Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/790

Military operations had by no means been neglected, as on their result depended the triumph of one or the other contestant. Miramon despatched Marquez and Mejía, on the 19th of April, with a strong army to operate in Michoacan. They occupied Morelia, which had been abandoned by the liberals on the 29th, and were received with open arms, particularly by the ecclesiastics.^[1]

Most of the liberal forces had marched toward Guanajuato to reënforce Hinojosa, Ortega, and Zaragoza. Marquez tarried but a few days in Morelia, marching with his whole force to Guadalajara, and then Pueblita and other liberals reoccupied Morelia May 3d.^[2] Huerta and Doblado, who had escaped from Mexico, had conferences on the 9th of May.^[3] Huerta still got more resources from the place, though the state had contributed already one and a half million dollars.

Marquez went on undisturbed to Guadalajara, and entered it on May 15th, being received under a triumphal arch, and crowned with a golden wreath. Other high honors were also paid him.^[4] Marquez made a trip to Tepic, which had been captured by the reactionists June 29th, shot some citizens, and returned to Guadalajara with twenty loads of silver, taken while being clandestinely exported.

Most of the central towns were the prey of malefactors, among whom must be included many chiefs of guerrillas, who had adopted the appellation of or the other contending party. Carbajal, on

the parties implicated were executed. But it seems that in August he had pardoned a number of political prisoners. El Eco Hisp.-Am., Oct. 31, 1859; Diario de Avisos, Aug. 17, 1859.

1. The cathedral was reopened, and a te deum chanted. Religion was again ascendent.
2. Some reactionists' houses were stoned. Morelia was left without horses or money, Marquez having drained it of $60,000 within a few days.
3. The few remaining church bells with which the reaction had been hailed were now brought to the ground, and religion was again at a discount.
4. The ayuntamiento presented him a magnificent bâton, on the gold head of which was an inscription in memory of his victory at Tacubaya. A te deum formed also a part of the programme.