On April 24, 1860, Antillón participated in the Battle of Loma Alta as Colonel in charge of the Guanajuato brigade, under General José López Uraga.

On January 26, 1868, he recovered the city of Guanajuato that had been occupied during the Second French intervention in Mexico, defeating Conservative General Feliciano de Liceaga.

[1][5] During his stay in Guanajuato in 1870 American explorer Albert S. Evans described Antillón as "a man of splendid personal appearance, tall, handsome and intelligent.

"[6] On October 26, 1876, being the legal governor of the state of Guanajuato, Antillón recognized José María Iglesias as President of México, against the re-election of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada.

A plaque, referring to Antillón reads: "Here rests Jorge Ibargüengoitia in the park of his great-grandfather who fought against the French."