Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/94

74 of a vessel off Huatulco also awakened the fear that danger might be expected in that quarter. The president organized an army of reserve to occupy positions in Jalapa, Córdoba, and Orizaba, whence it could operate north and south. This body of troops was placed in charge of Anastasio Bustamante, the vice-president, with José Joaquin de Herrera as his second. Another division was created simultaneously in the south, and its command intrusted to Montesdeoca. Not satisfied with these forces, the executive urged the state governments to raise numerous bodies of militia. In the mean time Garza, who was still comandante general of Tamaulipas, had collected all the force of regulars and militia, and had also sent word to Mier y Teran, who had been inspecting the boundary line between Texas and the United States, and happened to be then in Matamoros. Teran at once hastened to aid in the defence, placing himself, though superior in rank, under Garza's orders. Santa Anna, on learning where the Spaniards were, at once embarked about 1,000 men, who with the cavalry despatched by land formed probably a total of about 2,000 directly under his command, the government having, as a reward of his activity, made him commander in chief of the army of operations. It is unnecessary to enter into detail of the operations. After several bloody encounters, Santa Anna and Teran forced Barradas and the remnants of his troops to capitulate, September 11th, on the banks of the Pánuco River, but not without a heavy loss of men and officers on both sides. Under the terms