his march against the rich mining town of Zacatecas, which was occupied without a blow on February 7th. Here Castagny was left in charge,[1] while the former hastened to the relief of Garnier at Guadalajara, and began in this region a campaign for driving out Juarists. He was encouraged at the outset by the adhesion of General Lozada, who, at the head of the Indians in Tepic district, had affected independence of the two contending parties.[2] Going south in pursuit of the guerrillas Gutierrez and Rojas, he inflicted a severe defeat on the former, and destroyed two factories for arms and powder near Cocula.[3] A little later he entered Colima, pressing closely General Uraga, who had here sought to recuperate himself.[4]
Meanwhile detachments were penetrating northward, a garrison being placed at Cuquio, on the road to Zacatecas. Colonel Potier, on May 13th, took by assault Nochistlan, one of the chief republican strongholds,[5] which was obstinately defended. He thereupon entered the mountains in pursuit of the guerrilla chiefs Sandoval and Cadena, and after more than one victorious encounter, managed to restore tranquillity for a time in the valleys above Juchipila.[6] The upper portions thereof had been cleared three months before by Castagny's men, who on February 16th surprised
- ↑ Transferred soon after to Querétaro, Gen. L'Hériller took command here. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 368.
- ↑ He accepted subsidies for his troops, which were placed at 3,000, including 1,000 mounted men. The arrangement was effected March 19th, through Rivas, the lieut of Lozada.
- ↑ At Tula and Tlapalpa, on March 26th and 27th.
- ↑ He had been levying on cattle and grain. Governor Ramon de la Vega had left some time ago for Acapulco, La Estrella de Occid., Mar. 11, 1864, Julio García succeeding. La Voz de Méj., June 28, 1864. By decree of March 31st, Uraga, as commander of the central division of the army, received extraordinary powers, which served him little however. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, ii. 17; Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., ix. 679-80.
- ↑ Held by Jesus Mejía with nearly 500 men. Mejía fell, with most of his officers and about 200 men.
- ↑ Niox claims some valiant deeds here on the part of Courcy's division. 'Le peloton de chasseurs á cheval, réduit á treize hommes, aborda sans hésiter plus de trois cents cavaliers.' Expéd. du Mex., 369. The superiority of French arms and the prestige of constant victories were powerful auxiliaries. Courcy had previously driven Sandoval from Colotlan district. Both the chiefs surrendered not long after.
