ciamiento at Tampico, which had been quelled by General Sóstenes Rocha after a short siege and bloody assault,[1] was followed by other revolts which were put down only with the spilling of much blood.[2] A serious attempt to upset the government occurred in the national capital on the 1st of October, when Toledo, Chavarría, Negrete, Mayer, and others seized at three o'clock in the afternoon the Ciudadela and the Belem jail. Juarez, with his characteristic promptness, adopted measures for the suppression of the sedition, and its authors were routed at midnight, after a desperate resistance, by Rocha, under orders from General García, their position being taken by assault.[3] Colonel Castro, governor of the federal district, perished in an encounter on the road to Popotla with the forces of the guerrilla chief Aureliano Rivera.
Diaz' partisans in Oajaca, before his manifesto was issued, had seized the federal artillery, and a large quantity of other war material. Juarez was well enough prepared to meet the issue of battle,[4] though it must be confessed that at times the fate of his
- ↑ According to Rocha's telegram of June 11th, he had taken the place at point of the bayonet; 'muchos prisioneros; ni un oficial; todos han inuerto en el combate, y son muchos.' Méx., Diario, Ofic., June 11, 1871; Toma de Tampico, 1-29; Diario Debates, 5º Cong., iv. 555; 6° Cong., i. 193; Baz, Vida de Juarez, 305-6.
- ↑ The garrison of Guaymas, on the 1st of Nov., mutinied, killing the officers, and seizing the custom-house, but was soon brought again under subjection. In Nuevo Leon, Gen. Treviño rebelled and invaded Durango. In Sinaloa, Marquez de Leon, Parra, and others made a pronunciamiento on the 13th of Sept. with 300 men, but were defeated on the 21st, at Las Higueras de Culiacan. The official report has it: 'Muchos muertos; nada de prisioneros.' It seems, however, that Parra surrendered, a few days later, with a number of his men. Méx., Diario Ofic., Oct. 4, 9, 25, 26, 1871. Tabasco and Chiapas also had some disturbances.
- ↑ Upwards of 330 prisoners, together with all the artillery and ammunition, fell into Rocha's hands. Méx., Mem., Gobern., 1871, 10, and annex 110. 6, 69-70; El Monitor, Oct. 3, 6, 1871; Méx., Diario Ofic., Oct. 2, 8, 9, 1871. Marquez de Leon says: 'Rocha proved himself an assassin by his massacre of prisoners,' adding that Gen. Guerra, who had charge of the cavalry, was ordered by the minister of war to bring in no prisoners, but kill them all. Mem. Póst., MS., 348-9.
- ↑ Congress, immediately after the inauguration, granted him extraordinary powers to bring about the restoration of peace, which included that of increasing the forces for active service. These powers were continued him on the 20 of Apr., 1872. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., xi. 593-5; Diario Debates, 8 Constit. Leg., i. 191-2, iii. 419; Id., 6° Cong., ii. 9-10.
