Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/700

680 on the 21st with the honors of war and three pieces of artillery. The reactionists were now flushed with victory, having an army of over 4,000 men, well disciplined and well officered, and held the second city in the republic, where they had powerful friends and abundant supplies.

The government's forces — 5,000 strong, commanded by generals Villareal, Traconis, Zuloaga, Gayosso, and Moreno — marched out of Mexico on the 29th toward

Puebla; 1,000 more were expected from Guanajuato. Comonfort resolved to conduct in person the operations against Puebla. On the 24th of February he