The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-17
FROM THE RIO GRANDE.
THE BAGDAD AFFAIR.
OH1cIaI Commission of Investig ga
tion-The Report-Who was to
Blame-The Arrest of the
Accused, Etc. Etc.

was Immediately forwarded The following s
the order under which it acted;-y
HEADoUARTERs DIsTR1cT OF TUE Rio CYANIDE,
ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-G GENERALS 8 OFFICE, BROWNS
VILE, Texas, January 81, 1S66.-A military
commission is hereby appointed IN, AN, ana WIN as
Twenty-hlth army corps Brazos Santiago on
Tuesday, the 23d day of January, 1866, at
eleven o'clock A, NJ, or as soon thereafter as
practicable, to investigate and report upon the
iacts relative TO the capture OF the town of
Bagdad, on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande,
from the French on or about the 5th day of
January, 1866.
The Commission will make thorough iuvesti.
cation OF the matter. They will ascertain, if pos
slble, the attacking party, and will furnish all
the information in their power which may Le.
come necessary in future for reference and
guidance by the United States Government.
~ DETAIL FOR THE ooMMMMIssIoN.
Brevet Maior-General w. T. Clark U. S. ",
Commanding Sd Division, 25th Army Corps.
Colonel r. III. Hall, 9Sth U. s. @. I.
Major Edward p. Wilson, I'd d. s. @. Cav.
Captain Jesse M. Lee, 3Sth u s. @. 7. and A.
A. /. G. Sd Division, 25th Army Corps, Recorder
By order of MGior-General WEITzEL.
D. D. Wheeler, Assistant Adjutant-General.
THE FINDING OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission, at the conclusion OF the tes-
timony adduced, upon mature deliberaton re-
| spectively report
First That they have employed every means
in their power to procure the presence OF persons
acquainted with the case before them for investi-
| CATION, sending notices for that purpose to
| Clarksville, Brownsville, White Rancho, Texas,
| and Bagdad, Mexico. ..r r.-.-.,
Second. That the presence of. but two resi-.
| dents OF Mexico has been secured, notwithstand-
| ing every encouragement and facility have been
| offered to all persons interested to give their
| testimony.
THIRD. That the attack on Bagdad, Mexico,
| was inaugurated and carried out by one r. Clay
| Crawford, representing himself to be Major
| General in the Liberal service, and his party, by
| and with his consent and under his direction,
rcsp pA1ree eNf ~ hn oYrpax Of
| Mexico, and representing himself also to be
| LleutenantC Colonel of the 40th United States
| Colored Troops; one Sears, alias Major Sears;
ober ohs saa Que
these men in this enterprise. That several
soldiers of United States troops, whose names the
Commission have been unable to learn, induced
| by the parties above named, did, in violation of
| orders, proceed to Bagdad and participate in the
| capture of the place; that these men were at
| the time in the pay and under the contol of
| Reed, Sears, and parties above mentioned; that
| these soldiers were absent without the know
| ledge or consent of any officer of the United
| States, and that every means in the power OF
| those in authority were used 10 prevent the
| soldiers from engaging in the affair.
Fourth. That every precaution within the
| power of the Government was used to prevent
the carrying away or destruction OF property
captured at Bagdad; that all goods wares, or
merchandise were Immediately seized by the
Custom House officer, with the help of the mill
tary authorities; that all property illegally
| brought to this side by any person was placed
under guard and held for proper claimants.
Fifth That the officers of the United States
| Government did not only discountenance and
disapprove of any employment of troops for the
purpose of making an attack on Bagdad, but
| that they uncOmpromisingly refused TO give any
aid or announcement to the matter; nor have
the Commission been able 10 imRlicate any
| officer of the United States Government in the
| affair.
Sixth. That the revenue officer showed the
greatest diligence in his endeavors TO protect the
revenue, and preserve, by the assistance of the
| military authorities, the strictest neutrality.
Seventh. That the presence of United States
| troops in Bagdad after the capture by these un-
authorized parties alone prevented promiscuous
pillagng, and that these troops alone main
tanned proper order and discipline, affording
every security to person and property.
Eighth. That upon the urgent request OF the
proper authorities of the republic of Mexico,
United States troops were sent to Bagdad to re-
store tranquility, preserve order, and prevent
outrages, and that the United States Government
was in no other manner concerned In affairs at
that place.
Signed by the members of the Commission.
n. ooLoRED SOLDIERS KILLED.
The evidence shows that two enlisted men OF
the 118th United States Colored troops were
killed. 1t also shows that Reed, styling himself
Colonel OF the 1 aloeTal Al AF@y ana eXeqenan
had principal charge of the affair, under direc'
ton of Crawford. He commanded the party
who repelled the attempted landing from the
French feet the second day after the capture.
The guns were served at the time by Sears, men.
toned In the finding, who was formerly major
in the Sd New York Artillery. Prior to the cap
ture he was keeping suffers store In Clarksville.
THE LEADERS ARRESTED
The parties implicated by the investigation
are now IN the guard-house here and will be
tried on such charges as the military or civil
authorities here can take cognizance of.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Frank l.. White, a the
I'd Colored Cavalry, and Lieutemant-C6 Colonel
DAVIS, ofthe l16th United States Colored Troops
whose regiments are about to be mustered out
have received orders to remain here to give in
their testimony on trial.
LIBERAL OPERATIONS.
Soon after the capture of Bagdad General Es
, cobedo, leaving Colonel Meiia in command o.
that place. proceeded to Camargo, and com
menced the reorganization OF his forces for al
= attack on Monterey. The entire forces at his
command were concentrated, numbering in al
about three thousand men. .".
With these he was confident OF success, as thai
city was known to be defended Oy only six hun
dred men. Prominent Liberals here were mott
fed that the attack would take place on the SIS
OF January, the Liberals advancing on the city
from the Saltilla road. A carrier arrived herr
yesterday, stating that Escobedo had obtained
possession of the city, and that he was received
by the people with open arms.
General Negrete, late Secretary OF war U
Juarez, lately arrived here. He has abandoneC
the Juarez party, and is now advocating tn
cause of 0rCego. nl
Cortinas' command is encamped a few mile
above Matamoras, on the Mexican side, IL I
rumored that his troops have received marching
orders, but their destination is not known
N. Y. Herald.
1t is rumored in london that Mr. Fechte