The Beginnings of Revol11tion in Texas, I8Io-I812
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mistake he had made in meekly handing over the private correspondence he had had with Lieutenant General Jimenez. The surrender of his papers sealed his fate. 33 Two of the goals had been attained: the Government had been re- stored to rule in the name of Ferdinand VII, and Casas had been over- thrown. There still remained one more objective. Saenz, who was most active in the counterrevolution, did not perceive that in avenging him- self upon Casas he was undoing the work for which he had formerly risked his life. He took it. upon himself to place Aldama and Father Salazar under custody until they-could produce proper credentials. 34 The successful counterrevolutionists lost no time in dispatching mes- sengers to all the settlements in the province with proclamations an- nouncing the restoration of royal authority. Zambrano was determined not to fall into the ways of Casas. He would take the people into his confidence. In Military Plaza a written oath was posted, signed by all members of the junta, promising to govern in the best interests of their King, country, and religion. 35 Times had changed in the three short months that Casas had ruled. The people were curious; they wanted to know the reasons and the answers. A large crowd soon gathered and critically read the oath. They had been taught to question and now they prepared a petition, which many signed. This petition, tacked under the bulletin, was addressed to the Junta, stating that the people wanted to know if Zambrano intended to establish "a model republic, to guarantee frequent meetings of the Junta, and make public all measures of the government." 36 In answer, a new proclamation revealing the master mind of Zam- brano was posted the next day by the Junta. The brave troops were 33Preliminary trial was instituted in San Antonio on May 16, 1811. The record of the testimony was sent to the Commandant General in Chihuahua, who ordered a court-martial in Monclova to pass judgment and execute the sentence. Casas was sent to Monclova under guard on July 2, 1811. The court-martial, presided over by Governor Antonio Cordero, found the accused guilty of treason and sentenced him on August 1 to be shot in the back as a traitor, his head to be cut off and sent to the Governor of Texas. The sentence was executed on August J; his head was cut off, put in a box and sent to San Antonio, where it was placed on a pole in the middle of Military Plaza. Chabot, "The Las Casas and Zambrano Revolutions," Texas in 1811, 86-103. l4The trial of Salazar later revealed that they had credentials issued them at Saltillo on February 8, that Aldama had been instructed verbally to secure ten thousand men from the United States, and that Jimenez had authorized him to promise to pay ten million pesos for the ten thousand men. Garrett, op. cit., 56. 35Naming of the Governing Junta, March 2, 1811, Nacogdoches Arc/lives. 36 Communication to the Governor and Junta, March 2, 1811, Nacogdoclies Arc/in14s.
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