The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981 Page: 16
502 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
It was necessary for the people to be armed and the resources found to
repel the enemy, and the authorities must do everything possible to
protect the lives of the Chihuahuenses. The note from Chihuahua con-
cluded by recalling the strategy employed by aggressors of the past,
who had used hordes of savages to destroy property and decimate the
people, and advised that additional forces would have to be found if
this should happen. Indispensable to the defense of the nation, the
governor concluded, was the patriotism of the people and their de-
termination to resist.87
In spite of Justiniani's leadership and strong measures, General
Paredes, on May 4, 1846, named as governor of Chihuahua Jose Maria
de Irigoyen, an elderly man of moderate views. By that time hostilities
had begun on the lower Rio Grande, resulting in a declaration of war
by the United States against Mexico on May 13. Irigoyen notified the
prefect of El Paso del Norte that Mexican territory had been invaded
and promised two armed companies of infantry to help defend the
frontier. Americans in Chihuahua were arrested and imprisoned, and
all towns were ordered to compile lists of individuals aged sixteen
through forty who could help defend the country. But by the latter part
of August, 1846, the Irigoyen government had received word that Santa
Fe, New Mexico, was in American hands and that an army of 6,ooo
men was marching on Chihuahua.38
With the overthrow of the Paredes government in Mexico City in
August, 1846, Angel Trias returned to the Chihuahua governorship,
replacing Irigoyen, who had failed to provide the necessary leader-
ship."" Trias knew that the news was ominous and that the situation
was desperate, but he went about his task with zeal and determination.
A Mexican wrote:
[Governor Trias] has displayed the energy and activity which might be ex-
pected from his genius and patriotism. He takes not a moment's repose. He
has reanimated public spirit. All is action and movement among the citi-
37Amado de la Vega to the prefect of El Paso del Norte, Apr. 14, 1846, Juirez Archives,
Reel 38, frames 246-247.
38Jos6' Maria de Irigoyen to the prefect of El Paso del Norte, May 22, 1846, Juiarez
Archives, Reel 38, frame 46; "Lista de los individuos de esta municipalidad desde la
edad de 16 a 40 ...," San Lorenzo, July 20, 1846, ibid., Reel 14, frame 34; Sebastian Ber-
mddez to the governor of Chihuahua, Aug. 25, 1846; Mauricio Ugarte to the governor of
New Mexico, Aug. 26, 1846; Gabino Guilty to the governor of Chihuahua, Aug. 29, 1846,
Ponce de Le6n, Resefias histdricas, 332-336.
89Circular of Jose de Arellano, Chihuahua, Aug. 25, 1846, Juirez Archives, Reel 14,
frame 86.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 84, July 1980 - April, 1981, periodical, 1980/1981; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101225/m1/36/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.