Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/142

 

himself met with equal success in the west by occupying the important city of Guadalajara, on January 5, 1864, without a blow, General Arteaga retiring southward, joined by the Rojas and other guerrillas. General Mariano Morett was appointed prefect of the new department, and several other distributions of offices took place. Political affairs calling the French commander-in-chief back to Mexico, he left Colonel Gamier in charge, with a garrison of 2,000 men. This withdrawal was no sooner known than the Juarist generals Uraga and Ortega prepared to move against the city with respectable forces, but no resolute operations were made, Gamier taking the offensive and distracting the somewhat scattered forces, till Douay arrived on February 25th with strong reenforcements. Ortega now retired toward Fresnillo, and Uraga westward. The latter had been

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