The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20

duced to the possession OF the cities of Mexico.
Pueba. Vera Cruz. Queretaro. Guanajuato and some
other places of less note Vera Cruz could hardly at
this late epoch in the struggle. be counted upon as
useful to the imperaliss. inasmuch as it was prac
tcay blockaded by the republicans under General
Alexandra Garcia. The opulent city OF San Luis
first order, was evacuated by the imperial
lists under General Mejia in December. 1856,
Trevino ana in January, 1867. Escobedo moved his
headquarters there, thus preparing the way for the
so :, & in ead r. m,n rs hs
hands of the republicans nearly every desirable posi-
tlon north OF Qneretaro and south of Vera Cruz
in their possession. But the imperiasts possessed
the great central States with their capitals already
named including Morelia.
CONCENTRATION OF THE IMPERIALIsTs
In this state of affairs the imperiaists concentrated
their forces in Queretaro while Maximilian assisted
by the interchangeable MARQUEE and other well known
reactionst leaders collected in the city of Mexico
considerable number OF troops destined to join Meiia
at 0uereta st, t and by united 90 mo
licans. To this end Generals Miramon and Castillo
formed exceedingly strong divisions. the former
of the North. Miramon, the holder of the two,
marched for Zacatecas with TWO thousand men,
a considerable number of whom We're foreign troops,
while Castillo with an equally strong column threat
encd the republican headquarters in San Luis. The
down from chihuahua, was then in Zacatecas. and
became greatly alarmed at the approach of Mira
mon. But Escobedo proved himself to be fully
equal to the critical occasion. He withdrew
column of observation that had been sent against
Castillo, reduced the garrison of San Luis. and with
these and the troops of Coahuia organized mixed
corps to intercept Miramon The latter entered
Aquascalientes without opposition and pushed on
by forced marches toward Zacatecas, to which city
the republican General also directed his columns by
the San Luis road, having i'll the meantime covered
this city by ecbeloning the troops of Nuevo Leon
and some of General Rochas command between it
and Queretaro, as to stop the advance of Castillo.
With his accustomed impetuous vaor Miramon
threw himself against Zacatecas before Escobedas
troops, numbering $500 men, under Trevino and
Arce. could come up. He obliged General Ausa. the
his small garrison and took it without firing shot
The government of Juarez was thus obliged to evac-
uate it's temporary capital But Escobedo who had
not lost time, only veleagues from the city, and
IL was his determination to prevent If possible the
imperalist commander from reapng the fruits OF his
successful manGuvre by carrying away the rich
military resources that were to be found
in Zacatecas MiramOn, comprehending the recug-
nizei fact that Zacatecas was city which presented
facilities for defence, abandoned it at once, and
found himself face to face with Escobedo. who now
threatened his line of retreat toward Queretaro On
the first day of February 1867 the opposing forces
met the hdcendo OF San Jacinto and the battle
which bears that name was fought. resulting in
complete victory for the republicans 1t was with
difficulty that Miramon accompanied by an
escort OF Dragons, could escape. taking the nearest
road to headquarters Zacatecas was at once
reoccupied by the Juarez government, which soon
aiterward established itself III San Luis Poosi pend
ing the siege Of Queretaro and the republicans now
possessed of considerable elements of war. were able
To bear down toward tho central strategic position of
tine latter city. The army OF the North under Esco
bedo approached from San Luis and that of the
West commanded by Corona. advanced from Jalisco
by way of Logos Leon and Silao. The battle OF San
Jacinto had practically decided the speedy fall Of the
Empire.
MAMMALIAN TAKES THE FIELD.
1t was at this exciting period that Macmillan
Queretaro might turn the tide of war, lett his capital
al the head OF 4 900 men, accompanied by General
Marquee, and marched toward that. for him and his
list General Ramon Mendez east from
Morella. bringing with him 5000 veterans
tilio being obliged to cede ground before the
advance OF Escobedo's army fell back upon Quere-
taro, that at the commencement OF the siege the
i-starred Archduke found himself at the head Of
II 600 men, the flower OF the Old conservative party
Who were still fighting for the Church. but under the
imperial flag The united strength OF the republ can
forces was about twenty-seven Thousand men OF oil
arms These were composed OF the Army of the
Trevno. consisting of the two divisions of infantry
commanded respectively by Generals Sostenes
cavalry at the orders of General Francisco Aguierre
The Army Corps of the West. headed by General
Ramon Corona, was made up OF the divisions OF
Jalisco, commanded by General Manuel Marquee; the
division OF Sinaoa at the orders OF General Felix
Vega; the division of Michoacan, led by General
Nicolas Regules and the Third infantry division of
the Army of the North, under the directions of Gen
eral Silvestre Amanda. General Escobedo commanded
in chief General Corona his second, General
Jesus Diaz de Leon became adjutant general and
General Francisco Paz discharged the duties OF COM
mandant general OF artillery.
IMPERIALIsTs OFFER BATTLE.
1t was natural to suppose that the experienced
commanders OF Maximilian would endeavor to meet
republicans before these could concentrate in front
Of Queretaro but great efforts put forth for
this purpose At Apaseo, on the GuanaJuato road,
few leagues north of Queretaro, the imperialists
made demonstration in strong force against the
advance of Corona, but finding their right flank
threatened by supporting movement on the part of
Escobedo they retrcated to their fortified outposts.
On the Sth of March the army of Macmillan
drawn up in line, its right wing resting on the
Cerro de san Gregorio its centre the Cerro de
la Campana and It's left the Garita de Celanya,
and i'll this position offered battle to the republicans.
Escobcdo wisely declined the challenge. and the
arcsts retreated behind their fortified lines which
from the beginning OF January they had spared no
effort to strengthen. From the Sth of March the
blockade-for such 1t was rather than siege-night
be considered formally established. and the I'M
periasts confined their efforts to active defence,
In the course of which they made number
ties that conducted with the boldest yalor and
greatest vgor. Indeed. the republicans themselves
acknowledge that II the besieged had promptly
profited by the results OF tn ir efforts the
nth OF April, Maximilian and his troops,
or the greater portion of them. might have escaped
toward Mexico; an event which would have been dis
astrous for the tine being to the republicans. In
more than of these rude passages at Maxi
milan had borne himself so bravey that his army,
represented by deputaton composed of Generals
Miguel Mramon, Tomas Mejia, Severe del Castillo,
Pedro valdes Ramon Mendez Manuel Il. Arellano
and Mariana Reyes, decorated him with the medal
of military merit which he had decreed TO the army
and asked him to wear it on his breast a sign of
their devotion and his satisfaction with their efforts.