following note : — *' IP ut L, — Puede el pros * Salm hablar con o en espauol y delante del comandante gUc^idia, Queretaro, Mayo 27 del 1867. " ASPIREZ." you From that ti e I was almost all day in the room of the E eror, whither I was accom* * Fret means in Mt jdco not a prisoner of war, but a criminal priioner. 234 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEBOE. panied by an ojficer who took me back also. Though we were to have spoken Spanish only, it was sufficient to mix now and then a Spanish word in the conversation. As the officer's room was close by and the Emperor's room open, the former was supposed to be present. We dis- pensed with his company with pleasure. The next thing I did was to inform the Em- peror of my success with the officer I have mentionel. The Emperor desired me once to measure his cell, " for future times ;'* therefore I will describe it as well as its surroundings. The part of the convent in which we weie imprisoned, was a building enclosing a small, quadrangular yard. Eound three sides of this yai'd ran in both stories passages, or open gal- leries, with stone arches open towards the yard, which once had been closed with trellis work, but which was now broken away, and left only in its upper parts. The fourth side of the yard was separated from the adjoining similar one by a wall. The Emperor was in the upper story. The doors of the cells opened on the passage with j the arches, and also the windows. The stair- case leading to the upper story was in one ofl the corners. After ascending it, one had on the right a cell in which were the captain and Heu* tenant of the guard; in another were the men;! IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEEOE. 235 ck also. a only, it iish word 'ooni was >pen, tbe We dis- 3. i the Em- er I have le once to therefore I lings. \i we weie Lg a small, des of this )r open gal- the yard, -ellis work, id left only lof the yard lilar one by itory. Passage The with The stair- Ls in one of had on the! and heu- lin :e the men; at the opposite side was, in the left comer, the cell of the Emperor ; next to it that of Miramon, and, in the right corner, near the separating wall, was the cell of Mejia. To the left of the staircase were only two cells ; the next was occupied by the Emperor's steward Grill, and his Mexican valeUde'Cliamhre Severe ; the other by Dr. Samuel Basch. The one long wall of Dr. Basch' s cell was separated from the Emperor's cell by the passage, which formed thus a kind of niche. Before each of the doors, always open, of the Emperor and the two generals, stood a sentinel. The cell of the Emperor measured six paces by four. Opposite the window openirg stood a field-bed with a chair at its foot, and a small mahogany table at its head. On the diagonal of this square table stood four silver candle- sticks with wax candles, the only luxury -vv^hich the Emperor would not relinquish, and besides some trifling things lay on it, which were always arranged in the same convenient order. Acci- dental disturbance of this order offended the eye of the Emperor, and was corrected by him im- mediately. On this table always stood a glass with sugared water, covered with a card against the many flies. ^ In the other comer opposite the door stood la table, at which I was usually writing. To 236 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEEOE. the right of it, against the short wall, stood a box of the Emperor's, which had been recovered from the room of Lopez. In the corner oppo- site the bed, and near the window, was a washstand. As the Emperor did not feel well, ho usually remained in bed until noon, and was up only for a few hours. On the 28th of May the examination of the Emperor came again to a stop, and a lively exchange of telegrams between Escobedo and Juarez took place. When I was sitting at the bedside of the Emperor, he remembered that, though he had appointed me general and pro- mised a decoration, I had not yet received the patents. Though his powers were now at an end, he said he hoped that I might require sucli documents, and therefore ordered Blasio to make them out from the date of the verbal appoint- ment, viz., May 14th. He made me grand officer of the order of Guadelup. He also made my wife lady of honour of the San Carlos order, which had been instituted by the most excellent Empress Carlotta. He said he would have made her "palastdame" of the Empress, but that it was an impossibilliy, as the document had to be signed by the Empress herself. General Castillo, Colonel Pradillo, Dr. Basch, and others were also decorated. As everything was now uncertain, and we IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEBOE. 237 might be separated unexpectedly, the Emperor told me to trust to his valeUde'chamhre, Severos, who was a true and reliable man. As he carried my breakfast to my room, I might always look whether there was a little note concealed in the bread ; but as it might be dangerous if such a note should fall into the hands of the enemy, he dictated me the following numbers as marks for different persons and things : — 1, Emperor ; 2, Miramon ; 3, Mejia ; 4, Salm ; 5, the ofl&cer of the enemy whom I had won ; 6, my wife ; 7, another oflBcer of the Liberals ; 8, Mexico ; 9, Vera Cruz ; 10, Tampico ; 11, Matamoras; 12, Turpan; 13, horses; 14, ; 15, Austria ; 16, man-of-war ; 17, ; 18, small boats; 19, mules; 20, physician; 21, chiefs of the enemy; 22, Havana; 23, New Orleans ; 24, "Washington ; 25, Liberal govern- ment; (26, left out) ; 27, Marquez. On the 29th, an officer mounted guard whom I had not hitherto seen, and who was more strict than the rest. I therefore could not speak much with the Emperor, but had enough to arrange in reference to our escape, which was made extremely difficult by the Emperor's positive declaration that he would not fly without Miramon and Mejia. Measures had, therefore, to be taken accordingly. When the infantry officer, my confidant. |;iin 'ml 'mIi 238 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEEOE. *l came to see me to-day, he said that nothing could be done without the officer of cavalry who commanded the guard near the Emperor's room, and that he had already spoken to one, whom he asked permission to come and see me. Though it seemed to me rather dangerous to take so many persons into our confidence, the thing was done, and I felt glad that this officer of cavalry was one with whom I had been already connected in money matters. I sent now to my confidant in the city in- structions to buy the following necessary things: six horses, six revolvers, and six sabres. For the use of the Emperor, I ordered that my piebald horse should be repurchased, as it was taller than the Mexican horses, and an excellent jumper. .All these horses and arms were to be concealed in houses by lady friends. The officer of cavalry, my old acquaintance, was ready enough to save the Emperor and myself, but it was rather difficult to make him agree to the escape of Miramon and Mejia. On the 30th of M -, at breakfast, I found in my bread the following pencil-note of the Emperor, which I have still, framed under glass : — " I require necessarily black thread for binding, beeswax for pasting, and, if pos- sible, a pair of spectacles. On the horse must be fixed two scrapes, two revolvers, and a sabre. IMPBISONMENT OF THE EMPEBOB. 239 Not to forget bread or biscuit, red wine, and chocolate. A riding-whip is also neces- sary." The Emperor would not cut off his beautiful beard, but tie it behind the neck, and put on spectacles. He said he would look so ridiculous without a beard if he should be retaken, and had laughed himself very much on seeing General Casanova, who had cut off his enormous moustaches the better to disguise himself, and who could scarely be recognized by his most intimate friends. I went to see the Emperor, but could not speak much with him until the strict ofl&cer was relieved at noon by another whom we already knew. As my cell was on the ground-floor, and those of the Emperor and the two generals upstairs, I should have to pass sentinels on two sides, and the Emperor therefore requested Escobedo to transfer me to the room of Dr. Basch, as he required my assistance in writing down his last -svill. The Emperor told me that Lopez had had the impudence to offer his services, but that he had, of course, declined them. The traitor was not satisfied with the Liberals, who had paid him only a small part of the stipulated sum. The Emperor spoke of Lopez, the traitor through cowardice, only with contempt, but of Marquez, M \M 240 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMP.v^OB. the cold-blooded, calculating traitor, with in- dignation. Many people procured from Escobedo per* mission to see the Emperor ; and when my wife returned, very sad and weary, in the evening, from San Luis Potosi, some Americans were with him. One of these visitors described the scene in a paper, and I will give his description, as that of an unconcerned eye-witness frequently conveys a far more correct idea of a situation, than can possibly be done by one of the inte- rested persons : — "A bustle was heard outside; the heavy door was opened, and a soldier announced, * La senora !' In an instant Prince Salm-Salm held the new-comer in his arms. She was the volun- tary messenger, his wife, who had just arrived from San Luis Potosi from Juarez. Her face was sunburnt and soiled, her shoes were torn, her whole frame trembled with nerveless fatigue as she laid her hands upon her husband's shoulders. The archduke came forward eagerly, waiting his turn. The prince was heard to ask in a whisper, * Have you had any success ? What did Juarez say ?' " * They will do what they have said in the despatches. They have granted the delay.* She turned to Maximihan, * Oh, your Majesty, I am so glad.' IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 241 witli in- ledo per« I my wife evening, ans were jribed the sscription, frequently situation, the inte- the heavy meed, * La rSalm held the volun- st arrived Her face ere torn, iss fatigue husband's d eagerly, lard to ask success ? lid in the |jlay.' She jsty, I am " Ma::imilian took the princess's hand, and kissed it. * May God bless you, madame I* he said, • you have been too kind to one who is afraid he can never serve vou.' " The princess forced a smile. * Do not be too sure of that, your Majesty. I shall have some favour to ask for the prince, here, yet.' " * You will never need to ask that, madam,' responded the archduke, leading the lady to a seat. * But you look weary. You are very tired. We can ofter you httle. Prince, you must care for your . I ' " Turning his face aside, Maximilian moved abruptly towards the window. It was easy to see why. His grief was restrained, but almosu audible. The prince — with one hand on the back of his wife's chair, and with the other uplifted toward the archduke in mute protesta- tion — could hardly restrain his own emotion." It was time intrusion should cease. The visitor, who had already reached the door, made an unnoticed salute and withdrew. On May 31st, in the morning, I was sitting* at the bedside of the Emperor, when " Jimmy" (perhaps still recollected from Tulancingo), j stormed through the door, jumped right on the bed of the Emperor, and was extremely glad to see me again. A bright smile played over the face of the Emperor, when he said, " There, our ':i vol. I. 16 ■.111 242 IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROE. guardian angel is coming !" for of course the irrepressible Jimmy was followed by his mistress. At breakfast already I received by the bread-mail the following little note, written by Dr. Basch, from the Emperor : — " You must cause the Hamburgian Consul Bahnsen to telegraph to the Enghsh, Italian, Prussian, Belgian, Spanish, and Austrian lega- tions, that the process against the Emperor has commenced, and that he requires time to arrange urgent and important private business, as also important international affairs between Austria and Belgium, concerning the person of the Empress." It was now resolved that the princess should go to Mexico and return thence with the Prussian minister. Baron von Magnus, and a lawyer. For the former the Emperor dictated to me the following letter : — QuERETAEO, Slst May, 1867. Dear Baron von Magnus, — I wish very much to see you, and request you to come here as soon as possible ; bring with you the Austrian and Belgian representatives, as I have to arrange with both gentlemen some important | family affairs of an interuational character. II beg to have Colonel Schaffer and Count Kheven- hneller ; perhaps it may be arranged to send off I IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEEOE. 243 ,n Consul 1, Italian, rian lega- iperor lias , time to ) business, •s between person of May, 1867. Iwisli very to come th you the , as I liave important laracter. 