CHAPTER XXII.
MILITARY SYSTEM.
1642-1808.
Early Efforts to Provide Forces — Organization Begun — Difficulties and Changes in Policy — Regular Troops — Urban Companies — Provincial Regiments and Battalions — Presidio Companies — Coast Guards — Effective Force for War — Artillery and Other Supplies — Perote as a Deposit — Sea-coast Defences — Fortresses on Both Seas — Naval Stations — Pay Department — Pay of Officers and Men — Pension System — Annual Expenditure — Religious Department — Vicario General — Tenientes Vicarios Generales — Army and Navy Chaplains — Fuero Militar, and its Judiciary System.
The danger of foreign invasion in time of war did not escape the attention of a military man like the Viceroy Cruíllas. He formally reported to the court on the defenceless condition of New Spain, all the regular force at the disposal of the government being one regiment, called La Corona, [1] in Vera Cruz, some
- ↑ The earliest organization of anything like a regular force, apart from that employed to keep hostile Indians in check, seems to have been in 1642, when a battalion with 12 companies of infantry of about 120 men each was formed, whose officers, all men in high positions, cheerfully paid the expense of organization and arms. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 101; Guijo, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., 1st ser. i. 20-1; Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 16, followed by several others. This was, it is presumed, the nucleus of the body of infantry which in 1741 was organized into a regiment whose ranks were filled mostly with marines of the escuadra de barlovento when it visited Vera Cruz. It was then named La Corona, and its chief object was to garrison that port. Previous to and after 1642, between 1635 and 1649, on several occasions a few companies were formed, destined to be short-lived, their support being too much for the treasury. Their last disbandment was in 1649, after serving seven months and ten days. Guijo, Diario, in Id., i. 1st ser. 20-21, 31-2; Rivera, Gob. Mex., i. 143. Again ten companies were organized in 1061. Guijo, Diario, in Id., i. 1st ser. 400-9. In 1685 was completed the organization of militia on the coasts of the Mexican Gulf, which did not prove of much service, as the buccaneers made sudden raids and as quickly escaped with their booty. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa,
