ambassador and his suite went in solemn procession around the plaza, the carriage conveying Pacheco and Mangino, the introductor of foreign ministers, being drawn by six fine horses. In his speech Pacheco spoke of Mexico's independence, hoping that she and Spain would look upon one another as sisters.[1]
Miramon had now every reason to believe that the constitutional army would soon make another attempt to capture the capital.[2] Ortega had concentrated at Querétaro 7,000 men, among whom were the prisoners taken at the last three important actions lost by the reactionists, and 28 pieces of artillery. The constitutional contingent from Tamaulipas was called away, which had much influence to postpone the plan of attacking Mexico, where the reactionist brigades of Chacon, Gutierrez, Robles, and Negrete were already in position.[3] Miramon organized his army in three divisions, under the respective commands of Robles, Marquez, and Mejía, with Oronoz, Negrete, Velez, Cobos, Cruz, and Chacon in charge of the brigades.[4] Ortega went to Guanajuato after resources, which were so scarce that it became an absolute necessity to seize at Laguna Seca, near San Luis Potosí, the conducta bound to Tampico, amounting to $1,100,000, which had already paid eight per centum for duties on leaving Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and San Luis.[5]
- ↑ Glowing descriptions of the whole affair may be found in Diario de Avisos, Aug. 24, 1860; Córtes, Diario Congreso, i. ap. 5, no. 4, 21-2.
- ↑ Gonzalez Ortega, whose forces had advanced as near as Cuautitlan, addressed a circular to the foreign representatives on the 24th of August, apprising them that he had orders to take the city by force of arms, and that his government would not be responsible for injuries and damages suffered by foreign residents. Córtes, Diario Congreso, i. ap. 5, no. 4, 22-3.
- ↑ Other reasons given were, that the season rendered military operations in the valley impracticable. There was, besides, a respectable reactionary force in Guadalajara which it was expedient to destroy before marching on Mexico. Gonzalez Ortega, Apunt. Biog., 43.
- ↑ The liberals experienced another disaster at Toluca. Having heard that Miramon was coming upon them in force, they abandoned the place; but as the enemy made no movement, they returned to meet with a surprise, losing as prisoners many of their chief officers.
- ↑ It was done on the 9th of Sept., 1860, by order of Degollado and Doblado. It was an unfortunate step, as it created much alarm among the merchants; besides, the funds belonged mostly to foreigners. The foreign merchants hitherto had favored the liberal cause; but the affair at Laguna Seca made
