The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume VI

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PAPERS OF -MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

Roman Catholics, and subsist by labor~ They live, or did live, about Rinoso, on both sides of the river, having had lands parcelled out to them by the Mexican Govert They had suffered greatly from military oppression, and was more alive to the Revolution than the Mexicans- They were bitterly hostile to the compromise of Canalis and Malino to with [sic] the Centralists. They were in nearly all the expeditions, suffered much in each, and was almost destroyed in the fight between Canalis and Ariste near San Fernando. The Federal army was there completely dispersed; but the killed was chiefly among the lridians, who fought to the last, whilst Canalis and his mexicans were seeking safety by flight. When peace was made, Canalis made no provision for them, and their property was confiscated- They are now nearly extinct.- The Cholera took off numbers. Mexicans are still occupying Ranches which belong to them; but which they have no means of getting pos- session of- SANTOS BENAVIDES The Gdvr. Cardenas remained only a few days in Guerrero after his inaugeration, and then came to Laredo, where he remained until he took the chaparels.- F,rancisco Bedoure lives in Santa Rosa- (Juan Molano.) He says that Bernardo Guitirez was alive in 1840; but does not recollect whether he died that year or in 1841. He lived and died in Guerrero; his children are there yet. He had 2 sons in the Federal army. . He says there was a general misunderstanding between Zapata and Canalis, in consequence of the latter never being willing to fight, but always stampeding from the enemy. Oanalis was affraid to move without having Zapata with him; and yet Zapata could ·not get him to fight- Canalis seemed to desire Zapata's presence, only for his own personal protection.- F[R]OM BASILIO VENEBEDAS. When the Federalist reorganized on the Nueces under Canalis and Fisher, it was determined that a part of the force should be sent to San Loi.i.is Potosi, for the purpose of stirring up the Revolution in that quarter, where the Federalists· had heard that they had many powerful friends; and also to liberate many prisoners who had been taken thither.- [:Malino, Lopez & Jordan were despatched on this enterprise, an enterprize, however, which was kept concealed from the Americans- They were first told that the detachment were only going to China for horses &C, and were thus lured on by one consideration and an- other, until they got to Victoria-] The above paragraph in brackets is not from Benevedas; but is my own observation-his statement is resumed on the next page. Malino, Lopez and Jordan was despatched on this .enterprise-going t,o San Louis-with orders to stop at Victoria and procure there the neces- sary supplies for the march.

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