lieving themselves under God's special protection, and relying on the dissensions said to exist among the liberals, the reactionary chiefs felt certain of success. The liberal army of the interior, upwards of 10,000 men, had its headquarters in Celaya. The troops had been in constant hard service and needed rest. San Luis Potosí, Tampico, and other principal towns were surrounded by liberal forces, and had it not been for the defection of many, the reaction might have been easily crushed. The battle of Salamanca in Guanajuato, fought on the 9th and 10th of March, was the most memorable one, and resulted disastrously for the constitutionalists,[1] opening the gates of the_interior to their foes, and was soon followed by Doblado's capitulation at Silao. The successes rewarding the reactionists in less than two months were extraordinary, and if they had been able to get Vera Cruz, their rule might have been a long one. They were now further strengthened by a revolt in Mazatlan, with the approval of General Yañez, and of the troops in Guanajuato and other towns. But the constitutionalists were determined not to yield;[2] they
- ↑ They retreated from Celaya in the face of the enemy, commanded by Osollo, who attacked them on the 9th. Many of the liberal battalions threw down their arms and deserted, which became known to Osollo that night. Sure of victory, he vigorously followed up his advantage the next morning; but Parrodi made Calderon's cavalry charge upon his ranks, causing much havoc. However, Osollo had excellent artillery, which was efficiently used. Calderon was slain, and most of the liberal battalions became dispersed. A few of them stood their ground, repulsed the enemy, and saved some pieces of artillery. The ammunition was despatched to Irapuato, and the chiefs with 3,000 men moved on to Guadalajara. Diario de Avisos, March 9, 1858; El Eco Nac., March 11, 1858; Buenrostro, Hist. Seg. Cong. Const., i. 61; Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 536; Id., Hist. Jalapa, v. 38-9, 43-5.
- ↑ President Juarez' government, in a circular to the governors detailing
giving them authenticity, Jan. 27 and 28, 1858, shows that even before the end of the reactionary revolution its chiefs had asked for money of the archbishop; that afterward he was asked to contribute one and a half million dollars. It was first intended to let the government have the least valuable portion of the silver plate in the churches and convents; and finally, as its necessities were very pressing, it was concluded that the chapter should forthwith advance $150,000, and afterward arrange about the million and a half. The archbislhop had in general terms promised that the church would aid the government to the best of its ability, but 'ni habrán de hipotecarse sus bienes, ni tampoco emitirse pagarés, ni aceptarse libranzas.' Other ecclesiastical documents exhibit the enormous sums furnished by the clergy for carrying on the war.
