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"What's
in a Name Part II Ignacio Zaragoza" Valiant warrior and defender of his country, Ignacio Zaragoza was born in Texas, USA in 1829. The son of a career soldier, he moved from military post to post, but his principal schooling was at the Seminary of Monterrey, Mexico where he excelled scholastically. When North Arnerican forces invaded Mexico, Zaragoza wanted to join a cadet corps, but was not admitted. He felt his future was not to be in the military like his father, and joined a commercial house as clerk. Unhappy with civilian life and his position, he joined the National Guard of Nuevo leon es a sergeant. President Santa Ana incorporated the Guard into his army in 1853 at which time Zaragoza was promoted to the rank of Captain. His advancement was swift. On June 23, 1844, he fought with valor in the defense of Monterrey, and he was made a Colonel. When the Constitutionalists attacked Guadalajara, the commanding officer, General Uraga, was mortally wounded and Zaragoza took his place. At that time, the General Headquarters was in the plaza of Guadalajara. Courage did not go unrewarded. President Juarez made him Minister of War and Marine. As the French intervention threatened, he renounced his post as Minister and Juarez made him commander of all forces in the Eastern zone. The French soon increased their military forces to sixty-five hundred men and marched toward the Mexican capital. When they attacked the fortified city of Pueblo on May 5, 1862, Mexican soldiers under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza humiliatingly defeated the French invaders. Ever since then, Mexico has celebrated “Cinco de Mayo” in honor of that victory. About a year later, the French augmented their military to thirty thousand additional soldiers, and the French expeditionary forces advanced toward Mexico City. The major obstacle was again the city of Puebla, but this time defended by General Jesus Gonzalez Ortega. Gonzalez had replaced Zaragoza due to the untimely death of the great leader. Zaragoza had returned to his Division Headquarters in the capitol and there died of typhoid fever on the 8th of September,1962. He was only thirty-three years old. This brave soldier was named a HERO OF THE REPUBLIC. His name now graces streets and avenues in many cities, but his great victory on May 5, 1862 is remembered by the entire nation. EDITORS NOTE: Sometimes we gringos don’t know why Mexican streets are named as they are. El Ojo Del Lago commissioned Virginia Miller to give us an insight as to the background of such streets. PART III will cover RAMON CORONA. |