Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/767

Rh The war continued to rage. The constitutionalists showed themselves at various points, the largest force being that of Antonio Carbajal. Some of these parties became notorious for their lawless acts, and Zuloaga resolved to recognize in guerrilla-men no political character, and to punish them as common criminals, besides holding them pecuniarily responsible for damages caused. There was much fighting going on. A severe action took place August 12th near Acámbaro, between Leonardo Marquez and the constitutionalists under Pueblita and others, nearly 4,000 strong, that lasted several hours, the night putting an end to it. Marquez then marched to Querétaro. Miramon and Mejía occupied San Luis Potosí on September 12th. Vidaurri was signally defeated by them and Marquez, near Ahualulco in San Luis Potosí on the 29th of that month, after an intermittent fighting of five days. His frontiersmen left on the field 400 killed, 170 wounded, upward of 3,000 prisoners, 33 pieces of artillery, 120 wagons of ammunition, arms, etc. According to Miramon's official report, his casualties were 7 officers killed, 20 wounded, including Mejía, 136 rank and file killed, 181 wounded, and 43 missing. This victory was celebrated in Mexico in many ways, Zuloaga decreeing a cross to every man of his army who was in the battle, and a sword of honor to Miramon. The joy of the reactionists was somewhat dampened by the reverse sustained in the defile of Las Cuevitas, Jalisco, on the 21st of September, by the forces of General Casanova, who had himself a narrow escape from capture. However, their victory at Ahualulco was so important that it prevented the downfall during two years more of the reaction, which now encountered resistance only in Vera Cruz, against which place it brought to bear all its resources. And yet, at that time when