Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/700

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LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS RESTORED.

part on the 21st with the honors of war and three pieces of artillery.[1] The reactionists were now flushed with victory, having an army of over 4,000 men, well disciplined and well officered, and held the second city in the republic, where they had powerful friends and abundant supplies.

The government's forces — 5,000 strong, commanded by generals Villareal, Traconis, Zuloaga, Gayosso, and Moreno — marched out of Mexico on the 29th toward

Puebla

Puebla; 1,000 more were expected from Guanajuato. Comonfort resolved to conduct in person the operations against Puebla.[2] On the 24th of February he

  1. The loss of Puebla was officially announced by Minister Lafragua, January 24th, together with the measures adopted for its recovery. Archivo Mex., Col. Ley., i. 486-90.
  2. The rebels had failed to take advantage of a mutiny in San Juan de Ulúa in the night of Feb. 12th, which might have favored their cause. The mutiny was put down by a counter one of the 21st. The leaders were tried and sentenced, but finally pardoned. Méx., Mem. Hacienda, 1857, 10; Rivera, Hint. Jalapa, iv. 627-9.