1 it Kheven- to send off' both gentlemen as Prussian or English couriers. Schaflfer and Klievenliueller shall wait for me in Havana. Perhaps it might be well to bring also our English representative. I request you to send my things to Messrs. Will and Co., Prussian Consuls in the Havana. Your affectionate (Signed) Maximilian. When I had finished the letter the absence of Jimmy was di& ''overed. Where could he be ? After much calling he condescended to pop his black nose out of the Emperor's bed, where he —to the horror of my wife — was taking a nap. The Emperor laughed when the free-and-easy American, who does not care either for kings or emperors, resisted his being removed. The EmperoT* row spoke about our escape; lie said, " The white flag was hoisted, and we surrendered as prisoners of war, and as such Escobedo has acknowledged us, on the Cen^o de la Campana .... Juarez has not accepted my conditions, and, instead of considering us as prisoners of war, we are treated as rebels; j therefore, we are under no obligations whatever." It was arranged that we should go first to Itbe Sierra Gorda, and from thence to Tuspan, a place on the coast, fi:om whence the Emperor would reach Vera Cruz, which was still occupied iM % ■111 244 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROB. m ''m^^ii IP' iMi by our forces. He hoped here to obtain better conditions from the Liberals, especially for his subjects that had remained faithful to him. The Emperor dictated the following instruc- tions, which I copy from my tablets :— " The Austrian ships in Vera Cruz are to be instructed carefully where they are to cruise (under-score that!). Signals during night and flags in the daytime. Besides this, to send small boats frequently on shore. It would be good to enter into communication with English and Spanish vessels." For the minister Aguirre, who was with me in the same room downstairs, the Emperor gave the following instructions : — "Letter to the Austrian and Belgian ministers to come immediately, to treat with them family affairs of an international character. Minister Aguirre has to sign." After I had left the Emperor, I had a visit from my Liberal officer who told me that his comrade of the cavalry would mount the guard near the staircase on the 2nd of June, and that he himself would command the infantry guard at the entrance of the convent. The escape] must therefore be made in the night from the 2nd to 3rd of June, but the cavalry officer had| declared it utterly impossible if the captain, who was with him in the same room, was not! IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 245 are to be to cruise niglit and to send would be h English won for the undertaking also. There was no stopping half way. I had to speak to the cap- tain, and found him to be the most energetic man of the three. He accepted my proposi- tions, and offered to take with him, as an escort, twenty-five men, which was very acceptable. In case that he should lose his hfe in the under- taking five thousand pesos were to be paid to his family immediately. That we should all bo cut down if overtaken, he was certain. The next day the Emperor wrote the follow- ing bill of exchange, which is still in my pos- session :— QuEBETABO, June 1st, 1867. The bank house , in has to pay to the family of Captain , in case the latter should die, the sum of five thousand pesos (5000) immediately, (Signed) Maximilian. The Emperor then told me to write down the following : — " To procure a good guide to the Sierra Gorda ; to buy dark lanthorns ; to poison cavalry horses, or to make them unserviceable ; not to forget writing materials." As the garrison left in Quer^taro was not numerous, not many cavalry horses would have ■:.' T'M Ill I mi. 246 IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. to be rendered unserviceable, or to be killed in order to make pursuit impossible. "When I came to see the Emperor, June 1st, about noon, and we spoke much about our escape, the question was treated, whether Dr. Basch was to be made acquainted with the pro- ject. The Emperor was against it ; he said, " Dr. Basch is a faithful soul, but I am afraid that he would betray us by his nervous manner. As he, however, might become aware that some- thing was preparing, we had better tell him that I was probably guing to San Luis Potosi, and that you only would be permitted to go with me. To make that appear more likely let him give you some prescriptions for me which I shall require under any circumstances.'* He remarked also that when he was in luck he had many persons about him who tried their best to please him, and said, "I regret, Salra, that you have only to share the bitter with me, but I hope to God better times will come." As we discussed the difficulty caused by the situation of our cells in different stories, and the possibility of our separation, we agreed what we should do in that case, and also if only one of us should succeed. I said, " That I certainly would give myself up again if the Emperor should be retaken or prevented from escaping;'* but he answered, "No, I do not -■ i^'-iWy *'^' IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. 247 [une 1st, bout our ether Dr. I the pro- he said, am afraid s manner, hat some- 1 him that 'otosi, and ;o go with ily let him which I 3." want you to do that by any means ; I order you positively to go.'* On my question whore he wanted me to go in such a case, he directed me to go on board the Austrian ship, " Elizabeth,'* in the harbour of Vera Cruz, and gave me the following letter for her captain : — QUERETARO, jMltC 1,1867. Dear Captain von Groeller, — I send you with the present my general and aide-de-camp, Prince Salm, now chief of my household, recom- mending him to you most warmly. Take him on board of your ship in order to wait there for me or my instructions. Your affectionate (Signed) Maximilian. The departure of my wife to Mexico had been delayed, as no conveyance was to be had ; and I was glad of it, as my confidant officer told me that everything was prepared for the escape. He and his two associates mounted guard at noon the 2nd June, to itjinaiii there for forty- eight hours. I saw the Emperor at one o'clock and it was definitively resolved to make our escape the same night. Everything was as favourable as could be. The only person we had to fear was Colonel Palacios. For his ferocious appearance, which was still increased by his squinting, the Em- ,m "J;:*' 248 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EJtPErvOR. peror, who liked to give people nicknames, called him the "hyena." He was, however, not quite so ferocious as he looked, and was out of the way, as he had his lodging in one of the two courts of the convent, which was very re- mote from ours. The guards commanded by our three officers were the only ones in the con- vent, and Mexican soldiers do not think, but merely do what they are ordered. In the city were but few soldiers, and small patrols went through the streets only until eleven o'clock p.m. As we were all armed, and had twenty- five horsemen with us, a chance rencontre was not dangerous. There were no posts outside the city, and no troops whatever between it and the Sierra Gorda. When I walked in the passage smoking a cigar, Miramon made me a sign. "Watching for an opportunity, I dropped my cigar when I came near him. He handed me pohtely his box with matches, and on opening it I discovered be- neath the few matches a paper. I lighted my cigar and then returned the match box ; but according to Mexican politeness he declined, and I put it in my pocket directly before the sentinel, who stood about a yard from us. When I had an opportunity I read the following note : "Mis caballos han sido tornados ayes, dc OR. |ti>':'l nicknames, g, however, md was out I one of the as very re- imanded by in the con- think, but In the city )atrol.s went )ven o'clock lad twenty- ncontre was 3sts outside 3ween it and smoking a hatching for xar when I ely his box covered be- hghted my 1 box; but dechned, before the a us. When )wing note : h 'I le m illy! 3S ayes. dc :'B / IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 249 consiguiente no tengo, en cuanto a los pistolos estanacon migo. Quisiera saber la manera como N. tiene arreglado esto, por que temo mucho si no una traicion, si una maladireccion, que pueda costarmi la vida aminado (!), escribamelo N. al momento. — Yuestre amigo. " M. M." On this day Miramon had the melancholy pleasure of seeing his wife, who had arrived from Mexico with his infant child, two months old. At one o'clock p.m. a telegraphic despatch arrived, announcing that Baron Magnus and the two best lawyers of Mexico, Martinez de la Torre and Riva Palacio, the father of the general, had started for Queretaro. The Emperor sent for me about five o'clock and told me that the journey of my wife was not necessary now, and that he would not escaim that night ! If a thunderbolt had fallen at my feet, I could not have been more aghast, for such a favourable opportunity for escape would never occur again. I implored the Emperor almost on my knees not to postpone his escape, espe- cially as his reason for it was of so little ac- count. ** What would the ministers, whom I in- vited here, say I" he exclaimed, ** if they arrived and did not find me !" " They would be iieartily 250 I]\IPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. glad to see you anywhere else," I replied. But the Emperor remained firm, and tried to appease my fear for his life, by saying, " They will not be in such a hurry, and a few days more or less will be of no account." It was almost the same answer he gavu me on the evening of the 14th May. He is, however, not the only prince who has had to mourn over a " too late !" When I communicated to the officers of the guard the resolution of the Emperor, I had the utmost trouble to appease them, for they were not only afraid of losing the promised reward, but also of discovery. Too many persons knew about the plan, and if not carried out that night, it would certainly be betrayed ; at present nothing was yet known, and success was as good as certain. I saw the Emperor again, but he insisted on the postponement of the escape until the arrival of Baron von Magnus, in whom he had great confidence, " as the same had p^ssisted him in everything so energetically and faithfully, whilst those representatives, of whom he might have expected assistance with far better right, had acted miserably and almost i!i a hostile manner. Had they not taken so much trouble | to induce the foreign troops to leave the coun- try, they might have remained and have done ■ (jg^, very good service." IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 251 ied. But :o appease y will not 3re or less t tlie same f the 14tli prince wlio cers of tlie •, I had the • they were ^ed reward, jrsons knew id ont that ; at present 3ess was as he insisted 36 until the horn he had p^ssisted him faithfully, Dm he might setter right, in a hostile Luch trouble e the coun- Id have done I He regretted very much that the English minister, Mr. Scarlett, had left Mexico, for he knew that he would have supported the en- deavours of Baron von Magnus. On June 3rd I was with the princess in the room of the Emperor. Alone with me he usually called me by my Christian name, but always with the wrong one, Filip instead of Felix. I never permitted myself to correct him, but my wife did. I mention this circumstance as the Em- peror used this Christian name in an official document, and I had some trouble in proving that I was the person really meant and no other man. The Emperor presented each of us with his photograpl , and wrote his name underneath. On the 4th of June the Emperor rose earlier than usual, as he expected the foreign ministers, who disappointed him, however, that day. To while away the time he arranged a domino party in the niche formed by the passage before his cell, and Mejia, Miramon, and myself took part in it. The Emperor was to-day in very good spirits, and explained the game to Mejia, which seemed to tire Miramon, who looked at mo with a smile of resii^nation. About noon came at last the very much longed for permission from Es- cobedo, for my removal to the cell which had been occupied until then alone by Dr. Basch. In the evening I sat very long at the bedside 252 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEfiOK. of the Emperor who was then rather low-spirited and melancholy. He placed his hand in mine, and made me the confidant of his sorrows in reference to his person and family. I do not feel at liberty to publish what he confided to me, and will only say that he spoke with the utmost love of the Empress, his consort, Arch- duchess Sophia, his mother, and his brother Archduke Charles Lewis. He expressed him- self with some bitterness about the family act of renunciation which he had been induced to sign on accepting the Imperial crown of Mexico. On June 5th, early in the morning, I re- ceived a visit from the infantry officer, my confirlnnt, who toid me that he was afraid his superior officers had heard something about their plan. If so, however, lie was most to blame. He and his comrades could not forbear showing the gold they received from me, making thus their poorer fellow- officers sus- picious and jealous. General Escobar, who was in the cell next mine, had warned me ah-eady once to be cautious when giving money to Liberal officers^ as he had heard the chink of coin in my cell. I suppose that the officers, on seeing that they were suspected, and to prevent worse con- sequences, divulged the whole afiair to theii* IMPRISONMENT OF THE EMPEROR. 253 r-spirited in mine, itTOWS in I do not nfided to witli the art, Arcli- s brother ssed bim- family act nduced to crown of ling, I re- pfficer, my afraid his ling about IS most to not forbear from me, fficer? sus- ir, who was me ali'eady money to e chink of [seeing that worse con- lir to their superiors, representing it only as a means to get money, and to ascertain the intention of the prisoners. I heard also Madame General Miramon ac- cused of having attracted suspicion by her talk, though I do not know how much foundation was in it. However, I had not to wait long for the consequences. When I returned to my cell, leaving the Emperor alone with his physician, a Liberal general-^I believe his name was Paz — entered, and, addressing me in a brutal manner, said : "You have attempted to effect the escape of Maximiliano. If you repeat it you will be shot on the spot." Since the Emperor had refused to avail him- self of the means prepared by me for his escape, I cared but little for anything, and least about the consequences which the discovery might have with respect to myself, and, annoyed by the tone of the general, I replied in the same key : " And if I had done as you say, should I have done more than my duty ? You, I sup- pose, would have done the same if you had a feeling of honour and love for your chief. It is not the first time that I ventured my life for my Emperor, and am ready to venture it again to save him." " We know that," answered th general, r ^tV 254 IMPEISONMENT OF THE EMPEROE. " and Escobedo has told me that you were the man to carry it out. We will, therefore, bring you to a place y, lOre this will be made impos- sible ;" and, casting threatening looks at me, he left the cell. "You can do nothing but shoot me," I called after him; "but to-day our turn — to- morrow yours : that's Mexican fashion." When the general had delivered me of his presence, I was ashamed that I had permitted myself to be carried away by my vexation, and I went to visit the Emperor, to take an invigo- rating example from the serene dignity with which he bore his cross. An officer soon came with the order to follow him. He had no objection to my taking leave of the Emperor. When I saw him I could not utter one single word. He gave me his hand, which I covered with kisses. I felt as if I might not look on his dear face again. At the door I again looked round. Two silent tears ran down the august martyr's cheeks. That was too much. My heart was breaking. I rushed to my room, and gave vent to my grief by loud sobs. I soon recovered, however, and placed myself at the disposal of the officer, indifferent even if he led me to the place of execution. He conducted me, however, downstairs to the cell IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 255 of the other generals, whom, to my surprise, I found all ready to start. Afraid of further attempts at escape, Escobedo had given orders that all the prisoners, with the exception of the Emperor, Miramon, and Mejia, should be re- moved from the convent. Surrounded by an extraordinary numerous escort, under the command of Colonel Palacios, we had to walk slowly tlirough the streets, under a burning sun, to the casino, the place where all the field- officers were confined, whilst the subaltern officers had remained in the con- vent San Teresita. We were conducted into a large hall, where the Emperor held a drawing- room immediately after his arrival. A guard separated us from the rest of the prisoners. The above-mentioned general came and favoured us with a speech, in which he regretted that he was compelled to use more strictness than hitherto, by events that had occurred within the last few days ; on saying which he looked significantly at me. To his great displeasure. Dr. Basch had been obliged to make this forced march with us. He paced the large hall in mute fury, and at last laid down on a table to sleep it off. After a nap of an hour, he was, how- ever, awakened and brought back to the Emperor. 