Sir J. Crampton to Earl Russell. (Received February 9) Madrid, February 3, 1862 My Lord, As Marshal O'Donnell, in the conversation with me which I have recounted in my despatch of the 30th ultimo, referred to the Proclamation of General Gasset to the Spanish army and to the inhabitants of Vera Cruz, as showing satisfactorily that no uneasiness as to the designs of the Spanish Government need be felt in consequence of the premature departure of the Spanish expedition from Havana; and as I perceive, on the other hand, that its tone is alluded to by Her Majesty's Government as unsatisfactory, and that the omission in it of all mention of the French and English forces is objected to by the French Government, I have thought it right to transmit herewith to your Lordship a translation of it extracted from the "Gazette of Madrid". It is to be observed that the report of the landing of the Spanish forces at Vera Cruz, and of General Gasset's Proclamation, first reached London from unofficial sources via New York, and that the official despatches relating the event reached the Spanish Government much later via Cadiz. (Signed) JOHN F. CRAMPTON Inclosure: Extract from the "Diarío Español" of January 23, 1862 (Translation) Proclamations of General Gasset Expeditionary Division to Mexico Staff: General Order of December 16, 1861. On the coast of Mocambo. Soldiers, The Spanish army finds everywhere glorious recollections of its valour and self-denial. On these very shores there is still a trace of Ferdinand Cortes, who with a handful of Spaniards planted, with the banner of Castille, the sign of the Cross and of civilisation, astonishing the world by his marvellous feats. Our present mission is also glorious: it is intended to demand satisfaction from the Mexican Government for the insults offered to our flag; to exact the fulfilment of Treaties; to prevent the repetition of acts of violence towards our countrymen, and to prove here, as was lately proved in Africa, and as our companions in arms prove by their deeds in Asia, that Spain is never insulted with impunity, and that distances disappear when her honour is called into question. On taking command of this Division, I did not hesitate to guarantee the success of the enterprise, because I know that an appeal is never made in vain to your valour and enthusiasm, that your discipline is equal to your ardour, and that you will be as humane and generous to the vanquished, as strong and terrible towards those who are opposed to you in action. Soldiers, Our brilliant navy shares our labours, and has inaugurated them with a prosperous voyage, the passage of certain victory; and the fortress itself of Vera Cruz, has comprehended that all resistance would be useless against those who have conquered so many times in these very regions, without counting their own number or that of their adversaries. If, therefore, your enthusiasm does not meet with obstacles, do not let it diminish on that account. Your mission will not yet be fulfilled; you will still be at the commencement of it. Opportunities will offer to you to prove that you are Spaniards, and that you wil never depart from the path of honour, and then our magnanimous Queen, and all Spain, will say, "There are they who have avenged on Mexico the insults offered to our flag, and recovered the affection of those who in former times were our brothers Soldiers, God save the Queen! The Major General, (Signed) MANUEL GASSET Vera Cruz Inhabitants of Vera Cruz, The Spanish troops who occupy your city have no mission of conquest, no interested views. They are led solely by the duty of demanding satisfaction for the non-fulfilment of Treaties, and for the acts of violence committed upon our fellow-countrymen, as well as by the necessity of obtaining guarantees that similar outrages shall not be repeated. Until these objects are obtained, the Spanish army, both here and wherever events may lead it, will be enabled, by means of its vigorous discipline, to preserve public tranquillity at whatever cost, to afford protection to the pacific inhabitants, and to punish with severity the disturbers of order, who will be submitted to the Military Commission, to be appointed to proceed against every kind of criminal. Inhabitants of Vera Cruz, You have nothing to dread; you know the Spanish soldier, and your attitude has just proved to me that you do. Devote yourselves, therefore, to your ordinary occupations. Back to Table of Contents: Booklet No. 8, Mexico 1861-67 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by The South and Central Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com