Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/802

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782
TRIUMPH OF THE CONSTITUTIONALISTS.

could not detect his purpose. The latter, being unable to divide his force, had to change his plan repeatedly. Thus went Miramon, advancing to Guadalajara, which was threatened by Uraga, whose aim was to widen Miramon's distance from Ramirez' brigade, leaving the latter isolated and surrounded by superior hostile forces. But Uraga committed the blunder of assaulting Guadalajara with Miramon in his rear. The attack was made on the 25th of May with 7,000 men. The garrison of that place was 3,000 strong. He was repulsed, seriously wounded in the thigh, and taken prisoner. At one o'clock in the afternoon Miramon arrived to aid in completing the victory. The assailants, who were under Ogazon, Valle, Zaragoza, and others, left 300 wounded in the streets of the city, and hastily retreated to the ravines, carrying away twenty pieces of artillery. This mishap to the liberal cause postponed its triumph for several months.[1]

In Jalisco took place other occurrences worthy of mention. March 14th San Blas was attacked by several small vessels in the service of the liberals, and the schooner Ipala was captured. In April the foreign residents of Tepic asked protection from British war ships at San Blas against the threats of the liberal chief Colonel Rojas, who had attempted to levy a forced loan of $60,000. The Amethyst landed a force and held the place. The Pylades prevented the entry into the port of armed vessels that the governor of Sinaloa had fitted out to transport troops and artillery.[2]

On the 9th of May a reactionary force of 2,500 or 3,000 men under Calatayud was defeated at Ixcuintla, after thirteen hours' fighting.[3]

  1. This was one of the most interesting episodes of the three years' war. Uraga's forced retirement was not much deplored by the liberals, his heart not being in their cause. x 1857, for Juarez' government, or Degollado's authority. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 577-8: Gonzalez Ortega, Apunt. Biog., 44-6; Diario de Avisos, May 29, 30, June 5-23, July 18, 1860; Arrangoiz, Méj., ii. 364.
  2. Whatever the British officers intended, they certainly aided the reactionists.
  3. He lost 300 killed, 500 wounded, 4 cannon, all his ammunition, and He had never cared much for the constitution of