Year: 1867




Besides the grand ball above mentioned, there
four others given the part Of the city to tho lower
classes Zacatecas danced all night and went home at
sunrise to prepare for the coming fight.


The line OF battle formed the 26th TO the
into the city from the southeast San Luis
Poios and Aguas Calentes road At Ave A. NJ the Min.
iscr of War. who sick in bed, ordered by the
President TO leave for Fresno in Of necessity
would have been impossible TO escape horseback Tho
President bad determined to stay until the last moment.
Notwithstanding the advice Of his friends, who were
unwilling the government placed in such jeopardy
at time when the fate OF Mexico hung upon the life
Of Juarez Their remonstrances we're useless and the
President and Ministers Lerdo do Teada and Igesias
remained. At ten A. N. General Auxa, in com.
maud Of oil tho forces Of the city called
NTH h stan = escort s 70 ss
the party. We rode first 70 the extreme right OF the
lne about two miles from the Piazza OF the city, It
rested upon the summit of mountain about one thou
sand feet elevation above the plain below Upon this
mountain stationed part OF the force Of GenerSl
Americans were mounted II struck me as q curious
place for cavalry There were two twelve pound pieces
and mountain howtzer here From the right We des-
cended the mountain and rode along the lines TO the ex
tremc left rifle pits no redoubs even the held pieces
completely uncovered No efforts making even to pro-
tect by carthworks any part OF the lne except one
instance where an effort making TO protect
noun ain howitzer by a thin wall Of sand bags about
three feet thick The left OF the line rested the
Bufa lofty mountain, the pride Of Zacatecas. Here
there was one gun and about one hundred infantry
This was pronounced the strongest point in the lines
very easily hanked. could not help remarking to the
British Vice Consul. who was near me- "Miramon will
attack on the LEFT Of the liberal lines. he will
flank this position, for II Is absolutely undetend
Cd He will take Zacatecas tomorrow morning II he Is


soldierr In fact Il the worst selected line Of
oraiship The two wings were separated by deep and
almost impossible ravne while nearly all the artillery,
consisting of eleven guns was so posted Is TO be almost


I6 the afternoon the President took another ride
along the lines The troops were enthusiastic and we're
Of excellent fighting material. All they wanted was
general TO lead them am sure that there lack
or courage either in the common soldiers the lower
grades q Officers Jhs % presnsn resident, assured ey enera
certan-of success admired his tenacity and deter
mination to hold the city as long as possibe for It was
considered that Mramons object to hold Zacatecas
only suficeAt time TO lcvy forced loan Of about
5000 900 or 100000, and then retreat southwark.
There hope, too, that Miramons force might be
captured for q small force under Cadena had been
dered uorthward from Aguas Caiientes, and accord
Potos was under Trevno pected TO arrive according
70 Escobedos promise on the night OF the 26th and at
tack Mramon In the rear This force old not arrive and
the night OF the 26tn kramon's troops lay in the
little village OF Guadalupe, about three miles from the
liberal position During tho night appears that there
regular line Of pckets established in front OF
the liberal lines sufficient distance detect any
movement Of the enemy. When the day Of the 9th
broke the greater part OF Mramons force on the
extreme left, napkng the "Bufa" with virtually won


awoke about quarter 70 seven A. NJ by the sound





goes the Bufa' and the day is lost !" In less
than half hour from the sound OF the first gun the
troops Of Mramon had tanked the extreme LEFT Of tho
liberal lines and ering the suburbs OF the city.
In hot haste an aid o, General Auza's rode into the
government building and told tho President that he
mus. escape.


Al balf.past seven o'clock A. M the Mexican consti
tutiona government In the saddle ana on It's way
souhward with its reg uar escort OF hundred and
twenty men. Your correspondent concluded 10 follow
It's fortunes while onger and mounted with the
As rode out Of OF the main street the troops
OF Miramon charging down the other The Presi-
dent took the matter with the utmost cpolness the pace
not hurried, the contrary, very slow trot
There might have been hurry the part OF aids
clerks aud Others. | think observed little. some
sf them, believe poorly prepared for surprise
that they mounted horses and mules bareback leaving
their saddles behinc iAfm. The garages oil the Pfcs
dent aud Ministers ~are all left behind lsggage OF all
kinds government documents and correspondence are
all subject TO the lcnder Of Miramon. who will
doubtcss respect uenfor their value The escort OF
the President cheercd for him several times a. we rode
out or the city. Tupg evidently determined 10
make told stand tor his defence IL necc safy. We
took the Old abandoned road TO this place, fourteen
leagues south of Zacatccas For the rst few leagues
We watched closcy every cloud OF dust that appeared
on the tanks OF the column in the rear
fearful OF pursuit; for the salvation OF Mexico
depended upon the safety Of the government; and the
President evidently felt the responsibility Of his position
Several times caught sight, In the and TO the
right clouds OF dust which Indicated pursuing cavalry
finally part Of the liberal forces rereating by
the Fresnllo road and holding the enemy In check
with their field pieces; occasionally pun or smoke
would indicate the position Of the gun The retreat OF
the President became rapid We broke into a
rapid galop Over the hilltops wo rode and secured