against that region, instructing him to execute most exemplary punishment upon the rebels.[1] At Zacoalco and Sayula Porlier met with no opposition, the insurgents retreating before him in the direction of Zapotlan; but on the 3d of March he fought them at some little distance from that town and defeated them. No difficulty was experienced by him in reducing to subjection the other towns which had shown symptoms of revolt in that region.[2] Porlier now intended to advance farther southward, and sent forward Manuel del Rio to Colima, but the hostile attitude of the Indians in the territory of Colotlan and Nayarit forced Cruz to recall the larger portion of the troops. Calleja had despatched from Zacatecas the cura of Matehuala, José Francisco Alvarez, with a division of the troops of the provincias internas, against the revolted district; but on the 27th of March the belligerent padre was repulsed near the town, being badly wounded, and effecting his retreat with difficulty. Negrete was therefore sent with a force from Nueva Galicia, and more successful than Alvarez, soon reduced all the towns in the region between Colotlan and Juchipila.[3] Zapotlan, however, on the withdrawal of the royalist troops, again revolted, and Negrete proceeding thither inflicted a severe defeat upon the insurgents on the 6th of May.[4] Nevertheless, the revolution in Nueva Galicia was not easily eradicated, and Cruz and his officers were kept in constant occupation in one part or other of the province. On the 25th of June, hoping to strike an effective blow at the ringleaders, he issued a proclamation offering
- ↑ Cruz in his instructions to Porlier says: 'No deve perdonarse la vida á ningun revelde sea de la clase, condicion, y edad que fuere.' Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., iii. 224.
- ↑ See his correspondence with Cruz during Feb. and March of this year. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., iii. 224-35, 249-07.
- ↑ Gaz. de Mex., 1811, ii. 411; Parte de Negrete, in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., iii. 270-2.
- ↑ Gaz. de Mex., 1811, ii. 467-8. The leader of the insurgents was the 'infame lego Gallaga,' who retired with a few followers to Tomatlan. About the end of August he was there taken prisoner and shot. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 299-30.
