they were allowed to reoccupy for the empire several towns taken from them, a course which led to fresh troubles.[1]
Westward, the French, under L'Hériller, had entered Durango July 3d, Acting Governor Mascareñas retiring toward Nazas[2] and joining Governor Patoni, who, reënforced by Ortega and Carbajal, prepared in September to retake the city. They approached to Estanzuela with nearly 4,000 men, and gained at first an advantage over the smaller Franco-Mexican force which marched against them; but superior discipline prevailed over raw recruits, and they were obliged to retreat, with a loss of about 400 men, dead, wounded, and captured, and twenty cannon.[3] Two months later the new republican governor, Quesada, suffered another defeat.[4]
Juarez and his cabinet had reached Nazas in September, proceeding thence to Chihuahua, where the capital was established on the 15th of October.[5] General Ortega, who had lost prestige since his late defeat at Durango, and been wholly ignored, made a
- ↑ As explained by the letters and articles especially in El Cronista, Nov. 2, 1864, and passim. Iglesias, Revistas, iii. 459, 523. The liberal treaty in their favor was signed April 5th. After a fresh varying campaign, Dec. 1864 to March 1865, another armistice had been arranged. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 432-3; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xvii. 831-2, 934-43, 1001-4. More decided triumphs were achieved by the imperialists at Tuxpan and Teziutlan.
- ↑ Sustained by General Ochoa, he had prepared for resistance, hoping that Patoni might come with aid, but in vain. On retreating, one of the chiefs, Corona, of Sinaloa, undertook, unsuccessfully, to operate between Nombre de Dios and Zacatecas, and passed thereupon to Sinaloa. Sarabia was appointed prefect by L'Hériller.
- ↑ This battle, known as Cerro de Majoma, was fought Sept. 21st. According to Niox, the victors numbered only 530 French and 80 Mexicans. Col Martin, the French commander, fell early in the battle, and was replaced by Japy. Iglesias maintained that the republicans had only 2,500 men, of whom less than half were engaged. Revistas, iii. 29. Ortega had the chief command, imposed on him, he claims, to lose his prestige. Leg. Mex., Corresp., 1865-6, 57-9. Accounts in La Estrella de Occid., Nov. 4, 1864, assume that the republicans remained masters of the field. See later versions, in La Voz de Méj., Dec. 13, 1834; Periód. Imp., Oct. 15, 1864.
- ↑ The republicans claiming an advantage by Borrego over a Franco-Mexican column.
- ↑ Ángel Trias had here been appointed governor in June, replacing Casavante, whom the local authorities ignored; Patoni being made chief of all forces in Durango and Chihualhua. Méx., Col. Leyes, 1863-7, 51, 76; La Estrella de Occid., Nov. 11, 1864.
