Last modified: 2002-07-27 by juan manuel gabino villasc�n
Keywords: mexico | sonora | caborca | filibustering | republic sonora | crabb (henry a.) | us invasion | usa | west ward ho |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
![]() |
20:41![]() |
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villasc�n, May 01, 2002. |
In 1857, D. Agust�n A�nza 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. A�nza was given authorization to seek for
inhabitable places. When A�nza was traveling over the territory, he realized that Henry A.
Crabb followed by armed men would secede the region from Sonora. Prefect A�nza
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 Jos� Mar�a Redondo,
they came armed for thier security and 900 followers will join them soon.
The National Guard was summoned under the Captain Lorenzo Rodr�guez's command
facing the filibusters on April 1. Lieutenant Colonel Jos� Mar�a Gir�n supported
Rodr�guez 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 Jos� Rold�n. 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!!".
|