small guerrilla parties gave them much annoyance in waylaying their supplies. The plan of a fusion was fostered by the few remnants still left of the moderate party and by property holders, most of the latter for their own private ends. Miramon listened to them, and sent a communication to General Ramon Iglesias, commander of the forces in Vera Cruz, offering to pursue the most rational course to bring about a peaceful arrangement. Negotiations followed, but no understanding was arrived at, because of Juarez' refusal to do anything that was not in accord with the constitution of 1857, under which he was acting as president. Moreover, he would not give his consent to foreign intervention in the adjustment of the country's affairs.[1] Miramon, on his part, accepted no amendment.
The besiegers threw bombs into the city, and continued the exercise fro the 15th to the 20th of March, doing but little damage.[2] Miramon's casualties from warfare and disease had been large. At last he saw that he was foiled, and concluded to retreat. The retreat commenced in the morning of the 21st, Miramon's object being to reoccupy his lines of Orizaba and Jalapa, where the guerrillas allowed him no peace and many of his men deserted and joined the liberal ranks.
Miramon reached Mexico on the 7th of April, and both there and on the route avoided unusual honors,
- ↑ It had been agreed that there should be a truce under the guarantee of the U. S., England, France, Spain, and Prussia, who were also to say what was to be done with the treaties entered into with foreign powers by both contending parties. The whole nation was to decide the points at issue. Here was the stumbling-block. Juarez demanded that the constitution of 1837 should be recognized as the supreme law, and that every act done should be pursuant to its requirements. Miramon could see in this only delay in military operations, without any advantage for his party, or the least probability of the civil war coming to an end. The French govt had instructed its minister to attempt a pacification through a national convention, leaving out the religious question, as the English proposition had been unpalatable to the conservatives. Juarez would not trust European mediators, whose partiality for the reaction had been marked.
- ↑ It was calculated that 5,000 balls and 500 bombs were thrown, and that the besieged hurled about 6,000 grenades.
