honorable capitulation; but like him, he was never forgiven by the nation, partly because the taunts of late comrades drove him to join the royalist ranks.[1]
These successes were greatly promoted by the efficient coöperation of Brigadier Negrete, commander of the Spanish forces in Nueva Galicia, under the supervision of Cruz, who otherwise maintained himself as independent of the new viceroy, as he had of Calleja.[2] He not only made the southern frontier uncomfortable for the revolutionists from Michoacan, but he concluded the five years' struggle[3] with the islanders of Chapala Lake by such radical measures as ravaging the lake shores in every direction in order to cut off supplies. Epidemics came to his aid; and on November 25, 1816, the heroic band yielded to the inevitable by surrendering the Mescala Islands on fair terms.[4] They were now set aside for a convict presidio. After this the submission of chieftains grew general, and included Vargas, who claimed to
- ↑ The fortress fell Jan. 7, 1817, with 345 men, besides 1,000 other inmates, 60 guns, including 25 of wood covered with hides, and 300 muskets. Gaz. de Mex,, 1817, viii. 33-4, 194-201. Bustamante, Cuadro, iii. 425-38, gives the terms of capitulation and other documents, and seeks to justify the surrender. The viceroy at first disapproved the lenient clauses, but Aguirre insisted. This officer received a colonelcy and later the command of the province. Ignacio Rayon would not forgive his brother. Ramon soon retired to private and comparatively secluded life, dying in 1839 in circumstances so poor, says Bustamante, that even his daughters had to work for a maintenance. Id., Gabinete Mex., i. 204. See also, on this and preceding events, Torrente, Hist. Rev., ii. 365-6; Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., vi. 1052-3; Mendíbil, Res., 232 et seq., 283-4; Noticioso Gen., 1815-1816, passim, Jan. 1817.
- ↑ The king sought to smooth matters by urging Cruz to visit Mexico. He did so in Feb. and March in almost regal state; but Apodaca sought to snub him, and nothing came of the attempt.
- ↑ With its alternative successes and reverses. Instance the insurgent victory in May 1814 by Salgado with about 500 men over the 300 of Arango, who was taken and shot with a great number of his force. Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., iii. 86-9, exaggerates the numbers in favor of Salgado. Then, again, the defeat in 1816 of Chavez by the royalist Correa, with a loss of 300 and 100 respectively. For other operations in the province, see Gaz. de Mex., 1814-17, passim; Noticioso Gen., Id.; Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 292-376, passim, 532-9, 696, 729-34, 736-79; Torrente, Hist. Rev., ii. 293; Cortes, Act. Ord., ii. 345, 349, 353; Rivas, Carta Past., pt v.; Jal, Not. Geog., 72
- ↑ They contained 17 guns. Gaz. de Mex., 1816, vii. 1193. The permanent force not long before this was placed at 1,000, excluding women and children. Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., iv. 541-7; Dicc. Univ., ix., 26-9; Jal. Not., 2; Negrete, Observ., 10. Santa Anna and Father Castellanos were still the leaders.