256 IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROB. ■ I The stricter measures announced by the general were soon manifest. The guards were trebled ; our servants not permitted to enter ; wine prohibited, and knives and forks taken away from us. The general was probably afraid that we should attack his valiant guard with our forks, and so escape I I was much amused to see fourteen generals and as many colonels eat their meat with their fingers instead of knives; but these gentlemen would not see the humour of the thing, were angry with me, and requested me to forego all schemes for escape, which only served to make their position more dis- agreeable. General Escobar, who became at a later period, with General Castillo, my best friend, expressed himself in the most severe terms. I became angry myself, and the consequence was a pistol duel, to be fought the first day after our release. I forgot to mention that Baron von Magnus, accompanied by his chancellor, Mr. Edouard SchoUer, the two advocates, and the Belgian Sec- retary of Legation Hooricks, haa arrived about noon. I was very glad to see the baron a few moments with the Emperor. He had rendered me many services, and I had been much in his company. I felt very much reassured by J';;-.a|? I IMPRISONMENT OP THE EMPEROR. 257 L by the ards were to enter; rks taken ibly afraid d witb our n generals neat witli but these 3ur of tlie requested ipe, wkicli more dis- his being near the Emperor, who now would miss mo less. The Emperor acknowledged ray endeavours to serve him in a very flattering manner, by saying, in my presence, to Baron Magnus : " The prince fought like a lion, and proved tho truest friend in misfortune." I ought not to mention it myself; but as this word of my Em- peror is my dearest and only reward for my devotion to him, I will run the risk of being thought vain. On the 6tli of June at last also arrived tho Austrian chargi d'affaires, Baron von Lago, with his secretary. Knight Schmidt de Tavera, and the Italian minister, Curtopassi. To save troops, and not for the sake of humanity, the guard was removed to-day which separated us from the field-officers. I, there- fore, had tlie pleasure of again seeing my friends, Lieut.- Colonels rituer. Count Pachta, and Major Malburg, and also Major von Goerbitz. The last-named four gentlemen lived in the same room, and we celebrated our meeting with a bowl of brandy-punch, which we procured for money fi'om soldiers' wives, and by a rubber of whist. On the 7th of June a colonel of Escobcdo's staff made another speech to us, warning us to forbear from all intrigues to escjape. voi,. r. 17 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /> \5^ w^. ■ .<^ 1.0 1.1 ■" H2 12.2 g la 12.0 IL25 iH 1.4 1.6 FhotograiJiJc Sciences Corporation ^ •O^ \ <^ ^\ WrC\ 29 WIST MAIN STMIT WnSTfR,N.Y. I45M (71*) •72-4S03 258 IMPBISONMENT OF THE EMFEBOB. and threatening us that we should be imme- diately shot on detection. These good people were always afraid of us, and not without good reason ; for the good- will of most of the inha- bitants of Queretaro was with us. a. be imme- 3od people bliout good f the vahur TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. On June 8tli camo from San Luis Potosi the order that the Emperor and all generals were to be placed before a court-martial, under the law of January 2nd, 1862. Such a court- martial and death were synonymous. The court was ordered to be appointed by the supreme government. The charges against the accused were examined by the assessor of the commanding general, and, if found correct, the I judgment was to be executed by order of that I general. There was no appeal against such a [judgment nor was any grace allowed. All the other ofl&cers were punished quite [arbitrarily, without a trial. All colonels were condemned to six years' criminal imprisonment, [the lieut. -colonels to five years, the majors to four, the captains and foreign lieutenants to two fears. All Mexican lieutenants were set free, but had to return home, where they were to placed under mihtary surveillance for one rear. Besides this, General Escobedo was directed 260 TRIAL OF MiVXIMILIAK. to pick out from all grades those officers against whom there were particular charges, and to bring them also before a court-martial. According to this order, I, as colonel, should have been condemned to six years* criminal imprisonment, and would have to commence it at once, as was ordered also. The idea of being still more separated from the Emperor, under the present circumstances, was intolerable to me, and to prevent it I presented my genaral's commission. The Liberal colonel of the staff was fair enough to draw my attention to the little circumstance that the law of January 2nd, 1862, meant death to every one captured in arms, and that no grace was to be expected. He offered to keep silence about my being a general, but I refused. On the 9th of June the Austrian charge (Taffatres, Baron von Lago, came to see the imprisoned Austrian officers, Pitner, Pachta, and Malburg. With the baron came his secre- tary, as I suppose in honour of his very Mexican name of Schmidt, in Mexican cos- tume. Though Baron Lago knew me very well, as he had seen me frequently in the house of Baron Magnus, in Mexico, and the Emperor had in- formed him expressly of the relations between \ him and myself, the great diplomatist did not ■■^^1. TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 261 think it convenient to take the slightest notice of me, and his Sancho Panza, the Mexicanized Chevalier Schmidt, imitated him. Being much amused at this, I ran right against the baron, and thus compelled him to acknowledge my presence by a hurried salute. The captains had been led outside the city already at noon, and were waiting for the field- officers. The latter assembled in the yard of the casino, and those only remained who had been picked out for the favour of a court- martial. These were the Colonels Monterdo, Reyes, Othon, Redonet, Diaz, and Kodriguez ; the Lieut.-Colonels Pitner and Almanza; and a number of majors and subaltern officers. Amongst the former was Major von Goerbitz, who owed this distinction to Dr. Licea, whom he insulted as he deserved when that worthy betrayed Miramon. Among those reserved for court-martial were, besides the Emperor, Miramon, and Mejia, the foUowirfg generals : Castillo, Casa- nova, Herera y Lozado, Ramirez, Moret, Val- dez, Escobar, Liceago, Calvo, Salm-Salm, and Magana. The latter was a man past eighty, who had not fought for twenty years, and whom none of us knew. Of the civil officers reserved for court-martial were the Minister Garcia Aguirre, the Prefect !i, 262 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. Dominiquez, the Commissary Tomas Prieto, and the Secretary of the Emperor, Luis Blasio. The Fiscal of the Republican Government was Lieut.-Colonel Aspirez, a good-looking young man of twenty-eight, whom Juarez had picked out expressly for this purpose. The As- sessor of Escobedo was Escotio, a young fellow of twenty, who liad a very bad and ferocious expression in his features, but was an entirely submissive tool in the hands of Escobedo. Fifty field-officers, who stood in the yard of the casino, were to be transported to Morelia ; amongst them were Pradillo and Ormachea. It was very hard to me to part from these my faithful companions in arms, and the more so as all of us had a very dark future before us. The manner in which the Republican Govern- ment treated these field-officeis was revolting, but was characteristic of the spirit of this govern- ment. These officers (amongst whom were many old men, and others who were disabled or weakened by their wounds) had to march on foot, in the heat of a Mexican summer, and each with his bundle on his back, for sixteen days to Morelia, escorted by a detachment of cavalry. As these officers had been always on horse- back, they were not used to a march on foot in the heat of the sun, and on sandy roads, and TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 263 'rieto, and »lasio. ovemment (od-looking Juarez bad . The As- 3ung fellow d ferocious an entirely obedo. tbe yard of to Morelia ; •macbea. It ,m tbese my id tbe more re before ns. lean Govern- as revolting, tbis govem- wbom were ere disabled to marcb on jummer, and for sixteen jtacbment of Lys on borse- |cb on foot in roads, and the consequence was that many of them suflTered from sore feet and other marching complaints. After the second day they therefore declared that they could not walk any longer, but pre- ferred to be shot. The citizens of Celaya received these unfor- tunate men with great kindness. They offered them not only all kinds of victuals and refresh- ments, but even mules, and requested permission to sell them on their arrival, and to buy with the money some commodities for themselves. Similar to this was their reception in other places. Fifty of the captains were sent to Guanajato, fifty to Zacatecas, and seventy-two to San Luis Potosi. Amongst the latter were also the foreign lieutenants. All these prisoners were not treated as prisoners of war, but to the disgrace of Es- cobedo, who broke his word, were placed on a level with robbers and thieves. On the 9th of June, in the evening, my faith- M shadow, Lieutenant Montecon, came to say farewell to me. The brave boy wept like a child. He told me that he would find means to enter Mexico, and fight again against the Liberals. Since that time I have never heard of him. On the 10th of June the Princess succeeded in procuring permission for me to see the Em- peror. Accompanied by Major Longoria, of Escobedo*s stafif, I went with her through the fill' ^^ % ■ '■'^.'' i 264 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. #• city. The Emperor was sick, but had preserved his serene, manly composure, though he owed it to himself and to others to do all that was possible to save his life. We examined all chances for it, but none remained but escape, and we by no means despaired of success, though all precautions had been taken to ren- der it more difficult. Two field officers, armed with revolvers, continually guarded the door of the Emperor during night ; that is, one of them slept in the before-mentioned niche, the other walked up and down the passage. If an escape could be effected, we were to go next to the Sierra Gorda, from thence to the Rio Grande, and thence to Vera Cruz, In that city the Emperor expected to find more than a mil- lion of dollars in the treasury, and as the Mexi- cans had no fleet to prevent it, we could procure provisions from Havana, and troops from the State of Yucatan, which was in favour of the Emperor. Thus we might be enabled to hold out for at least a year, whilst Miramon and Mejia were busy in the country. A year is a very long time in Mexico, and the cause of the Emperor might again take a favourable turn. For the execution of our projects, it was desirable that I should be again quartered near the Emperor. He requested Escobedo to permit this, but was refused ; however, it was allowed TRIAL OF MAXIMIUAN. 265 that I should visit him, accompanied by an officer of the staff. In the morning of the 11th of June, we were again transferred to the convent San Teresita, which offered more faciUties for guarding us than the casino, and which had become empty by the departure of the subaltern officers. Here we were guarded by the battalion of Supremos Poderes, the lifeguard of President Juarez ; therefore, as I suppose, an elite corps. Still they were a most miserable corps, and the most blackguardly, despicable rabble. This was less the fault of the soldiers than that of their com- manders. The field-officers paraded in splendid sparkling uniforms, "Nvith kid gloves of the most delicate shades, and bedizened with heavy gold chains, whilst the subaltern officers begged from the prisoners, and were happy to accept a shilling I The soldiers importuned us always, begging for a clacko ; and even the sentinels, who held in one hand their musket, stretched out the other for aims. When we dined they surrounded our table like hungry dogs, and I have actually seen one of them quarrel with a dog for a small piece of bread thrown to the latter. As there were several of my old Cazadores amongst the Supremos Poderes, I heard from them many particulars. They received only 266 TBIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. l**iM twice a week pay for half a day, and their meals consisted of very thin coffee, with a good deal of sugar in the morning — for sugar costs very little ; for dinner, beans with tortillas, and for supper the same. Of meat they got only an ounce or two now and then. As the officers were afraid that the soldiers might run away, they were always locked up, and those who complained about it, or about the curtailment of their pay by their superiors, were flogged, and received up to three hundred lashes. For such a purpose, the battalion formed a hollow square, and the delinquent was laid down in the middle. The corporals, one after the other, applied the beating, whilst music played, or drums and fifes made a great noise to drown the cries. On the 12th of June, I had permission to see the Emperor. Baron Magnus had gone to San Luis Potosi, to try his best again with Juarez, for orders had been sent by him to proceed with the court-martial against the Em- peror, and the Generals Miramon and Mejia. It was to commence next morning in the Iturbide Theatre ; though there were plenty of more proper places in Querdtaro, the theatre was selected, I suppose, either to mortify the prisoners, if not to indicate that the whole law proceeding was only a cruel farce. TRIAL OF llAXmiLIAN. 