force, both of regular and provincial troops, had been reduced to 4,767 men.[1]
Having thus spoken of the regular force in Mexico, I have to add a few remarks on the provincial and urban organizations. Each infantry regiment had two battalions, and each battalion[2] five companies, including that of grenadiers. The effective force in time of peace was 825 rank and file, and in time of war 1,350. Each cavalry regiment had four squadrons with 361 men in time of peace, and 617 in time of war. The conscription age was from 14 to 40 years inclusive, taken first from the unmarried men; but if the able bodied of a district did not cover the requisition, then the married were conscripted. Officers' commissions were given by the viceroy, subject to confirmation by the crown.[3] The provincial regiments already organized were disbanded about 1788 by the conde de Revilla Gigedo, and their arms taken to the royal warehouses in Mexico, Perote, and Vera Cruz. They were, however, restored by his successor after 1794.0[4] It was
- ↑ Certainly not enough for general defence, though the conde de Revilla Gigedo had deemed a larger force unnecessary. Branciforte, Instruc., MS., 13-14. He thus decided against the order of the court; but finally organized the first Batallon Fijo de Vera Cruz, which was later increased till in 1809 it had three battalions. Bustamante, Medidas, MS,, 56. The same viceroy in 1792 had two companies of light infantry created, each with three officers, and eighty men rank and file, costing for the two companies $27,816 per year. Revilla Gijedo, Bandos, no. 69.
- ↑ A royal order of 1798 placed each battalion under a lieutenant-colonel. Arrillarga, Recop. (1830-6), 508-9.
- ↑ Diario, Mex., v. 162-320, 389, 554; vi. 12-32, 159-376; vii. 48-254; viii. 112, 414; ix. 548. Gaz. Mex. (1784), i. 199, 287-8. Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, i. 180, asserts that the nominations, made by the ayuntamientos, were often awarded for money to the highest bidders, though in some instances the money was applied to the fitting-out of the forces.
- ↑ In 1798 was organized the Michoacan dragoon regiment, and a small company near Cape San Lucas in Lower California. Azanza, Instruc., MS., 172-3, 187.
of Bayajá, where, by the 'cobardia de un oficial extrangero,' the honor of one of them suffered. They gradually returned to Mexico several years after, almost skeletons. General Apodaca brought the Puebla and one battalion of the México very much reduced. Those troops cost a great deal of money, and did no useful service to Mexico. Bustmante, Medidas, MS., 55-6. It was not the first time that Mexico sent military assistance to another Spanish colony. In 1761, news having come that hostile Indians were attempting to capture the fort at Panzacola, 200 infantry and some artillerymen under command of Colonel Luis Ortiz Parrilla was sent there, who arrived in season, and the difficulty was terminated without bloodshed. Panes, Vir., in Monum. Dom. Esp., MS., 119.
