1856 to 1866
Last Instabilities

Tucson is abandoned by the Mexican forces on March, 1856. The only remaining memento we have of that moment is an efigy of the Señor de Esquipulas we can find today in the Imuris church, that the Mexican forces took from Tucson when they left.

By November, four companies of soldiers arrive to establish Camp Moore, North of Los Nogales and near Calabazas (today´s Rio Rico), both to protection against Apaches as well as to establish a customs house there.

By then, the growing population of the new Arizona Territory requires, more and more, of Sonora products. Because of that, several trade routes are established between Magdalena and Arizona. One of these passes through Altar, Tubutama, Saric, Sasabe and Tucson; another through Cocospera, Santa Cruz and Tucson; another one follows today´s road between Imuris, San Ignacio, Los Nogales, Calabazas, Tubac and Tucson; while the last one follows the Santa Cruz river, passing through San Lazaro, Buenavista, Calabazas, Tubac and Tucson.

In Sonora, there are customs houses in Altar, Magdalena and Fronteras, although none of these is effective at fighting contraband. Jose Elias, who by 1856 is Prefecto of Magdalena, sends a report informing that since the US soldiers arrived at Arizona, the contraband of fabrics and clothing has appeared in the Northern part of the District, and he asks for the establishment of customs houses in the border itself, to fight it. Otherwise, he says that local trade will be affected.

On December of the following year, Elias sells an undivided part of Los Nogales in $600 to Tomas Robinson, from Guaymas.

And now, Sonora will witness the last period of instability previous to the lasting peace that the Porfirismo will turn into. In 1856, Agustin Ainza has an interview with Governor Pesqueira, and proposes him the repatriation of the Sonorenses that had left to California, and settle them along the Magdalena and Altar rivers.

However, after receiving the permit he wanted, Ainza travels across Northern Sonora, speaking about the arrival of his relative, Henry A. Crabb, who soon will segregate Northern Sonora from the rest of the Country.

On March 24, 104 filibusteers under the command of Crabb arrive at Sonora, passing through Sonoita. He sends a letter to the Prefecto of the Altar District, Jose Maria Redondo, telling him that they are armed for their own security, and that soon, 900 more men will arrive. The Mexican forces prepare to repel them, and on April 1 Caborca witnesses the start of a fight that will last several days, until the 6th, when the invaders are defeated and shot the following day. The Sonorenses are fed up with these incursions.

On September 28, 1860, Remigio Rivera, Hilarion Garcia, Francisco Gandara and Cap. Hilario Gabilondo promulgate the Plan of Magdalena. In it, they reject the Pesqueira government, and at the same time Dionisio Rivera is named as Governor. The rebels go to Southern Sonora and defeat Governor Pesqueira at Las Guasimas, although when they attempt to take over Hermosillo, are defeated by Gral. Garcia Morales. According to several historians, Rivera, who commanded these forces, decided to stop them as they were Yaquis, and he feared he wouldn´t be able to control them if they took Hermosillo. This gave time Garcia plenty of time to gather forces and defeat him. After this, the rebels go to the Altar District, where Cor. Federico A. Ronstadt, forces them to go to exile to Arizona.

However, the period of instability has ended, and Sonora will see the French Intervention who will culminate with the Maximilian Empire.

During the second half of 1864, Jesus Salgado leads another rebellion in the Altar region, while Pedro Flores does the same in Magdalena. And while Salgado is arrested, Flores goes to central Sonora, where he is defeated at El Gavilan, although he continues fighting until January, 1865, when he is aprehended and shot at Imuris.

However, the French continue their campaign, and by the middle of 1865, Governor Pesiqueira is dereated, and at the same time, a son of him, 11 years old, dies at Arizpe. Pesqueira gives the command of the State to his brother in law, Gral. Garcia Morales, and goes North of Los Nogales, crossing the border. It is the summer rainy season, and during their trip, the group crosses a river, where the carriage with the passengers gets stuck, and Pesqueira´s wife gets wet.

A little later, near the old Mission visita of Calabazas, Cap. M. H. Calderwood of Fort Mason gives the group permission to camp in a nearby canyon. There, Ramona Garcia de Pesqueira will get sick and her condition will worsen, until she dies on October 25. This canyon, has the name of Pesqueira in honor of that moment.

The follwing month, a republian party coming from Arizona under the command of Jose G. Pico, enters Sonora and attempts to take Magdalena. The defenders, under the command of the Subprefect, Francisco A. Gandara stops them. Both commanders have a talk where they try to reach an agreement, and then Pico decides to return to Arizona. And so, the fight between Republican and Imperialists will continue during 1865 and beginning 1866. Little by little, the Republican forces get the upper hand, and again Magdalena will see on April Republican forces under the command of Gra. Garcia Morales.

He arrives on the 6th to Magdalena, who is defended by Cor. Manuel Castro. Garcia asks for the rendition of the defenders, and after the rejection he starts the attack. It will last two hours, until the Imperialists decide to surrender.

Pesqueira reassumes the governorship as well as the military command on the 9th, and then he goes to central Sonora to direct the campaign to expel the French from Sonora. This won´t happen until September.