José Refugio Velasco
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Divisional general José Refugio Velasco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of the State of Mexico | |
| In office July 12, 1913 – October 11, 1913 | |
| President | Victoriano Huerta |
| Preceded by | Francisco León de la Barra |
| Succeeded by | Joaquín Beltrán Castañares |
| Governor of San Luis Potosí | |
| In office May 15, 1914 – June 2, 1914 | |
| Preceded by | Francisco Romero |
| Succeeded by | Ricardo Muñoz |
| Governor of Coahuila | |
| In office November 18, 1913 – November 21, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Joaquin Maas Aguila |
| Succeeded by | Praxedis de la Peña García |
| Secretary of War and Navy of Mexico | |
| In office November 18, 1913 – November 21, 1913 | |
| President | Francisco Carvajal |
| Preceded by | Aureliano Blanquet |
| Succeeded by | Eduardo Hay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Refugio Velasco Martínez July 4, 1849 |
| Died | March 27, 1919 (aged 69) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Restored Republic Porfiriato Federales |
| Branch |  Mexican Army |
| Years of service | 1866 – 1914 |
| Rank | Divisional General |
| Battles/wars | Second French intervention in Mexico |
José Refugio Velasco Martínez (1849-1919) was a Mexican Divisional general as well as a governor of several Mexican states. He enlisted in the Mexican army when he was 17 years old, where he carried out his entire military life without going through any military college, fully training in the field. He stood out in the Second French Intervention in Mexico, during the Porfiriato, and finally in the Mexican Revolution. He came to play the position of Secretary of War and Navy of Mexico and had a relevant role in the end of the dictatorship of Victoriano Huerta.
José Refugio Velasco Martínez was born on July 4, 1849, in the city of Aguascalientes City, being baptized four days later in the parish church.
On May 25, 1866, at the age of 17, he joined the Mexican Army when, in reaction to the abuses committed against his family by the French leaders who occupied the country because they considered them supporters of Benito Juárez, he voluntarily enlisted to the column of the Chihuahua National Guard commanded by Colonel Pedro Yépez and, at that time, was near El Parral.[1] The following year he joined the regular army, thus taking part in the Second French Intervention in Mexico pitting himself against the Second Mexican Empire.[2][3] participated in the Siege of Queretaro under the orders of Mariano Escobedo. He also took part in the Battle of San Jacinto.
Life during the Porfiriato and the Mexican Revolution
From 1871 to 1906 he participated in the Yaqui Wars in Sonora with uprisings such as the Guerrillas of Tetabiate and later campaigns of the Yaqui Wars at the end of the so-called Paz de Ortíz in 1897. He directly participated in the fighting of Zamauaca, Cerro del Gallo, Agua Alta, Cerro de Chunamove, Cerro de Huamare, Cajón del Álamo, Llano de los Algodones and Cerro de Zamahuaca; and shootings at Realito de Cumuripa, Puerto de Vázquez, Cerro de Zamahuaca, Tinaja del Bacatete and Cerro de Bachomobampo.
In 1871 he was in the attack on the Citadel of Mexico and San Juan Epatlán, in the expedition from Mexico to the State of Hidalgo where he fought in Tenango and Tenguedó . He faced the rebels led by Colonel J. García de la Cadena in Zacatecas. He participated in an expedition to Oaxaca where he was in the fighting that took place in Tecomavaca, Los Cires,Tequila and Veracruz. He also participated in expeditions to the states of Puebla and Morelos where he participated in the fighting of San Pedro Coayuca, Rancho de Tlachinola, Jonatecatepe and San Juan Epatlán.
In the states of Chihuahua and Coahuila, he participated in the repression of the different uprisings and disturbances that occurred as well as persecuting groups of people living in Durango.[4]
He was appointed Brigadier General by President Francisco I. Madero and named Velasco Military Chief of Veracruz and Military Commander of Mexico City until the imposition of Victoriano Huerta by the coup known as the Ten Tragic Days.
Velasco informed Huerta that he would not recognize him until he was officially appointed, which he did as soon as Congress recognized Victoriano Huerta as president of Mexico. On July 14, 1913, Huerta appointed him Governor and military Commander of the states of Mexico, San Luis Potosí and Coahuila on November 18 of that same year.[1] He is appointed deputy in the XXVI Legislature and subsequently promoted to Divisional General[1] and assigned as commander of the Nazas Division.
Second Battle of Torreón
The towns of Torreón and Gómez Palacio were in the hands of the Villista chiefs, Calixto Contreras and the Arrieta brothers. On December 9, 1913, Velasco attacked these squares by capturing them.[5] After heavy fighting, the fight intensified on March 30 and 31. On April 2, Velasco's troops withdrew, giving victory to Francisco Villa in the so-called Second Battle of Torreón.[6] Velasco went with his troops to San Pedro de las Colonias where Federal Army troops had been quartered. He arrived on April 5 and reorganized the combat preparations. The meeting took place on Tuesday, April 14, 1914, where General Villa defeated Velasco's troops.
While Velasco was on his way to Torreón, Victoriano Huerta ordered Juan Andreu Almazán to be shot but Velasco opposed to it, preventing his execution.
Later, Pancho Villa would exhort Velasco not to surrender the Plaza de México to Álvaro Obregón and to unite his troops with his, offering him support with the division of his command to fight together against the Carrancistas, Obregonistas and against the invading Americans.