While negotiations were yet going on in 1843 Ampudia had been ordered to retire to Tabasco, on sanitary grounds as well as to prevent revolutionary infection from spreading in this sympathizing department. The measure was prudent, for Sentmanat, the governor, objected to the intrusion, and marched forth to resist it; but in a battle on July 11th, near the capital, he was routed[1] and fled to the United States, there to form an expedition for recovering his lost ground. Ampudia soon reduced the province, assisted by the fleet, and was rewarded with the command.[2] In June the following year Sentmanat reappeared with about fifty adventurers whom he had enlisted at New Orleans. The government had received ample warning, and his small vessel was chased aground by cruisers, while Ampudia followed so close upon the heels of the band as to capture it within a few days, ere a junction with native forces could be effected. The prisoners were promptly shot, including Sentmanat, whose head remained impaled in warning to others.[3]
These operations proved a heavy drain on the treasury, and the taxes continued to increase in every direction,[4] among them those on house drains and coach
- ↑ Ampudia claims that Sentmanat held a strong position with 800 men and 11 guns, and that he engaged him with only 900. Siglo XIX., July 24, 1843, etc.
- ↑ Diario Gob., Feb. 19, Aug. 4, 1843, etc.; Méx., Mem. Guerra, 1841, 31; Bustamante, Diario, MS., xlvi. 69; Id., Hist. Santa Anna, 209-16. The shelling process taught by the French at Ulúa come here into good use.
- ↑ After having been boiled in oil, it is said. 'La pusieron en una jaula,' according to Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iii. 623. See Minerva, May 13, 1845; Pabel. Nac., Oct. 5, 1844; Defens. Integ. Nac., Aug. 10, 14, 17, 1844; Abeja, Oct. 31, 1844; Movimiento, Nov. 10, 1844. The vessel which brought them, the Wm A. Turner, left New Orleans May 27th. Of the captured 43, 39 were shot. Méx., Mem. Guerra, 1845, 5, including several French and Spanish adventurers, regarding whom their ministers raised several protests. See correspondence in Siglo XIX., Mar. 21, 26, etc., 1845; Courrier, French journal of Mexico, Mar. 26, Apr. 19, etc., 1845; Masson, Olla Podrida, 62-73; Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., MS., i. 53-6. Certain persons sought to purge themselves of complicity. Tabasco, Repres. Guardacostas, 1-8.
- ↑ The list forming a thick book 'que se vendia. . . por un peso.
1846, p. 4; Méx., Mem. Guerra, 1846, 10; Id., Mem. Rel., 48-66; 1847, 45-66. After Santa Anna's fall congress also proposed to repudiate the treaty, but the question with the U. S. prevented a rupture. Yuc., Mem. Hist., Feb. 5, 1846.