267 Desperate as tho position of the Emperor was, he never lost his serene dignity. When I came, he gave mo his hand and said, ** Now Salm, everything will bo over soon." He had just laid aside a book which he had been reading. I looked at the title, and saw that it was the "History of King Charles I. of England." When I told Miramon of it, ho said, ** It was reading fit for the situation." Before this, the Emperor had road the ** History of Frederick the Great." He always read historical or scientific books, and had an aversion to novels. Upon this occasion, I stayed a long time with the Emperor, and spoke with him about a great variety of different things. As the Emperor knew that I was acquainted with several oflBcers of Escobedo's staff, and even certain negociations were going on between some of them and myself, of which I shall speak immediately, he gave me some instruc- tions which could only be fulfilled by their help. He made three requests, which I had to write down in my note-book : — 1. That good marksmen might be selected for his execution ; 2. That these should aim at his breast ; and 3. That he should be shot at one and the same moment with his two generals, Miramon and la. Besides this, the Emperor dictated to me -m 268 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. the following distribution of decorations. Baron Magnus, the commander's cross of the order of the Eagle; his chancellor, Mr. SchoUer, the cross of the Guadelup order ; Dr. Basch, the officer's cross of the same ; Captain Pawlowski, and Lieutenant Koehlich, of the hussars, the cross of the Guadelup order, and General Prince Balm-Salm, the commander's cross of the order of the Eagle. At the same time, he told me that he intended to decorate the Italian minis- ter Curtopassi, but ho did not know yet which order he would give him, and said he would tell me on the 14th, when he expected to see me again. The Emperor told me also that he had written to his mother, the Archduchess Sophia, and that I, on my going to Europe, should take that letter with me, and deliver it in per- son. I do not know what has become of this letter, but so much do I know, that it had not been received by the archduchess so recently as February, 1868. Though the Emperor was fully prepared to die, this did not exclude his hope that he might escape, which was to be arranged chiefly by the princess, who intended to endeavour to bribe two Liberal colonels with 100,000 pesos each, for which the Emperor would sign drafts on his family. The Emperor spoke a great deal about his TRIAL OP MAXIMILIAN. 269 plans for the future, if there should be a future for him. Next he would sail in his yacht to Cadiz, and settle there some of his faithful fol- lowers, of whom he named especially, Miramon, Mejia, Castillo, and the Minister Aguirre ; then he would visit Lacroma, and meet somewhere the Empress and his mother; the winter he would either pass in Naples, or in the east, or in Brazil. I was to accompany him everywhere. He looked forward with delight to the mo- ment when he might breathe the air of freedom again on board his ship, and awakened similar longing in me. " Your Majesty," I called out, " I request, in advance, your pardon, if I should get a little tipsy on that blessed day," which the Emperor promised laughingly. The Emperor requested me frequently, and repeated it on that same night, to write the history of his short reign, that the world might become acquainted with the truth, and "justice be done to his memory." I was to do all in my power to get possession of the required docu- ments, and, if necessary, even with the revolve^ in my hand. He expressed this desire, even in a codicil to his last will, as Dr. Basch knows, who signed the codicil as a witness. "When I said good-night to the Emperor, I did not think that I had seen his noble, revered face for the last time I 270 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. On returning to San Teresita I found the princess, and we had to converse much about our plans. Nothing had been decided yet, and she was greatly excited. She left me, however, full of confidence in the assistance of heaven in so good a cause, and in her own courage. The 13 th of June was the day appointed for the commencement of the court-martial. The president was a lieutenant-colonel, Plato Sanchez, and the judges were very young captains, of whom some could not even read or write. This Sanchez was killed later by his own men. At six o*clock a.m., fifty men of the Caza- dores de Galeano, and fifty of the Guardia de Supremos Poderes, were already placed before the Capuchin convent, the court was to be opened at eight o'clock. As the Emperor was sick, and not willing to appear before such a mock court, the Generals Miramon and Mejia were placed alone in a closed carriage, and surrounded by a numerous escort. They drove to the Iturbide Theatre, where this judicial farce was to be enacted. The theatre was decked out with colours and republican emblems, and brightly lighted up as at any other representation. All officers present in Quer^taro had received orders to appear, and tickets had been given out to w% TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 271 citizens. The ladies of Quer^taro did not avail themselves of this opportunity, and only the wives of Liberal officers did so. The judges in full uniform, and their heads covered, and the other actors in the piece, sat on the stage. The trial has been already told, not only in the papers, but also in books upon that subject, so that I need not enter into any details, and the less so as according to my opinion, the lawyers might have saved their learning. It was utterly thrown away before such a court- martial, and all they said could not have the slightest influence on the judges. I will not even speak of their low state of education, which made them unable to understand the fine definitions and arguments in the excellent speeches for the defence, but merely state that these speeches could not get rid of the fact, that the Emperor had been captured with arms in his hands, and, therefore, as according to the law of January 26th, 1862, which had to be applied, every one was to be punished by death who was so captured, the judges could not pro- nounce any other sentence but guilty. A similar sentence would have to be pro- nounced against all oflScers and privates cap- tured in Quer^taro, if the government had j judged it convenient to place them before a court-martial. That the government made '% 's Sirs -ST 272 TBIAL OP MAXIMILIAN. exceptions, proves that it was in its power t( make them ; and that it did not make such an^ exception in the Emperor's case, which recom- mended itself more to mercy than any other by a concurrence of circumstances, was a proof that the government, when ordering a court- martial upon the Emperor, had positively re- solved on his death. Long-lasting civil wars demoralize every people, even the best, and they are not calculated, indeed, to improve the moral feel- ings of a people like the Mexicans, who have been always considered one of the most miserable upon the face of the earth. It is, therefore, not to be wondered at, but, on the contrary, is very natural, that the most sacred promises should have but little or no value what- ever with them, even if guaranteed by all the monarchs of Europe. The Emperor had still a very strong party in the country, and had, since the departure of the French, shown an energy, which made it a question of life and death for the Juarez government not to keep promises imder which he might be released. Death maue an end of all these fears, and the security attained by it for the Juarez government out- weighed by far the fear of a possible revenge from the European kings. They knew, moreover, with tolerable certainty, that this danger was TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 273 I power tc ke sucli air icli recom- y other by as a proof ig a court- (sitively re- alize every f are not moral feel- 1, who have the most irth. It is, but, on the most sacred D value what- d by all the ir had still a id had, since n an energy, ,nd. death for lep promises Death maue the security irnment out- dble revenge sw, moreover, danger was not very great, and that no power would declare war against Mexico, merely to revenge the death of MaximiUan, especially with the warning of the mighty Emperor of France before their eyes, who had earned nothing but disgrace from such a war. There were, also, a great many people in the army who demanded revenge on the Emperor, and whose votes the President, whose term of office had been long since at an end, required for his re-election. A third motive, which also urged the government to decide on death was, as I was told by persons nearly related to the government, not to suffer the rare opportunity of revenging the Republican principle on that of the Monarchy which the capture of a crowned head had given them. Recapitulating the reasons of Juarez for desiring the death of the Emperor, we find them to be : Fear of a resumption of the struggle, in spite of all promises, and the desire to satisfy the thirst for revenge of the army and the ultra- Republicans. Whether a vindictive disposition and cruelty should be placed amongst the reasons cannot be ascertained ; but one might be justi- fied in presuming such motives, considering the murder of San Jacinto and other similar cruel- ties ordered by Juarez. I do not intend to give an account of the TOL. I. 18 274, TRIAL OF HAXIMILUN. ! ' trial of the Emperor Maximilian ; but refer every one who is interested in this singular mockery of a law proceeding to the excellent pamphlet published by the two eminent Mexican lawyers who defended him.* They saw at once that, from a legal point of view, they were utterly powerless against the explicit law of January 2oth, 1862, which orders the punishment of death against every foreigner or Mexican cap- tured in arms against the Republic, or who should assist its enemies in any manlier. In their pamphlet, the advisers of the Em- peror, therefore, say : " To have a chance of success, it was necessary to base the defence on considerations of convenience, of peace, and the future advancement of our country. It was necessary to break the power of un- favourable fate by dividing it ; to make an energetic defence before the court-martial, and, on the other hand, to point out to the government the difficulties into which our country might come, by placing before their eyes the dangers of severity, and the in- calculable advantages of moderation in the • I saw only the German translation by Conrad Pascher, Consul of Mecklenburg, in Mexico. The title of it is " Denkschrift uber den Fracess des Erzherzogs Ferdinand Maximilian von Oestreit^h von Mariano Hiva Falacino and Licet Bafael Martinez de la Torre." Hamburg. Otto Meissner, 1868. ■"TW.llw:! TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 275 ef er every • mockery pampWet n lawyers once that, 3re utterly ,f January shment of xican cap- c, or who ler. of the Em- chance of the defence of peace, ir country. w"er of un- make an urt-martial, out to the which our lefore their id the ir lion in the jjonrad Pascher, [title of it is logs Ferdinand }a Palacino and Otto Meissner, exertion of their respective powers of punishing and pardoning." This was the only practical way to prove to the government that it was more profitable to spare the life of the Emperor than to take it. But it was difficult, or rather impossible, of which the counsel for the defence soon became aware ; for the advantages were uncertain and distant, whilst the gratification of the vengeance of the people deadened more urgent fears, and brought with it most intelligible advantages in regard to the re-election of Juarez. Whilst the defence thus tried to put all actions of the Emperor into their best light, the counsel for the Republic endeavoured, of course, to prove, not only that he failed against the above-mentioned law, but tried, also, to give all the actions of Maximilian the darkest colouring, in order to justify the government of Juarez before the less blood-thirsty Republicans at home and abroad. A single narration of the circumstances under which Maximilian accepted the crown was his best defence. After having refused it several times, he accepted at last when he had been convinced that it was the wish of the Mexican people, and after his conscience had been satis- fied by the approbation of learned English lawyers, whom he might suppose to be impartial. Ill '•I :l i rl: 276 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. He believed in the honesty and truth of the election ; for people in Germany are not very experienced in election stratagems, and he had not even an idea that similar artifices had been employed in Mexico as those which made Kapoleon III. Emperor of France. In this belief that he was the elect of the people, he could only be confirmed by his brilliant and enthusiastic reception in Mexico, his new country, the happiness of which he really wished to promote with all his heart. The notion of treating him as a filibuster, which was only brought forward to prove him punishable with death, under another title, is not worth speaking of. The same may be said with regard to his having been a tool of the French. This was not so much the case as is supposed, for he cancelled the treaty which had been made by one of his ministers with the French ministry, relating to the cession of the State, Sonora, and removed the minister from his place. I will only dwell upon that one accusation which tells most against him, and for which he is much blamed, even by well-meaning people. I mean the law of October 3rd, 1865, which was issued by advice of Marshal Bazaine in opposition to that of Juarez of January 25th, 1862, and which it even surpassed in cruelty. The drafb of this law was made by Marshal I TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 277 rutli of tlie xe not. very and lie bad 568 had been jv^hicli made elect of tbe med by Ms a in Mexico, 3f wbicb be is beart. i a filibuster, bo prove bim jtber title, is B may be said a tool of tbe tbe case as is ity wbicli bad ers witb tbe session of tbe dnister firom ion tbat one him, and for well-meaning ,er 3rd, 1865, sbal Bazaine anuary 25th, in cruelty. ie by Marshal Bazaine himself, as I was told by the Emperor. It was represented to him as absolutely neces- sary to restore order, and especially against the numerous bands of brigands, who, under pretext of serving the Liberal government, devastated the villages, plundered the country, and made the highways dangerous. It could not be meant against a Liberal army, as such an army was then a fiction, as was even a Liberal govern- ment. Juarez had fled to Paso del Norte, close to the frontier of the United States, and it was even said, and believed, in Mexico, that he had left the territory of that empire. The draft was not severe enough for Marshal Bazaine, and he made some additions with his own hand. The Emperor signed this law under the condition that it should be applied only against marauders and brigands, and even then only under his confirmation for each case. Nay, he even gave orders that, on the