CHAPTER IX.

FEDERALIST AGITATION.

1838-1840.

CHECKED IN THE WEST, THE FEDERALISTS RISE IN THE EAST-TAMPICO TAKES THE LEAD-THE MOVEMENT SPREADS FROM TUXPAN TO THE RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE-DILATORY ACTION OF BUSTAMANTE-SANTA ANNA FIGURES AS REFORMER-HIS ENERGY SAVES THE GOVERNMENT-Defeat AND EXECUTION OF MEJÍA-TAMPICO AND TUXPAN CAPITULATE-BUSTAMANTE RESUMES THE PRESIDENCY-YUCATAN SECEDES FROM THE REPUBLIC-REVOLUTION IN TABASCO-ÚRREA'S PRONUNCIAMIENTO AT MEXICO-BOMBARDMENT OF THE PALACE-FAILURE OF THE OUTBREAK -A MONARCHICAL BREEZE.

FREE from foreign complications, the government was permitted to give undivided attention to the federalist uprising, which, under the fostering patronage of the French fleet, had received fresh impulse. Before the autumn of 1838 it was practically confined to Jalisco, and even here the energetic Paredes had followed up his earlier successes against Urrea in Sinaloa, and against Guzman and his allies in the Guadalajara region, by giving the latter a most effective check on February 4, 1839, at the hacienda de Santa Cruz. This not only saved the departmental capital, but reduced the revolution in the west to insignificant proportions.1 Southward, in Oajaca and Chiapas, slight sympathetic movements had taken place, only to be promptly suppressed. In

'Guzman, with his associates Montenegro and Palafox, lost about 100 killed and many prisoners. About the same time Vicente Gonzalez was defeated with a loss of 90 in an attempt on Toluca. A pronunciamiento at Guadalajara in May was quickly suppressed with the aid of Governor Escobedo. Diario Gob., Feb. 12, May 25, 1839, etc.

URREA'S PRONUNCIAMIENTO.

207

the latter department the rising was fostered by Guatemala and ex-Governor Gutierrez, who fell in the first and decisive encounter with the government troops. These successes and the imprisonment at Mexico of Gomez Farías, lately returned from the United States, and his associates Alpuche and others, who were generally looked upon as the heads and secret promoters of the federal agitation, had reassured the government, when in October 1838 a fresh pronunciamiento broke out at Tampico, whereof the fugitive Urrea from Sonora soon assumed the direction. The commandant Piedras was compelled to leave, and arrangements were made with the French squadron to permit the entrance of vessels. Owners of cargoes availed themselves of this privilege to introduce goods almost on their own terms, for the leaders were only too eager to procure means for their project, as well as wealth for themselves. Thus fostered and shielded in the rear, the rising speedily extended to below Tuxpan," and on the other side all over Tamaulipas into San Luis Potosí and Nuevo Leon, whose inhabitants had strong reasons for dissatisfaction with the remote and indifferent central authority. The prolonged stay among them of the unruly army of observation against Texas was especially annoying, the more so since its maintenance devolved chiefly on these provinces.

The government took alarm, and Canalizo was sent in November to reduce Tampico with part of the force raised against the French invaders. On the 30th he

'Under Barberena, in May 1838. The rebels numbered less than 250, and most of the officers fell. Bustamante, Gabinete Mex., i. 67.

A captain, Montenegro, taking the lead, in favor of Col. Veramendi's plan. This occurred on October 7th.

A significant letter from the French admiral to the federalist leader may be consulted in Niles' Reg., lv. 404, and Vistazo Rápido, 5-10; Pap. Var., cl. pt 34. Bustamante comments on the outrageous arrangements made with traders to defraud the national treasury. Of duties estimated at $400,000 only $70,000 entered the custom-house coffers. Gabinete Mex., i. 97, 103. The French obtained supplies at least.

Where the French blockading squadron had had a slight skirmish in July while seizing a vessel.

undertook to carry the place by assault, and managed to gain a strong foothold. Immediately after, however, an explosion occurred, blowing to pieces a number of his men, and a panic ensued, of which the expectant garrison took advantage to regain possession.

While Canalizo strove to rally his force the federalists sallied in another direction upon his camp, and put to flight the reserve under the inefficient General Cos. The already demoralized main body soon followed the example, and it was only at Altamira, seven leagues

REVOLUTION IN THE NORTH-EAST.

209

beyond, that Canalizo was able to collect the fugitives, to the number of 700. About 300 had been killed or captured, among the latter Commandant Piedras, who was shot.

