Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/175

Rh At this period there were no European troops in New Spain; and though at a later date Spanish forces were sent into the country, their number was always greatly exceeded by that of the native regiments. Thus the combatants on either side were sons of the soil; and it is necessary to bear this in mind in order to appreciate the critical position in which the viceroy found himself at the outbreak of the rebellion, as well as the political division which existed in the ranks of the oppressed portion of the population. The total number of men which Venegas could count upon did not exceed ten or twelve thousand, the ranks and lower-grade officers of which were drawn almost exclusively from the mestizos, mulattoes, and other castes, the Indian element being small, since that race was exempt from military service. These troops, composed of regiments of the line and the provincial militia, although commanded by Spanish-European chiefs, were officered to a great extent by creoles. It is not, therefore, a matter of surprise that the viceroy's anxiety was extreme, in view of the doubtful loyalty of the military and the smallness of their number; although in this latter respect less fear was entertained by reason of the excellence of their organization and arms.

The first measure adopted by Venegas was to establish at Querétaro a force sufficient for the protection of that city. For this purpose, he ordered the provincial dragoon regiment of Puebla to hasten to the capital by forced marches; and on the 26th of September the Mexican infantry regiment of la Corona, under the command of Manuel Flon, conde de la Cadena and intendente of Puebla, was despatched from Mexico for Querétaro. A battery of four cannon, under the direction of Colonel Ramon Diaz de Ortega, was sent with these troops, who were joined a few days afterward by the Mexican dragoons of the line and those lately arrived from Puebla, with two battalions of grenadiers, each seven companies strong. The grenadiers were commanded by José Jalon, an