against the government, styled their armed forces the 'ejército mexicano popular restaurador,' and appointed Lozada their commander in chief.[1]
Lozada was prepared for the contest, having at his command, as was claimed, 12,000 to 15,000 men, armed and provided with ammunition.[2] Dividing his forces into three divisions, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, and Jalisco were invaded; Lozada directing in person the movement against the last-named state.[3] With half of his force he marched rapidly against Guadalajara, town after town falling into his hands, most of the inhabitants fleeing at his approach. On January 24th he arrived before Tequila, which, after an obstinate resistance, succumbed to overwhelming numbers. The unfortunate inhabitants were submitted to the grossest outrages. The rebels now marched against Guadalajara, and arrived at the rancho of Mojonera, four leagues from the city.
On the 27th General Corona at the head of the federal troops marched from Guadalajara, and during that day and on the 28th engaged the insurgents at Mojonera, defeating them with the loss of more than 1,000 in killed and wounded, and three pieces of artillery.[4] Owing to the unserviceable condition of his artillery, Corona could not pursue, and so returned to Guadalajara. But from that time no success attended Lozada's enterprise. While he was engaging with Corona at Mojonera, General Ceballos on the 27th
- ↑ Full particulars with documents will be found in El Federalista, Oct. 9, 1872; El Monitor Rep., Jan. 25, 28, 29, and Feb. 12, 1873; Estado de Sin., Jan. 29, 1873.
- ↑ El Monitor Rep., Feb. 23, 1873. An approximate calculation made about a month later reduces the number to 9,000 men, with 13,000 serviceable muskets and rifles. In this estimate it is stated that though Lozada had more than 50 pieces of artillery, no more than 6 were serviceable, and that the ammunition had been so spoiled during the six preceding years of peace that he had sent to San Francisco, Cal., for powder and gun-caps. Id., Mar. 9, 1873. It must be borne in mind, however, that these figures only represent estimates which appeared in a journal of the city of Mexico.
- ↑ The invasion of Sinaloa was directed by Agaton Martinez and Leonardo Sandoval; that of Zacatecas by Dionisio Gerónimo and Marcelino Rentería. Id., Feb. 23, 1873.
- ↑ Despatches of Corona, Flores, and Gov. Vallarta, in Id., Jan. 31 and Feb. 12, 1873.