The fall of Ulúa and attendant events at Vera Cruz gave fresh impulse to the revolution, partly from the paralyzing effect on the government. The latter prepared, nevertheless, to send a stronger expedition against Tampico under the able Valencia, and ordered reënforcements for Canalizo, so that he might proceed to Matamoros and check the spread of the movement in the north. The reënforcements, under Garay and Lemus, revolted, however, and joining the party recently formed by the Montereyan Antonio Canales, they hastened to lay siege to Matamoros, assisted by a corps which had overrun the centre of the department and driven forth Governor Quintero. The garrison at Monclova also rose under Ruiz, on January 15, 1839, but its effort to capture Saltillo and remove the governor, Francisco García Conde, was frustrated by the arrival of aid from Monterey." Colonel Ampudia had also obtained an advantage which relieved Matamoros, Lemus promising to return to obedience; but no sooner had the colonel turned his back than the latter reconsidered the situation and surprised the poorly defended Monterey, and subsequently, on May 23d, the capital of Coahuila, the governors of both departments having to retire. By this time attempts had been made to gain for the

8

After an outrageous treatment, says Bustamante. Id., Gabinete Mex., i. 101-2. Montenegro who had started the pronunciamiento, was among the fallen. Diario Gob., Dec. 10, 1839, etc. A writer in Bustamante, Diario, MS., xlv. 35, swells the loss to 500.

'Under Ugartechea, on Jan. 23d. He claimed to have achieved this vic. tory with less than 400 men, capturing 76 and killing 17 out of the attacking force of 600. Coah., Gaz. Gob., Jan. 26, 1839, and other numbers. Tamaulipas had by law to maintain a local force of 1,300 men. Soc. Mex. Geog. Bolet., i. 136-7.

García was the governor ruling at Monterey; Prieto succeeded him soon after, and the comandancia general formed about this time for Nuevo Leon was soon after filled by J. M. de Ortega. Ortega, Repres., 1-2; Pap. Var., cxc. pt 6; Pinart, Coll., 1839; Vallejo, Col. Doc. Mex., i. pt 179; Méx., Col. Ley. y Dec., 1839, 129. Ugartechea fell while defending Saltillo.

HIST. MEX., VOL. V. 14

movement also the capitals of Durango and San Luis Potosí, but without success. Farther down on the gulf coast, however, Cos, who had been intrusted with an expedition against Tuxpan, was routed by the federalists under Mejía,10 who now stood prepared to assume the offensive.

This blow, together with the fear that when the French departed the federalists might descend on Vera Cruz, served to rouse the loitering Bustamante, and he was at last persuaded to start upon his campaign, for which troops were no longer lacking, owing to the enrolment lately made against invasion and the release of the corps of observation against the French. The war feeling being still rife, advantage was taken of it to continue the levy and the formation of volunteer bodies; and an effort was made to reorganize the army and to give it a more martial appearance, yet with only partial success, owing to the

Comandante General Heredia promptly suppressed the outbreak at Durango on May 3d, arresting the leaders, Captain Rosa and others. Ugarte had sought to rise with the garrison of the citadel at San Luis Potosí.

To This occurred in March. Santa Anna had proposed Valencia for this expedition, but the president feared to strengthen those whom he regarded as rivals.

11 The departments had also been fired with patriotic zeal, and even the interior Guanajuato and Durango were taking energetic steps to raise men. Instance Durango, Iniciativa, 1-10; Pap. Var., clxxx. pt 7. By decree of January 26, 1839, was issued the general annual draft of men for the army. Méx., Decreto para Reemplazar Ejército, 1-21; Méx., Legis., 1853, 253-65; and on July 8th one for reorganizing the army, fixed for the time at 12 regiments of permanent infantry, 8 and a fraction of cavalry, both known by numeric order, 3 brigades of artillery, besides 3 companies on foot and 1 on horseback, and a battalion of sappers, the whole to be distributed into 6 divisions. Of active militia there were to be 9 regiments on foot and 6 mounted. The government could appoint the generals of division to control the 7 comandancias generales of the republic. Méx., Decreto para Organizar Ejército, 1-7; Arrilaga, Recop., 1839, 70-7, 162-4. Militia rules in Méx., Col. Ley. y Dec., 1840, 603-9, 619-20. For light cavalry and for the regiment formed by traders, see Méx., Decreto Regimiento Comercio, 1-7; Pap. Var., cl. pt 27. Comments on insufficient armament in Tornel, Carta, 8-17, 21-5. An order of July 10th regulates the uniforms: the infantry in blue, with collar and facings of diferent color, according to the regiment; white trousers to take the place of blue with the change of season. The cavalry varied greatly in their uniform. Both were given an enormous shako covered with ornaments. See for decree of May 11, on uniforms, Vallejo, Col. Doc. Mex., MS., ii. pt 191. A military commission was appointed to collect statistics. Soc. Mex. Geog. Bolet., i. 11213. Undue proportion of officers and regulations for them. Arrillaga, Recop., 1839, 40-65, 157-8, 225-32, 263-6; Mex., Estatuto Plana Mayor Ejército, 1– 22; Pap. Var., lxxix. pts 3, 4, cl. pts 30-1, clxxx. pt 8.