arrival of such a notice, upon which depended life or death, he should be awakened, even in the middle of the night, or disturbed in whatever important occu- pation he might be engaged. The fact is, that under the Emperor's confirmation, only a few robbers were executed, who had been already pardoned several times; and that the law — which is about the same as that of Juarez of January 25th, 1862 — was discussed in the mm Ml 278 TRIAL OV MAXIMILIAN. council of his Cabinet, and signed by all the ministers. How Marshal Bazaine carried out the inten- tions of the Emperor is another question, and it is very probable that he made use of the law, which suited his purpose and taste, whenever he pleased, and without asking the Emperor. It would, however, be unjust to make the latter responsible for the transgressions of Bazaine or the French, for he had no means whatever of punishing them. Bazaine, differing in his opinion from that of the Emperor on some point, wrote him an impertinent letter, and it required the most earnest exertions of the Emperor, through the mediation of the French minister, to induce the marshal to apologize. The complaints transmitted to Paris were in vain ; tlie French Emperor would not listen to them; for it is impossible to believe that he could not influence the marshal. The French insulted the Mexicans of their own party, and treated those of the opposite party with revolt- ing cruelty. They stole everything they could lay their hands on ; and, of the two loans, only nineteen millions found their way into the treasury of the State, while the war, according to the calculation of the French, cost above sixty millions. The Emperor Maximilian had to bear the TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 279 whole odium of this French misrule ; but the Emperor of France had no scruples in breaking the treaties which had been made, as he was dissatisfied with Maximilian, who took the alleged philanthropic plans of Napoleon as seriously meant, and tried to carry them out in perfect faith for the benefit of the Mexicans. Napoleon was furious on finding that Maxi- milian would not support him in his robbery, by preventing the cession of Sonora, which the French thought already theirs; — in a word, that he did not enter into his views in reference to Mexico, which he considered only as an easy prey, as a means to recruit the French finances, and which he intended to leave to its fate after he had gorged himself sufficiently with gold. If not, why did he not support the Confederate States? The sword of France thrown into the balance might have altered the result very much; and that Napoleon III. did not see the necessity of assisting the Confederate States for a lasting success in Mexico, nobody will believe, not even if he said so himself. What did he care what became of the Em- peror Maximihan ? For a Napoleon, countries, nations, and people are only like men on a chess- board ; and whatever is respected in life, is to him only a cipher in a calculation. In the high poUcy which a Napoleon considers to be his 280 TBUL OF IfAXIUILIAN. own province, his own person is his chief pur- pose and end; and next to him, France, because he needs her as his handmaid. The fortunate adventurer, Napoleon, had, for his own purposes, however, placed a poor Austrian archduke — ^whose rich mind longed for a proper field of action — on a road where he might make his fortune, and satisfy his phi- lanthropic fancies to his heart's content, with a people who offered a wider field for improve- ment than any other. Should the plan not succeed. Napoleon supposed he might always get out at least without damage; and as to what became of an archduke with liberal ideas, that was very indifferent to him. When the plan, in consequence of the energetic notes of the United States, took an unexpected turn, the French imagined they had done enough to offer him the voyage home under their protection; and they were quite furious that he crossed this arrangement by his resolution to remain in Mexico, only because he did not think it reconcileable with his honour to steal away from his place like a thief. Honour ! Of course that is a childish idea, to be dismissed with a shrug of the shoulders. By this refusal of Maximilian to commit a disreputable action, Napoleon considered him- self released firom all his obligations and trea- TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 281 ties. The Emperor of Mexico was sacrificed, not so much for his own faults as for tho atrocities committed by the French under the authority of their Emperor, and by which they stirred up to its utmost the hatred of the wild and bloodthirsty Mexicans. It is true Juarez was the axe that killed Maximilian, but the moral guilt falls upon Napoleon. On the 13th of June, early in the morning, the princess came to see me about the escape of the Emperor, which was to take place next night. The Emperor had written the two drafts for one hundred thousand pesos each; Baron yon Lago had also signed them at his request, and taken them with him to have them signed by the other ministers. The princess waited, of course, impatiently for them, as she had to arrange the affair with the two colonels in the afternoon. The signatures of the minis- ters were demanded by the two colonels as an additional security. One of the colonels was especially careful, and said that he entered into this business solely out of love for his only child, for whom he wished secure a fortune. The Emperor had given to my wife his signet ring, and it was agreed that it should be returned to him by that person whom he might follow in confidence. ..illfi.,! '•' 1 1 ■'■■ Wn m & li;' . m Jilih 282 TBUL OF MAXIMILIAN. I wrote now a long letter to the Emperor, in which I explained the plan of his escape, and gave it to the princess, as she probably wdUld not have time and opportunity for a longer conversation. This letter was given by the Emperor to Baron Lago, as he said, to prove, after his death, ** to his family and others what had been the relations between us, and what I had risked for him.** It was obviously the intention of the Emperor, in doing so, to prepare for me a friendly reception in Vienna and Brussels, on my return to Europe; but that letter has never been produced by Baron Lago, and the Belgian charge d'affaires, M. Hooricks, told me only a few weeks ago, when I saw him in Munich, that Baron Lago had de- stroyed that letter on the next day, being afraid that it might cost me my life ; as if the pockets of the ministers were likely to be examined I But Baron Lago is a very careful man, espe- cially if lives are endangered, of which he gave another proof on the same day. The Emperor sent Dr. Basch to the worthy representative of Jiustria for the two drafts signed by the ministers. When the doctor entered the room and told his errand. Baron von Lago, charge d'affaires of his Imperial and Koyal Majesty of Austria, etc., in Mexico, ran distractedly about his room, tearing his hair TRIAL OF MAXIlflUAX. 283 and crying out piteously, "We cannot sign them ! If we do, wo shall all he hanged !" The other ministers were less excited. They requested the doctor to represent to the Em- peror that the two colonels, if really willing to save him, would certainly be satisfied with his signature alone. Baron Lago, who had already signed in pre- sence of the Emperor, cut off his signature, and the doctor returned to his master with the muti- lated bills and the answers of the ministers, describing, of course, the despair of Barc^n Lago, and his fear of being hanged. "What would it matter," said the Emperor Maximilian, " if he were hanged ! The world would not lose much in him." On the 14th of June I waited all the morn- ing, with great anxiety, for news of the Princess, and this anxiety increased when noon arrived without my having heard anything of her. At last an Indian woman brought me an open note from her, telling me " that she must set off im- mediately for San Luis Potosi ; that she was much grieved at not being able to see me, but that she was not at liberty to give me any explanation." Still cudgeUng my brain about the meaning of this mysterious note, I received a visit which gave me the key to the riddle. It was an officer 284 TBUL OF MAXIMILIAN. n on duty who requested me to follow him. He led me past the guard, and on his beckoning, we were followed by a corporal and three men. I was led into a small chapel situated in the same story, and the officer said, " I have orders to separate you from the rest of the prisoners. You have already once laid plans for the escape of Maximiliano, and will recollect what was said to you then. You have now tried again, al- though in vain, to bribe officers and soldiers, and will have to suffer the consequences." On leaving, he instructed the sentinel at my door that " nobody should be permitted to speak or to communicate with the prisoner ; he must neither write nor receive letters, and the cabo- quarto (corporal of the guard) will bring him his meals." The reason of the journey of my wife was pretty clear now. The plan for escape had again failed, but I was not to be informed why on that day ? The chapel in which I was placed adjoined a hall, in which were other of our pri- soners. Of the folding doors separating the two rooms formerly, the opening only existed, and near it stood the sentinel. Opposite the door was the altar, and to its right, in a corner, on the stone floor, was my bed, that is, a blanket. In the wall, to the right of the entrance, was a window opening, not grated, looking on a small TRIAL OF MAIIIMILIAN. 285 yard, wMcli was surrounded by a wall fifteen feet high, which communicated by means of a door, with an open passage running around the larger convent yard. Near that door, which was mostly ajar, was another sentinel at the top of a staircase. The chapel was ornamented with horrible frescoes representing some most bloody scenes of martyrdom. On the morning of the 15th of June I received a visit from one of the two colonels with whom I was best acquainted. My first question was how it fared with the Emperor. He said, " He is lost beyond all hope." About the miscarriage in the escape I heard from him the following account : — "Neither he nor his friend would accept the drafts signed only by the Emperor, as the refusal of the ministers to sign them proved clearly that their payment was very doubtful. Both the colonels had families, and if they suc- ceeded in saving the Emperor they would have to fly from their country, and to live abroad. Under these circumstances they must have an unquestionable security for their being able to Hve comfortably with their families in foreign parts, before engaging in such a dangerous undertaking." The other colonel, who had only been tempted by the hope of securing a fortune for his child, '^I'lC 286 TBIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. i recovered his republican virtue in face of a doubtful bill, and though he had given his word of honour not to divulge the project to any one, he informed Escobedo, although without betray- ing his comrade. It may perhaps appear strange that Esco- bedo did not treat me more severely after the discovery of the first endeavour to escape, and that he did not even fulfil his sinister promises when my attempt to save the Emperor was re- peated, which would certainly have been done in more civilized countries. But in these civil wars it frequently happened that generals became prisoners of other generals, who soon perhaps became again their prisoners. Attempts to escape occurred very frequently, and were consi- dered as very excusable and natural, and were not punished with too much severity, in order not to create a precedent which might perhaps tell against themselves. Escobedo himself had once been a prisoner of Mejia, and condemned to be shot by a court-martial ; but Mejia had not only assisted him in his escape, but even furnished him with money for it. What Esco- bedo expected his own friends to do for him, he could not punish too severely in friends of the Emperor, and he was satisfied with making such attempts impossible. When Dr. Basch came yesterday morning TBUL OF MAXIMILIAir. 287 from the princess, whom he had seen on the part of the Emperor, he was arrested as he was leaving his house. Soon afterwards an officer entered the room of the princess, who had no suspicion yet, and pqlitely requested her to fol- low him to General Escobedo. The Liberal chief said to her, in a sarcastic tone, " Madam, the air of Quer^taro is very unhealthy ; typhus is prevailing here. There is here also a very dangerous atmosphere, and if I were as free to go as you are, and not prevented by my duty, I would go away. For you it will be better by all means, and I desire much that you leave within two hours.'* The princess answered, " I understand you perfectly, general, and see that you know all. If it is a crime that I tried to save my Emperor and the benefactor of my husband, you may punish me." The general left the room without saying a word, and the princess returned home. A short time afterwards an officer, with his cap on his head and armed with his sword, entered without knocking, and said, " Madam, you must travel in ten minutes. The carriage is at the door ; make yourself ready." It was so, and near the carriage was a cavalry escort ; my wife was a prisoner. She requested the officer to permit her to see me only for a moment, as iiibi !l!ii 283 TRIAL OF MAXIMILIAN.. 1 1 KrfA \i 'J' i ' I. V 1-44- it might be perhaps for the last time in life, but the officer replied, "That this was the very thing he was not permitted to do.'* At last, on the intercession of the colonel, who was present, and who told me all this ag an eye-witness, the officer permitted her to send me the little note which I received by the Indian woman. The '* ten minutes ** had passed long ago, when the princess stepped with her chamber- maid into the carriage, but when she heard the officer in command give the order, " To head- quarters ! " she jumped out again, and declared positively that she would not see Escobedo. The officer insisted on carrying out his order, but my wife insisted on her refusal. " Madam, I am on duty ; I must bring you to headquarters." " Bring me to prison, or wherever you like, but I do not go to General Escobedo." ** Madam !