Mexico - Filibustering: Henry A. Crabb

Republic of Sonora (1857)

Last modified: 2002-07-27 by juan manuel gabino villascán
Keywords: mexico | sonora | caborca | filibustering | republic sonora | crabb (henry a.) | us invasion | usa | west ward ho |
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	20:41
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, May 01, 2002.

• Historical background

• Mexico - Filibustering:
  • William Walker: Republic of Sonora (1853-1854)
  • Comte Gaston Raousset-Boulbon: Republique de Sonore (1853-1854)
• United States of America
• Sonora, Mexico
• Mexico

In 1857, D. Agustín Aínza presented before Sonora Governor Ignacio Pesqueira in order to plan the repatriation of some Mexicans who left in Upper California, segrated from the Mexican territory after the 1846-1848 US invasion, and settle them in the region between the Altar and Magdalena Rivers. Aínza was given authorization to seek for inhabitable places. When Aínza was traveling over the territory, he realized that Henry A. Crabb followed by armed men would secede the region from Sonora. Prefect Aínza immediately informed about the matter, then the Executive ordered preparing the defense. On March 24, 1857, a 104-group of filibusters led by Crabb invaded Mexican territory through Sonoita informing Altar Prefect José María Redondo, they came armed for thier security and 900 followers will join them soon. The National Guard was summoned under the Captain Lorenzo Rodríguez's command facing the filibusters on April 1. Lieutenant Colonel José María Girón supported Rodríguez from Ures.
On April 6, 59 filibusters gave up being shut next day. Another group that fled towards Pitiquito was persecuted and dispersed reaching the US-Mexican border.
On April 7, 1857, another American leading 15 filibusters arrived to Caborca. They were defeated by Lieutenant José Roldán. All the filibusters were passed by arms on April 9.

At the Museo Nacional de Historia (Chapultepec Castle) in Mexico City, there is a flag with the following note: "Flag captured by Mexican troops in Caborca, Sonora, on April 6, 1857, when the filibusters led by Henry A. Crabb were defeated."
This flag is like the US one with thirteen white six-pointed stars in the canton forming a circle surrounding a larger white five-pointed star. There is a text in the upper part of the canton that reads: "Westward ho!!".