The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-05
M e xIC O.
tUa fRsssILlo Correspondence.


sketch Of His Military Failures, &c.
FRFssnLo state Of Zacatecas, Mexico,
Jan. 49, 1887. !
A, the hour Of my leaving durango wrote 70 you OF
abe arrest Of Jesus Gonzalez ortega whose claims 10 the
Mexican Presidency have attracted much attention.
il that he reached Zacaecas on the th of Janu
airy with the determination TO make bold effort TO
rouss the country to arms his favor and II possible
create revolution which might overthrow the power of
President Juarez He had with him number Of proca-
nations printed in Brownsville Texas some part OF
the United These he in part distributed; but be-
fore tho movement fully foot he attempted TO
enlist Governor Auza, of Zacatecas in his favor. The
Governor was his warm personal friend and compadre
and also related 10 him by marriage Ortcgas efforts TO
ssduce Auza into his plans useless. Auza had
interview with 0rega previous to his arrest and told
him that his plans wild and impractlcable; that
Mexico entirely devoted to the constitutional gov
emen represented by President Juarez and that
fOrtega would find not the slightest support even in
The state upon which he placed the reliance. He
tod him that 1t his duty TO him. and accord
tngly did so. The arrest performed very quietly
and without any connection. there being not single
effort made in behalf OF the prisoner In fact Ia my
observation that is hard to discover in Mexico
who supports Oreeas claims TO the Presidency, who
speaks well OF his official career have with
many OF his personal friends who however much friend
ship they entertain for him. him entirely unfit
for any responsible position either in civil military
life Even two days since told by one of his warm
friends that orega's course when the French invaded
perfectly ruinous the STATE and that
his prevented any united action against the
enemy. He at that time gave guerilla commissions
which used up every element Of warfare that the State
contained. without damaging the enemy particle.
After the arrest he, with Ex-Governor Paton OF Dr-
Tango-his only adherent OF note--was started the
road to Durango TO be delivered TO the general gov
eminent News OF the arrest, however, bcng received
by the President he ordered General Arc6 with caval
Of the prisoner and convey Ortega San Luis Potosi
which city the government will reach. General
Arce intercepted the guard at distance Of about twen
hve leagues south Of Durango on the Zacatecas road
near FL Mortero, hacienda of some note. There he
took charge OF the prisoner and reached Semi village
within eighteen Leagues Of Zacaecas. the 10th Janu.
ary and on the l7th instant proceeded his route to
San Luis Poosi advising the Minister Of War that he
road which will leave Zacatecas to the southwark He
will probably reach the destined point about the 23d or
oath of the present month.
The feeling against him by the government is very
bitter, and think they are disposed to deal very
verey with HIM AZ all events he will not DO allowed
70 disturb the coming elections, which will be ordered
Immediately upon the arrival Of President Juarez in
Mexico So soon the condition OF the country and
Tho military service will permit court martial will be
ordered and Orega will have his trial deserter from
che liberal army. Many charges It is considered may
side OF Mexico Is aware or To ortega are attrbnted
many Of the disasters to tho liberal in the late
struggle against the French The government OF Mexico
has heretofore had much national pride 10 state 70
the world all that IL considers 0rtega guilty Of II the
trial BE- published i may be Of much interest in connec
short ri ume Of the public life Of ortega II is UNDER
stood President Juarez and his Minister'S you will be
able TO judge Of the points upon which court will
touch
In the earlier days Of the for the constitution Or
tega became Governor of Zacaecas. accidentally from
che fight Of the regularly elected governor Of State
and soon after marched with 500 assist santos
Dcgollado then engaged second siege Of Guadaa
jara under the constitution Degollado through the
foreign ministers, tampering with the liberal cause
and having been displaced by the government ortega
who, 70 give him some military grade. had been made
general, was appointed to the command OF the forces
and continued the SIEGE assisted by Zaragoza The latter
hnxvay in .t.