*' replied the embarrassed officer, "I repeat I am on duty. You will force me to take measures of compulsion to bring you there." "In no other way will you be able to take me to Escobedo I'* As the scene approached a catastrophe, which could not fail to arise in consequence of the conflict between feminine perseverance and mihtarj'^ duty, the highly amused colonel again TBIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 289 n life, but tlie very ^t last, on IS present, itness, the little note n. long ago, • cbamber- B beard tbe « To bead- nd declared Escobedo. t bis order, ;t bring you er you like, Issed officer, tU force me bring you ible to take jatdstropbe, [sequence of rerance and |>lonel again interceded, and requested tbe officer to wait until be bad spoken to tbe general, wbom be accordingly went to see. Tbe general laugbed, and said tbat be would ratber stand opposite a wbole Imperial battalion tban meet tbe angry Princess Salm, and ordered her to be brought at once to the place arranged. Accompanied by an escort of cavalry, she drove to Santa Eosa, a village at tbe foot of tbe Sierra Gorda, where she was set at Hberty, but warned not to return to Quer^taro, under tbe threat of being imprisoned. In this village she wrote a letter, which the colonel transmitted to me, and went to San Cuis Potosi, where she abgbted in the house of Consul Bahnsen, who received her with great kindness. At the same time as the princess was re- moved from Quer^taro, the foreign ministers received also orders to leave within two hours. They were the Austrian, Belgian, and ItaUan ehargi d'affaires; tbe French minister, Mr. Dana, who had, like Bazaine, married a Liberal lady, bad not come himself, and Baron Magnus had not yet returned from San Luis. Tbe Austrian charge d'affaires was so much afraid that he set off in the greatest hurry, taking with him the unsigned codicil to the last will of the Emperor. As the deed was^ however, signed by three witnesses, Baron TOXi. I. u ,M 290 TBIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. Lago, Mr. Hooricks, and Dr. Basch, the Em- peror declared that it must be valid. As the diplomatists had their permission to confer with the Emperor from a higher autho- rity, the minister, Don Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, they might have refused the order of Escobedo to quit, and thus have deprived this peremptory order of its humiliating character, which was somewhat mortifying to the great powers whom they represented. Baron Magnus, who was not so fearfiil, re- turned from San Luis and went to see the Emperor as usual without being prevented by Escobedo. Had the Ibaron been in Quer^taro, the whole thing would not have happened, for although he, as the Prussian minister, was not under the same obligations as the representa- tives of Austria and Belgium, he would have signed the bills, and if not honoured in Vienna, Prussia would have paid the trifle and saved the brother of the Emperor of Austria. On the 16th of June I was strictly guarded in my chapel ; fc t fellow prisoners who entered the little yard now and then, succeeded in whispering to me some snatches of news. In this manner I heard that the Emperor had been condemned to be shot. Three of the judges were for banishment, three for death, but the vote of the president decidisd. TBIAL OF MAXIMILIAN. 291 the Em- nission to ler autho- Lerdo de B order of )rived this cbaracter, I the great fearfiil, re- to see the •evented by L Quer^taro, ippened, for er, was not representa- would have in Vienna, d saved the About ten o'clock a.m., the colonel, who, in consequence of his position, had free access, came and told me that the verdict had been already confirmed by Escobedo, and that the Emperor, Miramon, and Mejia, would be shot between two and three o'clock. Ihad procured pen and inkfrom the caboquarto and entreated the Emperor to let me axjcompany him on his last walk, which request would not be denied by Escobedo. The colonel undertook to carry my letter to the Emperor. But he re- turned at one o'clock and brought me the follow- ing message from my unfortunate sovereign, "He sent me his last embrace and thanked me for all I had done for him. He knew my devotion, and much as he should like to have me with him, he was afraid that I might be carried away by my passion, and commit myself in a manner which might cost me my life. He had made up his account with the world, and it would affect him too much to take leave of a person who was so dear to him." I asked the colonel whether there was no hope left ; but he answered, " None whatever ; at three o'clock everything will be over." The colonel was very sad, for he would have saved the Emperor if it had depended on him alone. "Oh, I wish I had never become acquainted with Maximiliano I" he said ; " I was his bitter m;f: 292 TBIAL 07 MAX MILIAN. enemy, but lie has won me altogether by his serene, sublime demeanour, and his amiability. When I saw him just now, my heart was break- ing, and I am not ashamed to say that I went aside and wept." After the colonel had left me, I gave way to my grief. I threw myself down on my couch and hid my face before the intolerably stupid gaze of the sentinel. Presently I was startled by the sound of drums and miKtary music. I jumped up with a beating heart to the window. Though the high wall barred the view, I could distinctly hear the command of the officers placing their troops in the Alameda, which was only about three hundred paces distant ; and as Mendez had been shot there, I imagined that the Emperor would be shot here also. It was past two o'clock. I listened in breath- less agony, for as I heard every word of com- mand, I could not fail to hear also the fatal shots. But instead of them I heard merry music, and at three o'clock everything was silent. My excitement was now indescribable, and can only be understood by one who has been in a similar situation. Hopes of the wildest cha- racter and the most hopeless despair chased each other in my soul ; it was a horrible agony which I could not feel even if I was myself to be led to TRIAL 01' MAXIMILIAN. 293 r by Hs Qodability. as break- it I went ve way to coucb. and pid gaze of Led by tbe I jumped 7. Tbougb i distinctly lacing tbeir only about \ilendezliad Le Emperor deatb. This silence became most oppressive from minute to n.inute, and thus passed two horrible hours. At last, at about five o'clock, the colonel rushed into my chapel and said, " By order of the President, the execution has been postponed until the 19th inst. I" I could not forbear to embrace the friendly enemy and asked, " Do you think him saved ?** "I will not awaken false hopes in you, but according to my opinion he is saved." I heard from the colonel what had occurred. The day before news had already arrived that the Empress had died. Miramon and Mejia were in doubt whether this news should be communicated to the Emperor, but at last Mejia decided that it would be better, and he undertook to impart this sad news to his sovereign. It was well he did, for though the first impression was very painful, this news made death easier to him. The thought of his Empress tormented him more than anything else. He soon recovered from the first emotion, and said to Dr. Basch, " One string less that binds me to life." : ' ■■vM ■'.i'4 'm^ iii i WW EXECUTICN OF THE EMPEROR. ■"'v' > 1 TJ 1 In the morning of the 16th of June, at eleven o*clock, Colonel Miguel Palacios came, accom- panied by General Refugio Gonzales, with a detachment of soldiers, and the latter read the death warrant to the Emperor and the two generals. The Emperor heard it with a calm smile, and looking at his watch, he said to Dr. Basch, "Three o'clock is the hour; we have still more than three hours, and can easily finish all." The fatal hour came, and the three con- demned waited in the passage for the ofl&cer charged with their execution. They waited a whole hour, and'the Emperor conversed as usual with his confessor and two of his counsellors. At last came, at four o'clock. Colonel Palacios with a telegram from San Luis Potosi, ordering the postponement of the execution until June 19th. This news produced a most disagreeable impres- sion on the Emperor, for he had done with life, and looked on this delay rather as a cruelty, knowing the Mexicans too well to believe in EXEOUTION OF THE EMPEROB. 295 ROB. at eleven ae, accom- 39, witli a r read tlie a the two ith a calm said to Dr. Yre bave jasily finisli grace. The troops who had been placed near the Alameda, to be mai'clied from there to the Cerro de la Campana, where the execution was to take place, were discontented also, fearing that they might be perhaps deprived of their victim. They had arrived with merry music, but returned home silent and sullen. When the colonel left me, I abandoned my- self to unrestrained joy. I ordered a bottle of wine to drink good luck to the Emperor, and smoking my cigar and humming a tune I paced my chapel, and even the horrid faces of the martyrs on the wall seemed to smile. The sentinel stared at me with his mouth wide open, probably thinking me mad. To give him a better idea of my wits, I presented him with four reals, but as he could not see any more reason for my present than for my good humour, I am afraid I only confirmed his bad opinion of the state of my brain. On the 17th of June I awoke in very good spirits. I had slept excellently on my hard couch, and across my dreams I heard continually the joyful news, " The Emperor is saved ! '* This sorrow removed from my heart, I began to think of my own position. I was a prisoner, and wanted to be free. When I was sitting, yesterday, near my window, I heard the rolling of a carriage quite close to me, and T therefore 296 EXECUTION OP THE EMPEROB. I' '* F( * 1, I., k: MP? < Mi ;f^' * ^ 1 i' j' I > i F 5 » «■ ■■n ■ I £ li' concluded that the little yard was separated from the street only by one wall. This wall was about fifteen feet high from the yard ; but as the yard was one story high, the wall rose from the street about thirty-five feet. To be- come free, I had to climb that wall. Through the ungrated window I might easily get into the ;7ard ; but how to get on the top of the wall, and down into the street, I did not yet know. Whilst reflecting about it, I noticed some very heavy hooks in the gilt carved wood-work near the altar, which served, probably, to hold draperies. These would serve my purpose. If I had two or three of them, I might insert them between the stones into the wall, and climb it by this means. But how to get these hooks ? Of course, the sentinel must help me to them. " Amigo," 1 said, " I will give you two reaJs if you will take out these hooks, which I require for hanging up my clothes.'* The Republican was all over smiles. He placed his musket in a comer, and commenced his work with a good will. He could, however, only get out three hooks ; the fourth stuck as deep as an old prejudice, and I had to be satisfied. I took my three hooks, and the Indian his gun and my two reals, with which he stealthily coquetted now EXECUTION OF THE EMFEBOB. 297 and tlien, promenading, in hungry imagination, amongst mountains formed by tortillos, and long- ing for the relief. In order not to create sus- picion, I fixed my hooks slightly in the wall, and had trouble to fill them all with my scanty ward- robe. But how to find a rope, which I required to let down from the wall into the street? I thought of my wife. She might have procured me one, but she was in San Luis ; and Escobedo had threatened to put her in prison if she re- turned. I could not forbear laughing when I thought that Escobedo imagined he could pre- vent her by that means. As I well knew, his threats were the best means to bring her back soon. I might wait until her arrival. She had promised me a mattress, and in it might be a rope with knots. Even the sentinels might help me to climb the wall. I was sure they would do it, for no Indian, with or without a gun, could resist the persuasive smile of one or two golden ounzes. In the street were, of course, horses ready, and away we went to join the Emperor I I went up and down my chapel, caressing with my eye the hooks, which ap- peared to me a very important acquisition. The chapel, the whole world, appeared to me, to-day, couleur de rose. Colonel Yillanueva had promised to come at ' ■■ m % m-' 298 EXBC3TJTI0N OP THE EMPBEOE. I'- Vi one'clock ; but I waited in vain for him all day, and my doubts returned. What has happened ? Should the bloody Indian, Juurez, or his Me- phistopheles, Lerdo, the minister with the false, sarcastic mouth, dare still to commit the refined cruelty of murdering my Emperor, after having made him pass through all the bitterness of death ? Maybe he offended their low souls by the nobleness of his demeanour. It would be an infamous cruelty; but what might not be expected from Mexicans I ■ On the morning .of the 18th of June, Lieut.- Colonel Pitner came for a moment into the little yard, and whispered that things went very badly for the Emperor; and soon after- wards Colonel Villanueva came. He was greatly excited, and told me that he had been cruelly disappointed ; Maximilian was lost without any hope ; the execution would take place at eight o'clock next morning. "I am ashamed," he said, " that so many bad elements are amongst us. I hoped still that the Moderate party would conquer, and the life of the Emperor be saved. I feel grieved that my poor country, hated and despised by all the world, must be stained again in this manner ! " The Emperor had, on the 17th, already taken leave of his officers in Quer^taro in the following letter : — *]fiXE0imON OF THB EMFESOB. 299 QuESETABO, Fbibon de LOS Gafucinos, June 17, 1367. To the Generals and Field-Officers, prisoners in this city. At this solemn moment I address to you the present lines, in order both to acknowledge the loyalty with which you have served me, and to give you a token ol the true regard which I feel for you. Your affectionate Maximilian. As I was separated from the rest of the prisoners, I saw this letter only later, and therefore my name, as that of some other gene- rals, is wanting under the reply. Baron Magnus returned on the 18th from San Luis Potosi, and visited the Emperor about noon. He repeated his visit in the evening, and stayed a long time with the Emperor, who also remembered me in his conversation, and said that he would never have suffered me to leave him, had he been spared. The Emperor ordered Dr. Basch to make a hst of persons to whom he desired to leave some little keepsake. To me he bequeathed his beloved perspective-glass, which he held almost constantly in his hand during the entire siege of Quer^taro, and to the Princess the fan which he had used in prison during his last days. The Emperor went to bed at half-past Hi-'V 300 EXKCUTION OF THE EMPEROE*. eight, and was already asleep when he was dis- turbed by a visit from Escobedo, at eleven o'clock p.m. Captain Enking, who accompanied the ge- neral at this improper sit, will have noticed that the Emperor lookea with an expression of intense expectation on the entrance of the general, as if expecting to hear news of his pardon from him. Had the captain observed correctly, the look of the Emperor would have been very explicable and natural. He could not, indeed, expect from Escobedo a visit of friendly sympathy, or believe that he only came to enjoy the , sight of his foe conquered solely by vile treason. A visit from the commander- in-chief, under these circumstances, was solely justifiable if, disturbing the last sleep of his prisoner, he came to announce life to him. From the Emperor, Escobedo went to see Mejia, who saved him once when he was con- demned to be shot I Mejia recommended his ohildi'en to him, and Escobedo promised to take care of them. He sent later an aide-de-camp to the general's widow, and offered her his assistance for her children, but the noble woman spurned the assistance of the murderer of her husband with scorn, and said that she was young and strong, and could work for her children. EXECUTION OF THE EMPEROB. 