Battle of Tepatitlán

The Battle of Tepatitlán was fought on April 19, 1929, at Tepatitlán in the state of Jalisco between the Cristeros and the army of the Mexican government. The government army was composed of 500 soldiers and 4,000 militia. The Cristeros were victorious but their leader Father Jose Reyes Vega was killed.^[1]

Battle of Tepatitlán
Part of the Cristero War
A photo of the Battle of Tepatitlán
Date April 19, 1929 Location Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico Result Cristero victory
Belligerents
Cristeros	Mexico
Commanders and leaders
José Reyes Vega †	Saturnino Cedillo Pablo Rodríguez
Strength
4,000	4,500
Casualties and losses
25 killed	120 killed

According to Jean Meyer, the battle was on April 19. Fr. Vega commanded three regiments in a pincer movement which enveloped six Federal units.^[2] On the other hand, Moisés González Navarro confirms that Fr. Vega was killed in the battle, but he states that it occurred on April 20.^[3]

References

1. Tuck, Jim. de la Cova, Antonio Rafael (ed.). "The Anti-Clerical Who Led a Catholic Rebellion". latinamericanstudies.org. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25.
2. Jean Meyer, The Cristero Rebellion: The Mexican People between Church and State 1926-1929, (Cambridge University Press, 1976), page 57.
3. Moisés González Navarro, Cristeros y agraristas en Jalisco Tomo 2, (El Colegio de Mexico, 2001) page 424.