José María Arteaga

Biography

José María Arteaga was born on August 7, 1827, in Mexico City to Don Manuel Arteaga and Doña María Polonia Magallanes. His family moved to Hidalgo soon after, and he graduated from public schools there before working as a tailor. The Mexican–American War prompted him to leave the tailor shop and become a soldier at age twenty. In 1852 he entered the army as first sergeant of the Aguascalientes active battalion.

By 1854 he was captain of the third light infantry under conservative Félix Zuloaga, fighting against the Plan of Ayutla in Guerrero. His liberal convictions led him to join Juan Álvarez after the Battle of Nusco. In April 1855, he served in Álvarez's light brigade made available to Ignacio Comonfort, and was promoted to colonel with the position of major that May. For the rest of the year he fought in the Reform War in Jalisco and Colima.

Reform War

Arteaga was first chosen as Governor of Querétaro in the latter half of 1857, working to put the 1857 Constitution into force. Conservative Tomás Mejía seized several cities and attacked Querétaro on November 2, 1857. With only three hundred soldiers, Arteaga could defend only the Government Palace and the Convent of San Francisco, where he placed his headquarters. Wounded, he saved himself only with help from a friar who hid him in a cell.

Federal officers were taken prisoner, the city fell to Mejía, and a library Arteaga had founded was burned. Mejía appointed Manuel Montes Navarrete governor for a week until Manuel Doblado's army forced Mejía to leave, restoring Arteaga. To defend the 1857 Constitution against the Plan of Tacubaya, Arteaga organized a coalition of Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Querétaro that lasted until January 1858. During the Reform War, Arteaga supported Governor Epitacio Huerta in Michoacán, promoting manufacture of ammunition, cannons, and military equipment.

By a decree of September 22, 1859, he was granted citizenship of that state. From December 1860 to January 1862 he again served as Governor of Querétaro, restoring the local congress. As Chief of the Second Brigade of the Southern Division under General Diego Álvarez, he lived on his farm in Huetamo. In May 1860, Álvarez asked him to evict Colonel Juan Vélez, who had become a Conservative, from Cutzamala de Pinzón.

Arteaga arrived on May 7 with two thousand infantry and laid siege. On June 1, the First and Third Brigades arrived with 4,500 Liberal infantry total. After 45 days of fighting, on June 21 during a strong storm, Vélez fled north across the swollen Cutzamala River; several died but Vélez reached Nanchetitla. The Liberals captured the church, taking 186 prisoners.

Second French Intervention in Mexico

Arteaga entered the church 'with his hat and boots on, insulting the families who had taken refuge there.' President Benito Juárez monitored the situation via three letters in his archive. The victory marked Liberalism's triumph in the South. During the Second French Intervention, on March 19, 1862, Arteaga captured Manuel Robles Pezuela in Tuxtepec after Foreign Minister Manuel Doblado warned General Ignacio Zaragoza of Robles Pezuela's betrayal.

Arteaga brought him before Zaragoza in San Andrés Chalchicomula, where he was court-martialed and shot on March 23. On April 28, 1862, Arteaga was wounded resisting the French at Cumbres de Acultzingo, and President Juárez decorated him in Puebla as Hero of Acultzingo. He served as governor of Jalisco from 1863 to 1864, prohibiting application of the death penalty unless sentenced by judicial authority. Promoted to Division General, he was named General-in-Chief of the Army of the Center, working with Generals Vicente Riva Palacio and Carlos Salazar Ruiz.

Execution

On October 13, 1865, Arteaga arrived at Santa Ana Amatlán with his subordinates, where forces under Ramón Méndez surprised them, taking around 400 soldiers and 100 officers prisoner. Learning he would be executed, he wrote to his mother. On October 21, 1865, Arteaga, General Salazar, Colonels Jesús Díaz and Trinidad Villagómez, and Captain Juan González were shot in Uruapan, Michoacán following Maximilian's Bando Negro of October 3, which called for execution of all Republican guerrillas captured by Imperial forces.

Legacy

After the republic was restored, Arteaga was recognized as Martyr of Uruapan. By a decree of the State Legislature of July 23, 1867, his surname was added to Querétaro, making it Querétaro de Arteaga until 2008. On July 17, 1869, his body and Salazar's were taken with honors to the San Fernando pantheon in Mexico City. In 1872, the Congress of the Union declared him Benemérito de la Patria.

The official newspaper of Querétaro, La Sombra de Arteaga, is named after him. His two sons, Emiliano and Fernando, settled in Hidalgo, where the Arteaga Family continues to live.