301 he was dis- , at eleven led the ge- ave noticed xpression of mce of the aews of his in observed would have , He could lo a visit of tie only came [uered solely commander- 1, was solely ileep of his [to him. went to see he was con- imended his ised to take ^ide-de-camp ired her his oble woman Iderer of her lat she was irk for her I do not know for certain, whether Escobedo also saw Miramon. This general reproached himself very much in his last days. He said to Mejia he regretted that the bullet which pierced his cheek had not passed through his head, for it was chiefly owing to him that the Emperor found himself in his present position. Mejia told this to the Emperor and the latter told it to me. In the afternoon of the 18th the Emperor telegraphed to Juarez. "I would desire that M. Miguel Miramon, and Thomas Mejia, who suflfered all the tortures and bitterness of death, the day before last, might be spared, and that I, as I have already said, when taken prisoner, may be the only victim." This request was refused, and the same fate attended the request of the same date of Baron Magnus, addressed to the minister Lerdo de Tejada, which thus concluded : — " I implore you, in the name of humanity and of Heaven, not to make any further attempt against his life, and repeat how certain I am that my sovereign his Majesty the King of Prussia, and all the monarchs of Europe, who are related to the imprisoned prince, his brother " the Emperor of Austria, his cousin the Queen of Great Britain, his brother-in-law the King of Belgium, and his cousin the Queen of Spain, as 302 EXECUTION OP THE BMPBEOE. also the Kings of Italy and Sweden, Tvill readily agree to give all possible guarantee, that none of the prisoners shall ever return to Mexican territory.'* The Emperor addressed letters of thanks to his four advisers, and wrote the following letter to Juarez, which is dated the 19th of June, as it was to be delivered on that day. QuEBETARO, June 19, 1867. M. Benito Juaeez, — On the point of suffer- ing death, because I desired to try whether new institutions would enable me to put an end to the bloody war which for so many years has been causing ruin to this unhappy country, I will yield up my life with satisfaction, if this sacrifice can contribute to the welfare of my adopted country. " Being fiiUy convinced that nothing durable can be produced on a soil soaked in blood and moved by violent agitations, I implore you in the most solemn manner, and with that sin- cerity which is peculiar to moments like those in which I find myself, that my blood may be the last thafc may be spilled, and that the same perseverance, vrhich I appreciated when in the midst of prosperity, and with which you defended the cause that conquers now, might be applied to the most noble end ; to recon- EXECUTION OP THE EMPEROE. 303 ill readily tliat none Mexican thanks to iring letter June, as it m 19, 1867. i of suffer- bether new an end to years lias country, I [ion, if this ■are of my cile all the hearts, and to rebuild on a durable, firm foundation, the peace and the order of this unhappy country. (Signed) Maximilian. In the morning of the 19th, at four o'clock, all were up in our convent, for the disposable part of the battalion Supremos Poderes marched out at half-past four. Soon after six o'clock, Lieut.-Golonel Pitner came into the room ad- joining the chapel, and called out, " They have already led him away." We now listened with breathless anxiety; but nothing betrayed what had happened, when on a sudden all the bells of the city began ringing after seven o'clock. Pitner called out, " He is dead now I" and not caring for the sen- tinel at my door, he rushed into the chapel, and in a mute embrace our tears fell in memory of the much beloved, noble dead. Towards eight o'clock the troops returned from the execution. The last moments of the Emperor have been frequently described ; but all these descriptions differ from each other. Though it was not my lot to assist my Emperor in his last moments, I shall write down what eight or ten Liberal officers, amongst whom was Colonel Villanueva, concurred in stating. The Emperor rose ar. early as half-past n 304 EXECUTION OF THE EMPEBOB. three, and made a very careful toilet. He wore a short dark (blue or black) coat, black panta- loons and waistcoat, and a small felt hat. At four o'clock Pater Soria came, from whom the Emperor had already received the last sacra- :' Lta, At five o'clock a mass was celebrated, for which purpose an altar had been placed in the frequently mentioned niche. Tl'.e Emperor gave to Dr. Basch several com- rdiio.siDi s and greetings to his friends, amongst wli .»m ho did not forget to mention me. . He tl i€T\ break -.'•f^d at a quarter to six. The people jui i;?i 9 *Jt- 'vere much excited, and this excitement was even noticeable amongst some portion of the troops. Escobedo was afraid of demonstrations, and even of a riot, and in order to baffle such attempts, the execution was ordered to take place an hour sooner. With the stroke of six o'clock the Liberal officer came to take the Emperor. Before he had yet spoken the Emperor said, "I am ready ;" and came from his cell, where he was surrounded by his few servants, who wept and kissed his hands. He said, " Be calm ; you see I am so. It is the will of God that I should die, and we cannot act against that." The Emperor then went towards the cells of his two generals, and said, "Are you ready, gentlemen? I am ready." Miramon and Mejia EXECUTION OF THE EMPEROR. 305 He wore ^k panta- hat. At v^hom tlie ast sacra- jelebrated, 1 placed in 3veral com- s, amongst a me. .He six. The id, and this ongst some ras afraid of ot, and in ecution was * the Liberal r. Before lid, "I am lere he was wept and Im ; you see should die, I the cells of lyou ready, and Mejia came forward, and he embraced his companions in death. Mejia, the brave, daring man, who hundreds of times had looked smilingly into the face of grim death, was weakened by sickness, and very low-spirited. All three went down the staircase, the Em- peror in advance with a firm step. On arriving at the street before the convent he looked around, and drawing a deep breath, he said, " Ah, what a splendid day ! I always wished to die on such a day." He then stepped with Pater Soria into the next carriage waiting for him, the fiacre No. 10 ; for the Republican Government thought it probably below its dignity to provide a proper carriage for a fallen Emperor. Miramon entered the fiacre No. 16, and Mejia No. 13, and the mournful procession commenced moving. At its head marched the Supremos Poderes. The carriages were surrounded by the Cazadores de Galeano, and the rear was brought up by the battalion Nueva Leon, which was ordered for the execution. Though the hour had been anticipated, the streets Were crowded. Everybody greeted the Emperor respectfully, and the women cried aloud. The Emperor responded to the greet- ings with his heart-winning smile, and perhaps compared his present march with his entrance TOL. I. 20 306 EXECUTION OP THE BMPEEOB. and reception into Queretaro four months ago. "What a contrast I However, the people kept quiet, and could not muster courage for any demonstration ; only from the azoteas the sol- diers were favoured with odious names and missiles. On arriving at the Cerro de la Campaiia the door of the Emperor's ^acre could not be opened. Without waiting for further attempts to do so, the Emperor jumped to the ground. At his side stood his Hungarian servant Tudos. On look- ing around he asked the servant, " Is nobody else here ?'* In his fortunate days everybody strove to be near him, but now on the way to his untimely grave only a single person was at his side ! However, Baron Magnus and Consul Bahnsen were present, though he could not see them. Pater Soria dismounted as well as he could. The comforter required, however, comfort from the condemned. He felt sick and fainting, and with a compassionate look the Emperor drew from his pocket a smelling-bottle which my wife had given him, and which is said to be now in the possession of the widowed Empress of Brazil, and held it under his nose.* The Emperor, followed by Miramon and * I was told this by the lady of Minister Agairre, who heard it from his friend Fater Soria. EXECUTION OF THE EMPEEOB. 307 aonths ago. )eople kept ,ge for any 3as the sol- names and 'ampaiia tlie ►t be opened. pts to do so, At his side 3. On look- « Is nobody rs everybody m the way to person was agnus and gh he could I as he could. |;omfort from id fainting, Ihe Emperor jottle which Is said to be ^ed Empress L * liramon and re, wbo heard Mejia, who had to be supported, now moved towards the square of soldiers, which was open towards the Cerro. The troops for the execution were commanded by General Don Jesus Diaz de Leon. Where the square was open, a kind of wall of adobes had been erected. In the middle, where the Emperor was to stand, who was taller than his two companions, the wall was somewhat higher. On the point of taking their respective positions, the Emperor said to Mira- mon, " A brave soldier must be honoured by his monarch even in his last hour, therefore permit me to give you the place of honour," and Miramon had to place himself in the middle. An ofl&cer and seven men now stepped forward, until within a few yards before each of the three condemned. The Emperor went up to those before him, gave each soldier his hand and a Maximilian d*or (twenty pesos), and said, " Muchachos (boys), aim well, aim right here," pointing with his hand to his heart. Then he returned to his stand, took off his hat, and wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. This and his hat he gave to Tudos, with the order to take them to his mother, the Archduchess Sophia. Then he spoke with a clear and firm voice the following words : — " Mexicans ! persons of my rank and origin are destined by God either to be benefactors of 308 EXECUTION OF THE EMPET?.OU. J U the people or martyrs. Called by a great part of you, I came for the good of the country. Ambition did not bring me here ; I came animated with the best wishes for the future of my adopted country, and for that of my soldiers, whom I thank, before my death, for the sacrifices they made for me. Mexicans I may my blood be the last which shall be spilt for the welfare of the country ; and if it should be necessary that its sons should still shed theirs, may it flow for its good, but never by treason. Viva independence I viva Mexico 1'* Looking aroimd, the Emperor noticed, not far from him, a group of men and women who sobbed aloud. He looked at them with a mild and friendly smile, then he laid both his hands on his breast, and looked forward. Five shots were fired, and the Emperor fell on his right side, whispering slowly the word ** Hombre." All the bullets had pierced his body, and each of them was deadly; but the Emperor still moved slightly. The officer laid him on his back, and pointed with the point of his sword on the Emperor's heart. A soldier then stepped forward, and sent another bullet into the spot indicated. Neither the Emperor, nor Miramon, nor Mejia had their eyes bandaged. Miramon, not addressing the soldiers, but the citizens assem- EXECUTION OP THE EMPEROB, 309 reat part of . Ambition mated with ny adopted )rs, whom I jrifices they )lood be the jlfare of the lary that its flow for its iependence I noticed, not women who with a mild h his hands Five shots on his right " Hombre." iy, and each iperor still him on his [f his sword ihen stepped ito the spot ramon, nor tiramon, not sens assem- bled, said, "Mexicans! my judges have con- demned me to death as a traitor to my country. I never was a traitor, and request you not to suffer this stain to be affixed to my memory, and still less to my children. Viva Mexico 1 viva the Emperor I'* The shots hit him well; he was dead on the spot. Mejia only said, "Viva Mexico! viva the Emperor !'* He lived after the firing, and required two more bullets to despatch him. All the three condemned were shot at the same moment. After the death of the three had been con- firmed by two surgeons, the bodies were wrapped in coarse sheets, and placed in common deal coffins, worth twenty reals a-piece, such as are used by the lov^rest class. That of the Emperor was much too short, and his feet protruded. The bodies of the two generals were delivered to their families, but that of the Emperor was reserved by the Republican Government for a low speculation, and was confided to the care of Colonel Don Miguel Palacios, the ferocious, squinting " hyena.'* He carried it between two detachments of infantry across the city, where its aspect caused everywhere great lamentation. An officer, revolver in hand, stepped up to a woman, and asked, in a harsh tone, " Why do you cry ?" She answered, " I am weeping for t if- m hi h 310 EXEOITTION OF THE EMFEROB. my Emperor." Upon which he caught hold of her arm in order to arrest her, when she stabbed him with a knife, and escaped. The mourning in the city was general, and many persons, especially women, were arrested for expressing it in a too lively, passionate manner. The behaviour of the inhabitants of Quer6- taro cannot, indeed, be sufficiently praised and admired. For months they had suffered all the horrors of a siege. The shot of the enemy had destroyed their houses, and killed many of their friends and relations. They had suffered fear, sorrow, and hunger, and had to pay considerable contributions. But all this was not able tc diminish their devotion and love for the Emperor, whom, indeed, they loved with enthusiasm. Though this is very explicable, it is not the less creditable to them. The Mexicans are not used to a kind treat- ment from their robber-like generals, and here they saw a descendant of the Emperor of the Conquerors of Mexico walking daily amongst them, and showing sympathy and compassion with their sufferings, and an amiability which was in such striking contrast with the brutal behaviour of their own generals ; a prince who shared all the dangers and deprivations of his subjects and soldiers, who had for every suffering a comforting, kind word, and who was an edifying EXECUTION OP THE BMPEROE. 