preparing to obtain loans and armaments in the United States;[1] but to obtain any active sympathy from the government was hopeless, for it could not venture to increase complications while engaged in its exhaustive struggle with the rebellious southern states.[2] Even arms bought in the United States had to be smuggled out of them, so as not to expose the authorities to complaints on the part of France.[3]
There was need for exertion, because the fighting, although still of a desultory nature, was as a rule unfavorable to republican arms. Mejía had taken Actopan in Mexico, and several other reverses followed in this state.[4] So also in Puebla.[5] In Vera Cruz,
- ↑ A new minister, Fuente, had left for Washington in Sept. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, i. 164. Romero nevertheless figures throughout as Juarist representative.
- ↑ The main fear was naturally a recognition of the confederacy by France and other powers, which might at best lead to reënforcements for the southern states. The caution of Seward is well instanced by a letter to Minister Corwin in Mexico, who had taken Prussians and other foreign residents under his protection, cautioning him not to rouse the susceptibilities of the government. Id., 98-9; Foreign Affairs, 1-23, 38th Cong. 2d Sess. The enlistment of men for the Juarez army had been forbidden, in a special note from Seward of Oct. 29th. An agent from Sonora and adjoining states, of more than doubtful influence, sought about this time to arrange with the Washington government for a cession of these states, in view of the French advance. Little attention was accorded to him. Voz Méj., Feb. 23, 1864. South American states were not illiberal with sympathy for Juarez, but that was all. See correspondence in Id., Aug. 1-Nov. 3, 1863.
- ↑ In the autumn of this year Gov. Vega of Sinaloa went to California to buy arms, the amount drawn from the custom-house of Mazatlan for the purpose being over $260,000. For documents of instruction, vouchers, and invoices, see Vega, Doc., MS., i. 7 et seq.; Arellano, Cuenta, MS., 1-17. The trouble and detention with the 11,000 rifles, etc., are related in Vega, Deposits, MS. Subscriptions were also received in California for campaign and prisoners' fund. Voz Méj., Feb. 28, 1863, and following numbers.
- ↑ The force holding Actopan amounted to 1,300 men under Herrera and Cairo. Cabrera was among the guerrillas elsewhere defeated. In return, one party under Martinez and others gained a temporary advantage at Tlalpan by descending from the Ajusco Range, and in the following month of Nov. they captured a convoy for Cuernavaca. A few days later Giron, Fragoso, and Romero were routed ear Otumba. Periód. Ofic., Sept. 10, Nov. 24, 26, Dec. 1, 10, 12, 19, 1863, etc.; Voz Méj., Oct. 15, Nov. 10, Dec. 10, 1863, Jan. 5, 1864, etc.
- ↑ Where Visoso of Chautla gained advantages over republican guerrillas,
Occid., Nov. 13 and Aug. 7, 1863. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 336, estimates the forces at 8,000 under Negrete, between San Luis Potosí and Pachuca; 4,000 under Uraga, in Michoacan; 4,000 under Álvarez, in Guerrero; and 5,000 under Diaz, to unove into Puebla and southward. See other estimates in Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, i. 384-7; Vega, Doc., i. 141, 214, 218-19, 223-4; Diario Ofic., Oct. 3, 1863, etc. Niox estimates the republican.
