Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/289

Rh utmost confidence in his skill and bravery. Almost immediately after his election, in 1833, a rebellion was originated by disaffected members of the church and army, at Guanajuato, but after some skirmishing and the summary execution of ringleaders, it was quelled with little loss of time. In the insurrection headed by Mexia a few years afterwards, though his opponent commanded a large army, Santa Anna defeated him with great loss, took him prisoner, and ordered him to be shot instantly.

During the presidency of Bustamente, when a civil war was raging, and the city of Mexico itself was bombarded, Santa Anna took the lead, the insurgents placed their whole dependence upon him, victory followed his standard, and the war ended with his re-elevation to the presidential chair. And in the war with the United States in 1846, it was far more on account of the weakness of the Mexican soldiery,—especially of the cavalry—compared with the horses and men of the United States, than of any deficiencies of generalship, that the contest terminated in favour of the Americans.

The energetic measures to which he had recourse to suppress the depredations of