Guadalaara fell For this victory however Ortega
took the credit commander in chief, and reaped the
glory In the eyes OF the people, as win be When the
constitutional government established in Mexico in
1851, Ortega become Minister OF War FOR months
and corrupt Of any that ever has been known in Mexico
Unable longer to hold the position from hrs bad manage
%en ne was forced 70 resign ~ and with his
Ahom 10 this State He thus left the liberals with but
ono thousand five hundred men in the field. Under
Generals Ygnacio hejia and Tapos these soon after
whipped harquez who headed force OF four thousand
men. and thus consolidated the liberal victory the
Church party October 20, 1851
After zaragoza tho victory Lorencez in 1902
and drove the French back 0rizaba Ortega marched
from Zaoaecas via San LUIS Poos, his support and
served under him In front OF 0rizaba There is
Nil called Los Boregos, which commands the
cy, and ~, which Itch, the French y, bad neglected
Of an attack upon The city, and 0rtega ordered
occupy IL az night with Sufficient force to pour down
heavy fire the next morning the French troops
She city, and thus operate In conjunction with Zaragoz
Who 70 attack from another quarter 0rega occu.
0pon IL, irrespective of military order and guarded
against surprise poorly, that during the night single
o,tsSa in oopfus,on from il The result was comne,s
defeat Of Zaragoxas plans Soon after the above defeat
zaragosa died. and the public voice only remembering
eo siege OF Gundasara called Ortega to the command
81 the troops 10 defend Pueba despite the judg
nent Of the government which was doubtful Of bis
ebiity TO Oil important trust. AT this
famous siege, 0rtega instead of outstanding his
resources was very lavish OF them. He wasted
his supplies and munitions, without making an
an px( n l0ut ppp nit
s6srcd. The money sent TO him by the government,
from time 70 time, was changed into gold ounces and
appropriated 70 his 10 the deiriinent OF tho
ssvice. The defence OF the city, instead OF being
Aocssd BY him. was rather the result Of the individual
eeorts OF each commanding officer, who received no
general orders headquarters Had il not been for
0ega the available force al the end Of the two months
French line and escaping TO Mexico. would there have
made another bold stand for the country Tins the
prisoner OF at Paebla, ortega escaped with several
sshsr ofhccs al 0rraba Much Of the gold which he
lad no entrusted 70 General Lave and other
DEATH for his escort. TO obtain il, attacked and
Killed him socn afterwards He was ono Of the
nost able and respected Of the liberal generals
Tho liberals consider that oraga also lost DURANGO for
shcm This point After the retreat OF the liberal forces
norshward was the centre Of supply and the park Of
the liberal army When the French advanced upon ID
u wss defended BY fifteen hundred men-ortega sent
them wprd 70 bold out AMI he would their re-
1tef with the four thousand men under his command
0sss dd not comply with his word do hs duty and
enc rcsuk was the ioss OF the city with all OF lis val
which 10 might easily have been defended.
mo Last batte fought by the liberals their north
ward rserest In northern Durango This battle was
given by 0rtega with his four thousand good troops
against only I'VE hundred French 0rega brous only
small part Of his force into action, and fought the
battle 40 poorly that he was completely routed. THIS
Sas the battle Of Makoma, and the last liberal effort
q Mexico 70 turn the tide before the government
Beated " ri Paso del Norte
thought that Ortega considering the liberal cause
ln made Effort TO gain this battle, and that at the
time he already bad his plans laid TO 20 to the United
chihuahua
Thea there further hope tho Northern frontier,
but thai he desired permission the people ~
We southwest near Acapulco aud therefore must receive
psvmlssion 10 pass via the United States. This
granted. He never kept his word; but IL Is considered
ad all that was possible while absen; 10 stir up revou
eon 10 favor Of his claims 10 the Presidency. These
.sirns and tbs Arguments on both sides have been
80 frequently discussed in the journals OF the
sMsNo MATES BY Others as we'll myself,
70 need repetition The practical value OF the question
snas orteea stands no mortal chance for tho Presi.
~ ano would not were he free to-day lie could nos,