Sepulveda to Citizen, April 7, 1866

[Translation.]

DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY COMMANDANCY OF THE STATE OF SINALOA.

The citizen general-in-chief of the united brigades of Sinaloa and Jalisco makes the following communication to this government, from the Labor estate, on the 6th instant:

General Guzman writes me on the 24th ultimo that his brigade was surprised in Guajicori, at eight o’clock in the morning, by a large body of Lozada’s traitors, and the town was set on fire for the fourth time. He has not yet given me an account of his losses. On the 27th he writes me from Agua Caliente that all his scattered forces have not yet been collected; that he laments the loss of Major Francisco Cruz Peña, Santos Flores, lieutenant of the fourth company of the Pueblos Unidos battalion, and twelve men, names unknown. He does not know the enemy’s loss, though he saw several new graves near the Guajicori church, and knows that one corpse was carried as far as Acaponeta. He says 500 Indians from Nayarit came down to join him on the 26th. On the 29th Lozada entered Rosario with 2,000 men and a battery of field-pieces.

Lieutenant Colonel Donato Guerra reports on the same day that he had a skirmish with the enemy at the port of Mazatlan, a short time before he left.

Six or seven hundred French and traitors, with four pieces of artillery, left the port on the 30th and camped at Palos Prietos. The next day they went to Higueras, and Lozada left Rosario for Agua Caliente.

While the enemy was taking all these turns, I missed several good opportunities for a fight.

At seven in the evening of the 31st I saw the citizen governor of the state, who had just come by forced marches from Culiacan. I consulted with him about the situation, and we agreed to attack Lozada on his march. Munitions arrived at ten at night, and our troops were supplied. The citizen governor started for Verde with forces to attack Lozada, and I set out towards Siqueros, to cut off the French.

On the 1st instant, at five in the morning, our scouts reported that the French from the port were advancing upon Siqueros. I ordered Colonel Farra to send Lieutenant Colone Manuel Crespo, with a part of the Ramirez corps under Becerra, to verde, and commanded Lieutenant Colonel Donato Guerra to watch the port with Crespo. General Gutierrez started towards Verde with the second brigade, but learned from General Rubi on the way that Lozada had entered Concordia, five leagues from Verde, on the morning of the 10th.

It was noon, and our forces had not concentrated. Colonel Crespo informed me that the enemy had encamped in front of Siqueros, five leagues from Verde, and our advance was in sight. It was agreed to attack Lopada in Concordia, and Noriega was sent to join Crespo with his infantry. Before reaching Concordia, General Rubi branched off to the left with a part of the first brigade and one cannon, and the Guias de Jalisco, to flank the enemy. General Gutierrez kept the main road with part of the second brigade, two cannons, the rest of the Ramirez corps, the Guias de la Libertad and the Hernandez corps. I followed General Gutierrez.

At six in the evening General Rubi began the attack on the left flank. General Gutierrez’s column made an advance and established a battery that did good execution. The Degollado battalion threatened the right flank, and the rest of the infantry charged upon the centre boldly. The cavalry then came into action, and rushed so desperately upon the enemy that in less than one hour he scattered and left us masters of the town.

Night now came on, and as it was very dark, and our soldiers might fire on each other by mistake, I ordered General Rubi to beat a retreat in good order. This was elegantly executed under the direction of Colonel Alejandro Hernandez and Lieutenant Colonel Abel Pereira, both of my staff. The ground was so uneven here, I ordered part of the cavalry to Jacobo, and the rest, with the infantry, to Copola, postponing the attack indefinitely, as I knew the enemy was to be re-enforced the next morning.

Our losses are insignificant; but we have to lament the death of the brave and distinguished General José M. Gutierrez, chief of the second brigade, and of the valiant Colonel Onofre Campaña, from Cosala, leader of the Victoria battalion. I don’t know the enemy’s loss; but it must be considerable, though half of the force scattered in dismay. I will give the particulars as soon as obtained.

The report of artillery on the 2d, in the direction of Siqueros, informed me that the enemy was resisting our troops in that quarter; so I ordered General Rubi to their assistance with infantry, while I went towards Bajio with the cavalry in the evening. Colonel Parra informed me that same day, the 2d, that he arrived at Jacobo at the same time with the Pameco battalion, under Colonel Martinez. Lozado attacked them at two that day with cavalry and infantry, but was routed and pursued as long as the ammunition held out. The enemy’s killed are found all along the road from Jacobo as far as the pursuit lasted. We only had two soldiers killed. After a slight skirmish with the French that day, Crespo retired to Parras while they retreated to Cofradia, where they camped. Our men then returned to Siqueros.

On the morning of the 3d the French advanced upon Siqueros, but were driven back to Cofradia. One traitor was made prisoner. The French retreated next day to Presidio.

Colonel Guerra informed on the 4th that he approached the port the day before and provoked an attack from the enemy, with no bad results. He also says the French had joined Lozada, but their combined force is greatly demoralized.

That evening Guerra had a skirmish with the enemy at Palos Prietos. The gunboat Lucifer came up and our men had to retreat.

The same chief reports that on the morning of the 5th the French and Lozada were at Presidio, Pozole, and Garita; Lozada’s forces so demoralized he could do nothing with them. Up to the last account Guerra’s advance was at Palos Prietos, while he remained at Venadillo. A report from the same chief says that Captain Zuñiga, of the Miramontes corps, gave notice that the enemy was encamped at Urias and Castillo. Guerra was preparing to attack the port the next day; but learning that the French were advancing in force upon him, he retreated with the loss of one soldier, and the French re-enforcements succeeded in getting to the port.

As soon as I can ascertain the number of my killed and wounded, I will make an official report, from the 1st to the 5th.

I cannot be partial in the recommendation of my officers, for they have all done their duty; their courageous behavior has forced respect from the invaders, and has won the admiration of every republican. I cannot sufficiently praise the conduct of the inhabitants of the districts invaded by the hordes of Lozada. With the single exception of Rosario and Zavala, all the inhabitants left their houses and property to destruction.

The state of Sinaloa may be proud of her sons, for they are true patriots, preferring poverty to the protection of the invaders.

I make this communication for the information of the war department, by instructions from the general-in-chief of the united brigades, as well as for the information of the citizen president of the republic.