Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/810

790 Juarez had on the 6th of that month decreed the election of representatives to a general congress, and of president of the republic. At this time he felt so sure of his triumph that he made preparations to transfer himself and his government to the valley of Mexico, and made arrangement for resuming the payment of the foreign debt in January 1861. But we must now retrace our steps, and make ourselves acquainted with the military situation on which Juarez grounded his hopes of immediate success.

Gonzalez Ortega had in October concentrated 17,000 men around Guadalajara, whilst the garrison was of less than 7,000. Marquez made rapid marches to relieve the place, reaching Guanajuato with his force considerably increased. Huerta, Ögazon, and Rojas were detached to hold him in check; they at first suffered some reverses, but finally defeated him. The garrison, under Severo del Castillo, expected no relief; and being destitute, Castillo entered into a parley with the enemy, and was allowed to leave the place with his troops on the 20th of October. His force x marched by way of Santa Ana to Tepic, without ammunition, and with unloaded arms, whilst the constitutionalists marched upon Tolotlan, and on the 10th of November at Calderon utterly routed the army of Marquez, who was not aware of Castillo's