Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/658

642 fell Boquilla de Piedras, but Victoria opened for himself another outlet by taking Nautla.

Since the fall of Galeana operations on the southern coast had been of so small importance as to attract little attention. The chief command was held by Nicolás Bravo, under whom served Pablo Galeana, and Montesdeoca, with about 200 armed men each, moving near and below Acapulco. Northward, toward Zacatula, the Mariscal Ávila hovered with an irregular force, which could at times be raised to nearly 500 from among the poorly armed Indians. The main strength of the revolution in this quarter centred, however, in Mizteca, favored by its combination of rich valleys and numerous fastnesses, and allured by the passage through it of two rich highways, to Acapulco and Oajaca, with their numerous tributary roads. After Rayon abandoned his charge over Oajaca, Rosains claimed supremacy, and appointed as his lieutenant Ramon Sesma, son of the deputy, who soon obtained the control from Rayon's representative, Herrera. Not long after Morelos sent Vicente Guerrero to maintain here the revolution in his name. Sesma grew jealous, and the attitude of the two threatened to assume serious proportions; but Rosains came to reconcile them, and assigned to Guerrero a separate district, toward the Chilapa region, with the rank of colonel.