he suspended for a few days to march against an Austro-Mexican relief column of about 1,000 men.[1] After routing it and taking nearly half of them prisoners,[2] he again appeared before the city, which capitulated on the 1st of November. A few additional movements toward the coast completed the recovery of Oajaca,[3] and he thereupon advanced into Puebla, giving fresh impulse to the rising along the lines from the lakes to the gulf, yet without the useless risk of measuring his main forces against the retreating French. Tabasco and the country south had been restored to order for some time already, and the troops there were assisting the still struggling republicans in Yucatan.[4]
The republican movements in southern Vera Cruz had been steadily approaching the main French lines along the Orizaba road, harassed by guerrillas from the mountain fastnesses. A decided struggle took place in March for the possession of the Papaloapan River; but by August Tlacotalpan and Alvarado had to be surrendered by the Mexican garrisons then left by the French; and now the neighborhood of Vera Cruz harbor itself became subject to invasion.[5] North of
- ↑ Niox has 800; Rivera, Hist. Jal., v. 685, gives 600 Austrians and 400 Mexicans, and in Pap. y Corr. Fam. Imp., 209, 800, and 400, respectively. Diaz, Datos Biog., 86-92; Diaz, Miscel., pt 43, p. 3; Perez, Dicc., iii. 217-18.
- ↑ Gen. Diaz was regarded as the most humane of the Juarist leaders, treating foreigners with consideration, and showing most severity toward those whom he regarded as native traitors. See his own letter on forbearance, in Vega, Doc., iii. 421. See also Elton's testimony, With the French, 186-91, and Niox, 678. Diaz admits shooting the Mexican officers. He claims in this last battle, on Oct. 18th, to have obtained 700 rifles. Biog., MS., 263. This work gives the fullest details of this campaign.
- ↑ And active steps were thereupon taken to restore order in the administration, Lic. Juan M. Maldonado being appointed governor and Félix Diaz comandante militar. II., 277.
- ↑ Jonuta, the only place held by imperialists in Tabasco, in the early part of 1866, fell in the middle of April; retaken, it finally yielded in Aug. Period. Ofic. (Chih.), July 27, 1866; Vega, Doc., iii. 248. Full details of operations are given in Mendez, Reseña, 62 et seq.; Par. Var., civ. pt v. Yucatan movements. Voz e Mej., Feb. 13, Nov. 6, 1866; Diario Imp., Aug. 27, 1866; Pap. Var., civ. pt v. 66 et seq.
- ↑ The leading spirit in these operations had been Gen. Benavides and Alejandro García, the latter now made a general for his achievements, and soon after governor of the province, Benavides being set aside. Diaz, Biog., MS., 266-7, 270. Alvarado was captured by Lozano at the end of July, and Tlacotalpan a month later. Iglesias, Revistas, iii. 670.