811 ■ht hold of he stabbed » mourning ly persons, expressing s of Quer6- praised and ered all the I enemy had any of their affered fear, considerable not able tc he Emperor, enthusiasm, is not the kind treat- Is, and here )eror of the ily amongst compassion [bility which the brutal prince who ions of his try suffering an edifying example for every one. Now he was dead ! He died with that greatness and serene calmness of soul which we admire so much in single in- stances in history, and the narrative of which edifies and touches the heart of all succeeding generations. The manner in which the noble Emperor died may justly be placed by the side of Socrates. The good people of Que- r6taro venerated him like a saint-martyr. Many dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood ; others procured other relics, to the great vexation of his Eepublican murderers. Even on the "hyena'* Palacios the greatness of the man made an impression, and he could not forbear saying, " He was a great soul I" The body was placed on a table in the chapel of the Convent de los Capuchinos, and the colonel called in Dr. Basch, the servants, and a number of convalescent imprisoned officers, for the most part French, who were in the convent. Pointing to the body, he said to the latter, ** Behold, that is the work of France I** These French officers used as a promenade a passage, through the windows of which they could look down into the chapel, and observe everything that was going on near the body of the Emperor, and I owe to them the following details : — Soon afterwards, the chief physician of the Liberal army. Dr. Biva de Nera, accompanied h, ^ ' 312 EXECUTION OP THE EMPEBOK. ! t f by Dr. Licea, the betrayer of Miramon, and several other persons made their appearance, Dr. Basch was also permitted to be present, The body was then undressed, and prepared for embalming. Tl 3 scenes which occurred here are in harmony with the lowness of mind of those present, and some details are so disgusting and revolting that I cannot speak of them. That the doctors went to their work noisily, laughing, and smoking, may be pardonable, as they are used to such kind of work, and had not that veneration for the dead which we feel ; but no one can excuse Dr. Licea, who said, when plunging his knife into the body of the dead prince, " What a delight it is for me to be able to wash my hands in the blood of an Emperor ! " Colonel Palacios tapped with his hand on the head of the body, and said, " Oh, you would place crowns upon your head ? Now you will be satisfied now you have your crown ;" and, pointing to two vessels in which the intestines of the Emperor were placed, he said, " Those ought to be given to the dogs." The embalming lasted a whole week, and the heart of the Emperor was lying a whole day on one of the benches of the chapel. The em- balmed body was then placed in a better coffin, and remained under guard in the chapel. EXECUTION OF THE EMPEEOB. 313 mon, and ►pearance, ) present, spared for rred here f mind of disgusting hem. rk noisily, Lonable, as id had not J feel ; but said, when • the dead me to be Dod of an hand on you would jou will be m;'* and, intestines a, "Those week., and whole day The em- ter coffin, el. Colonel PaJacios had appropriated the field- bed of the Emperor. When he had visitors he used to lay down on it, and say, " I am Em- peror now I How do I look as an Emperor ? '* When a Liberal officer expressed himself less brutally than the rest, Colonel Doria, sec- retary to Escobedo, said : ** Pooh ! what does it matter, one dog more or less ? " General Mirafuentes, who was later my fiscal, regretted, he said, the death of the two Mexicjans ; for the foreigner he did not care a straw. During the last days before the execution of the Emperor, the question whether he ought to be shot was of course frequently discussed amongst the Liberal officers. One of them said that they had no right to shoot the Emperor, as the city had not been taken by storm, but bought together with the Emperor. " What does it matter," said one of the others, laugh- ing, " chickens are bought also and killed." The Queretaro paper (" La Sombra de Ar- teaga ") of the 20th of June was printed on red paper, and contained only a short statement of the facts, without any comment. If Escobedo had not wished the death of the Emperor, he might easily have prevented it, as Juarez would not have dared to act against the general to whom he owed so much. But Esco- i i < t n II 1 15:; I I I 314 EXEOUnON OF THE EMPEBOB. bedo is not only bloodthirsty and a coward, but bad also an interest in the removal of a rival, who appeared to him more dangerous than Juarez, Ortega, or Santa Anna. It was gene- rally believed that the Emperor would not have been shot, if he had fallen into the hands of Porfirio Diaz instead of those of Escobedo. The Emperor was about six feet high, and of a slender figure. His movements, his gait, and especially his greeting, were gracefiil and light. He had fair hair, not very thick, which he wore carefully parted in the middle His beard was also fair and very long, and he nursed it with great care. He wore it parted in the middle, and his hand was very frequently occu- pied with its arrangement. The Emperor's complexion was pure and clear, and his eyes blue. His mouth had the unmistakeable stamp of the Austrian imperial house, the historical under lip, but not so much pronounced as to be disfiguring. The Emperor was generally in citizen dress ; but in Quer^taro, where he stood at the head of his troops, he wore the uniform of a general of division. "When he promenaded, he had his hands be- hind his back, like a captain of a ship pacing the deck. Another naval habit was, of always carrying in his hand his perspective glass. EXECUTION OF THE EMPESOB. 315 The expression of his face was almost always very kind and friendly : one could not look on him without loving him. His friendliness never showed itself in a familiar manner ; even with his most intimate friends he always pre- served his dignity. Notwithstanding this, he abandoned himself without restraint to his good humour, when in congenial company, and could be very witty and even sarcastic. He was a very good listener, and fond of hearing the former adventures of the persons around him, whose faults he judged mildly, as he never supposed bad motives. Though he had seen and observed much during his travels, and was a man of very good sense, his heart was too noble and too pure for a profitable know- ledge of the world. He had so little conception of wickedness and falsehood in others, that he never would believe in their existence in any man. He was very devoted and true to his friends, and thought more of them than of him- self. He forgave easily, and that not only with his lips, but with his heart. Of all men I ever met with in life, the Emperor Maximilian was the noblest, best, and most amiable. Even his very faults were almost virtues; for instance, his kindness, which frequently bordered upon weakness. He could not bear to mortify a man, or harm him in any way, especially if he had I* f-t?* 316 EXECUTION OF THE EMPEHOR. done anything against him. He, for instance, did not think much of Baron Lago, the Austrian charge d'affaires, and blamed the lukewarm and selfish faint-heartedness of that gentleman; still, he wrote to him before his death a few kind lines, that he might show them on his return to Vienna. He was a great lover and connoisseur of the fine arts, and his feeHng for fine forms went so far that it was painful for him to look on any- thing inharmonious or unsymmetrical. I sup- pose that was the reason why he was easily captivated by good-looking people, with pleasing, polished manners, as he always supposed that a fine human form must be animated by a fine soul. This feeling for harmony and order with the Emperor extended even to trifling things, which made him appear sometimes almost pe- dantic. He liked to finish every business at once, and answered all questions with great patience, but it was disagreeable to him if he was re- minded of the thing afterwards. Therefore he insisted that all his orders, even the most trifling, should be noted down at the very mo- ment he gave them. Those who would judge of the rich soul of the Emperor, should read his travels, which have been published in England and in diflerent Ian- instance, 3 Austrian iwarm and ;entlenian ; a few kind J return to seur of the ns went so >k on any- al. I sup- was easily bh pleasing, posed that id by a fine order with ng things, almost pe- is at once, [t patience, le was re- ^erefore he the most very mo- 5h soul of rhich have ferent lan- EXEOUTION OP THE EMPEROE. 317 guages. They were, as I understand, published at the desire of his august mother, the Arch- duchess Sophia, who could not erect to her glorious son any better monument. Though written by the archduke when he was still very young, the whole man is revealed in its pages, and everyone who reads them will concur with me in thinking, what a pity this gifted prince was torn from the world where he might have done such extensive good ! To labour for the advancement of humanity and the progress of the world, was the highest ambition of the Emperor Maximilian. His ideas differed, however, so entirely from the old tra- ditions of the Austrian court, that it was im- possible for him to find suitable employment in his own country, which he ardently loved. The experienced tempter in Paris offered him a wide field for his aspirations, and the ambition of the descendant of Charles V. was by no means in- different to the splendour of an imperial crown. The Emperor of the French had an easy game to play with an open chivalrous character like that of the young archduke. The favourite in- clinations and desires of the young lofty-minded prince were skillfully worked upon, and Napo- leon III. had not much trouble in captivating him by his proposition, which ought to have been examined with the more care, as it was 318 EXEOUnON OF THB EMPEBOB. Iff made by a member of the Napoleonic family to one of the family of Austria. But in the noble unprejudiced soul of the archduke, tra- ditional antipathies gave way to his objective admiration for the great statesman, which he expressed on several occasions, and whom he greatly overrated. Any scruples which he might have entertained were overbalanced by the prospect of a glorious and great sphere of usefulness. He who would benefit humanity must frequently dismiss antagonistic personal feelings and inclinations. The philanthropic deceits of Napoleon were the snares in which the archduke, who longed for noble action, was the more easily caught, as his t?lf»nts were rather a source of regret than of admiration in Vienna. His position there, indeed, was by no means agreeable, and created in him an ardent desire to escape from it as soon as was possible. When misfortune came upon him, the mind of the Emperor of Mexico showed itself in its whole strength and moral dignity; and his last days and death are an edifying example for all ages. The episode of the Mexican empire under Maximilian was too short, and did not leave any lasting effects in that unhappy country (where revolutions are its normal condition), so as to inic family Jut in the duke, tra- j objective whicli he nd whom which he Eklanced by t sphere of humanity personal oleon were ^ho longed ily caught, of regret position cable, and scape from the mind bself in its and his [ample for iire under leave any ry (where so as to f EZEOUnON OF THE EMPEBOB. 319 take a prominent place in history by itself. But this episode will exert an influence on the history of Napoleon III. which gives it im- portance, as it forms the turning-point in the career of the French emperor, on whom the blood of the noble victim whom he permitted to be sacrificed will certainly be revenged. Though the necessities of policy compelled the brother of Maximilian to join his hrnd with that of Napoleon; still there is above us a power that will not forget that by this hand the blood of a noble and good man was spilt at the far Cerro de la Campana I I frequently heard the Emperor called a fanatical person and an adventurer; and I cannot forbear saying a few words in reference to this view of him. There is in all history scarcely a single man who ever accomplished great things who was not called a fanatical person or adventurer by his narrow-minded contemporaries. To a mind which crawls always in the narrow atmo- sphere of his miserable self; and to a man for whom the care of self seems to be the quintes- sence of philosophical wisdom, to such petty common-place people, every one who sacrifices himself for the general good of humanity, re- gardless of personal interest, must appear as a weak-minded person, as an aspirant for a lunatic 320 KXECUTION OF THE EMPEBOB. t • asylum. For the " Philistine," even all philo- sophers and men of speculative sciences, of which the material good result is concealed from their weak eyes, are candidates for Bedlam. With the epithet " adventurer,** these " Phi- listines*' are still more liberal. "Bleibe im Lande und naehre dich redlich '* — stav at home and win your life honestly — is with them a favourite phrase. Whoever is urged beyond the narrow pale of his home, in search for a proper field for his active mind, is an adven- turer, and only pardoned, though still always somewhat suspected, if he brings home tangible proofs of his good success. " Whenever the time shall come, when poets shall bring the events of our days before the eyes of coming generations, there will not be missing amongst their most splendid figures that of the German Prince, who was carried by his high and noble desire beyond the ocean, and who found his tragical end in a fruitless struggle to confer the benefits of lawful order and true culture on a neglected people.*'* * "The Imperial Tragedy in Mexico." Adolph Stem, Dresden. Fablisher : M. HeinsiuB, 1867. END OF VOL. I. r. BEKXLST AMD CO., VAIKIBBB, BHOX LASB. FLBBX IXBIXT. MWBOX. .on, en all philo- sciences, of s concealed ididates for these "Phi- "Bleibe im fcay at home ith them a ^ed beyond 3arch for a an adven- still always ne tangible when poets before the nil not be lid figures carried by bhe ocean, a fruitless rful order »>) lolph Stem, M>«1>0.<(. 3^ " Hot' ^ lU .Ihuvatio Oarita^ '^ {/V^ijibrica^ drHerailes /- J. Casino . 'i. Onvent San^ Tere.Mia . 3. Cnvaitde Capucku\as. 4. Theater Jturhide,. 6. Meson- San SehtuUan^^ 7. San SehojUan . S. Santa. Clara . 9. Plaxa de Torax ^^atmtd, Une of the Jmpertals. ^»mblut line *fCAe Itierula ia SOO JOOO jtfiflfi metres Alt. Anstait v.£. HocManz^n Stutt'^ail. ^'^ "^^.^> /// ^>,\\\V\VVm!i- fv» rii'i ii.>'i\li;i! /, ; /// V'; mimf '41^ ??? ^^ ^^: fol( 'iio de 1 SOff Cole^io de la Santa Cniz . 'tnv 500 JOfO