CHAPTER XIII.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JUNTA DE ZITACUARO.
1811.
Calleja's New System of Military Organization — Suppression of the Insurrection in Nuevo Santander — Pacification of San Luis Potosí — Defeat of Insurgents in Guanajuato — Porlier's Operations in Nueva Galicia — Torre's Activity and Severity — His Defeat at Zitácuaro, and Death — Rayon Fortifies Zitácuaro — Empáran Returns to Spain — Conspiracy to Seize the Viceroy — Proclamation of Calleja — Events in Michoacan — Condition of Guanajuato — Spread of the Revolution.
On the day of his entrance into Zacatecas, Calleja proclaimed the usual pardon, adding the customary threats in case of non-compliance. All stragglers and strangers were ordered to return to their homes within twenty-four hours, under pain of being treated as insurgents.[1] Then, having purged the city by an appropriate slaughter of patriots, the royalist leader once more remodelled the government. For its future security he organized five companies of infantry, one of cavalry, and an artillery corps, and appointed Martin de Medina the governor of Colotlan, comandante and intendente of the province. On the 16th of May Calleja proceeded to Aguascalientes with an army greatly reduced in numbers. The separation of Empáran's division, and of another detachment under Miguel del Campo sent to operate against the insurgents in the Bajío of Guanajuato, had left him with little more than 1,000 men, while the revolutionists were again increasing in strength. This dismember-
- ↑ Gaz de Mex., 1811, ii. 425-31.
