Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/152

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132
ARRIVAL OF THE IMPERIAL SOVEREIGNS.

itself there a few days later, summoning the congress to meet there[1] under protection of the army, which was imposing enough to keep in check the French forces in San Luis Potosí,[2] by its movements in the northern part of that state, till Doblado's crushing defeat at Matehuala reduced its proportions. Meanwhile it also assisted to restrict imperialists in Tampico, although Carbajal was driven from the district on attempting to encroach too closely upon the ground held by the French guerrilla chief, Dupin, imperialist governor of Tamaulipas, a daring, but cruel and greedy soldier.[3] This reverse by no means quieted the region, and in order to obtain submission, he caused the town of Ozuluama to be burned for a refusal to surrender arms. The effect was to hasten the evacuation of Pánuco, by the Juarist Pavon; but reënforced from Huasteca, he retook the town not long after.[4]

The preceding review of military operations shows that as the time approached for Maximilian to take possession of his throne, the most important part of the country had been practically brought under his sway, embracing the vast extent of rich mining and agricultural provinces from about latitude 18° to 23°, containing two thirds of the population and the chief manufacturing and trade interests. In some of these provinces republican guerrillas still hovered, notably in

  1. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, ii. 18-21, 238. The evacuation by Vidaurri took place between March 26th and 29th. He spiked the abandoned guns. Quiroga followed him in his flight. La Estrella de Occid., April 21, May 6, 1864; La Voz de Méj., April 30, 1864; Vega, Doc., i. 338.
  2. An intercepted letter from Baron Aymar, commanding there, places his force toward the end of April at 2,500 Frenchmen and 4,000 Mexicans. La Estrella de Occid., July 1, 1864.
  3. Called the Tiger of the Tropics, for his wanton cruelty. Traits instanced in Edward's Shelby's Exped., 43-5. He besieged Temapache, and was there defeated April 18th, with a loss of over 150 men, says Niox, who places his force at 1,200, and Dupin's auxiliaries at about 300. Expéd. du Mex., 373-4. The Juarists embraced a proportion of North American frontiersmen. Carbajal retired to Ciudad Rodrigo, placing himself in communication with the Juarist governor, Cortina, commanding at Matamoros. Iglesias, Revistas, 412.
  4. In the autumn. Dupin forced him to evacuate May 22d, and allowed several outrages on persons and property. Lefêvre, Doc. Maximiliano, i. 342-6; La Estrella de Occid., Sept. 9, Nov. 11, 18, 1864; La Voz de Méj., May 19, June 30, Aug. 25, 1864.