Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/779

Rh chiefs Callejo and Mejía, and marched toward the capital. Marquez, however, on hearing of the liberal movements, started from Guadalajara with 1,000 men and nine pieces of artillery, and dislodged the liberals from Guanajuato.

The practical effect of Degollado's strategy was to prevent Miramon from bringing all his resources bear upon Vera Cruz.

The reactionary army had advanced slowly, expecting some seditious movement in the port, for which reason the small town of Vergara was occupied only the 22d of March. Finally, at a council of war Miramon's officers declared that the capture of Vera Cruz by assault was impracticable, with a large number of their forces suffering from the effects of the malarious climate. On the 29th he abandoned the siege, without firing a gun or attempting any attack, and with his whole army marched back toward Mexico.

Miramon on his march found himself intercepted by Ampudia's army, which on the 2d of April attacked the reactionists at San Juan Coscomatepec, and drove them away, taking some prisoners, among whom were a Spanish major named Juan Gonzalez, and Father Francisco Ortega, the famous parish priest of Zacapoaxtla, both of whom were shot by La Llave's order. A portion of Miramon's forces under Negrete, however, routed the constitutionalists in La Lagunilla, and rounding Las Cumbres, came upon Ampudia and Alatriste, who retreated, losing three pieces of artillery and their ammunition. Miramon then