way from Iguala to replace the French garrison at Acapulco. The result was, that the port had to be abandoned by the imperialists in the beginning of December.[1] The whole country south of Puebla, including Guerrero, Oajaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, and southern Vera Cruz, practically remained in hands of the republicans, under the direction of Porfirio Diaz. The French being unable to spare sufficient troops for this direction, the proposed operations under Brincourt from Puebla southward were deferred, but a garrison was retained at Yanhuitlan, and exploration and road-making were pursued during the closing months, with a view to advance at the turn of the year.[2]
- ↑ Mainly because the French squadron was needed at Mazatlan, and partly because Álvarez and his valorous Pintos, supported by Diaz, had frustrated every effort to gain further foothold in the province, and even cut off supplies from the land side. The last Frenchman embarked Dec. 14th. Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 435. The U. S. war steamer Saranac remained to protect foreigners.
- ↑ Diaz had been actively keeping guard, and had gained several successes at Cazatlan, Calipa, and Tlajiaco, repulsing Visoso; but he had failed in a previous attempt, in August, on Nazahuatipa, near Teotitlan, his brother Félix, nicknanied El Chato, from his flat nose, failing at Ayotla, in the same region. Diaz, Biog., MS., 198-204; Id., Datos Biog., 61 et seq. The Indians of Yucatan, ever suspicious of established governments, appearing troubled, the imperial comissioner hastened to conciliate them by appointing a defensor to represent and plead for them, as in colonial days, promising redress of wrongs. Zamacois has preserved the Maya text of the decree. Hist. Méj., xvii. 583-4. Details concerning the preceding military operations will be found in La Voz de Méj., Sept. 3, 1864, till Feb. 1865, passim; so also in Periód. Ofic., La Estrella de Occid., Diario Ofic. Imp., Pájaro Verde, and other papers for the same period. In Juarez, Biog., 38, it is estimated that 102 battles took place during the last seven months of 1864, in which 3,277 were killed and 1,300 wounded.
besieging for three weeks. The garrison under Pinzon, jointly with the reënforcement, made sad havoc among the imperialists, who were placed at from 2,000 to 3,000 men. Vicario, who had regarded the expedition to the nalarious coast with disgust, was summoned to answer for his evident carelessness. Finding himself suspected of intrigues against the empire, he fled from the country to escape arrest. Diario Ofic., Oct. 28, 1869.
