from Durango to this port. Severe and determined in disposition, this general retaliated both on the life and property of republicans for their hostility, mainly, however, with a view of terrifying them into submission.[1] General Corona and his followers did the same, and a regular war of extermination ensued. Favored by the nature of the country, the guerrillas generally managed to avoid serious encounters, while inflicting no little mischief and annoyance by their flying movements to the walls of Mazatlan. Lozada had to be summoned to assist in the pursuit, and in April he succeeded in routing the republican main body near Rosario. The reverses suffered by the republicans compelled Corona to take the rest of his army to the northern part of the state, whence he went into Durango, but was back in five months and opened a successful campaign against the French, defeating them in Palos Prietos, where he won a glorious victory.[2]
The extolled mineral wealth of Sonora had long dazzled the eyes of Frenchmen, with such results as the Raousset de Boulbon expedition; and strong influence had been brought to bear in France for obtaining a cession of the province; but the objections of Maxi-
- ↑ Imperialist writers acknowledge this severity, as instanced in burning towns and estates, and executing partisans and prisoners. See Zamacois, Hist. Méj., xvii. 775-8, 823-4; Arrangoiz, Méj., iii. 253; Niox, Expéd. du Mex., 463-4. If they condemned such acts, we may understand that republicans raised a cry of execration, as in Iglesias and La Estrella de Occid., so frequently quoted; Legacion Mex., Circul., ii. 285–8; Laurent, Guerre, 191 et seq.; and Vigil y Hijar, Ensayo Hist., 284, etc.; in which latter this northwest campaign is fully related. Castagny was roused during the march across the coast range by the severity inaugurated really by Corona, who after being driven from a stronghold at Espinazo del Diablo Jan. 1, 1965, surprised ten days later a garrison left at Veranos and executed all the French prisoners, placed by Iglesias at 50. Revistas, iii. 158. Marquez de Leon, Mem. Post., MS., 243, condemns the act severely. Castagny hastened back and burned the village. The numerous foreign traders at Mazatlan and elsewhere did not conceal their antipathy for the French, who had ruined a prosperous entrepôt and supply trade.
- ↑ His letters, serving to defend both them and himself against the charge of treason to the cause, are reproduced by Vigil and other authorities. Corona had a narrow escape from capture after his defeat. The republican governorship of the state had by Juarez' order been surrendered to Gen. Sanchez Ochoa, and subsequently to Rubí, by Rosales, who was promised other rewards for his activity; but he fell soon after at Álamos. Iglesias, Revistas, iii, 247, 531.
