!Viva Zapata!

(the other one)

A NOTh ER R EvOLUTION... ANOTh ER ZAPATA

Almost every semi-educated American knows this particular Spanish surname and what it meant during the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20.

But almost nobody knows about the “other Zapata.” t he one from texas. t he one from another revolution.

Thanks in part to Dr. Roberto Mario salmon and his research and excellent posting of information on the texas state Historical Society website, many thirsty-for-facts writers can now report this most interesting forgotten trozo of texas/ u s./Mexico history.

Dr. Salmon’s research reveals that Antonio Zapata, born around the 1800s in the northern de Antonio Canales rosillo.

“Rosillo”, escribe el Dr. Salmón. “Era un brillante oficial de caballería —al punto que ha sido comparado a Chevalier bayard y Stonewall Jackson”.

Aproximadamente en ese momento de la vida del Coronel Zapata, su propiedad fue saqueada [por las tropas centristas] por una suma de $70 000 de la época (US$2,5 millones de hoy en día). Ese robo fue solo fue un golpecillo en su fortuna, ya que se había vuelto extremadamente rico como ranchero.

Esa pérdida, no obstante, puede haya sido el aliciente que necesitaba para su determinación de luchar en contra el gobierno centralista mexicano.

Para enero de 1840, las calles de Laredo bullían con una es -

Mexican state of Tamaulipas, would spend his youth as a simple sheepherder. Zapata then hones those sheepherding-smarts to a science to convert him into a well-to-do ranchero. Later he would also become a well-known militia officer during Indian skirmishes and known to the Comanche and Lipan natives as “Sombrero de Manteca” or ‘lard-hat ’ on account of a greasy type of hair dressing he chose to slick down his locks.

According to the report by Dr. Salmon, Zapata joined with other northern leaders in armed resistance to Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna‘s Centralist subversion of the Mexican Constitution of 1824.

Zapata was commissioned a colonel and went to battle for the existing Federalist cause under the command of Antonio Canales rosillo.

“Rosillo,” writes Dr. Salmon. “Was a gifted cavalry officer, he has been compared to Chevalier Bayard and Stonewall Jackson.”

About this time in Col. Zapata’s life, his property was looted [by Centralist troops] to the tune of $70,000 ($2.5 million in today’s dollars.) t he loss made but a tiny dent in his financial armor as he had become extremely wealthy as a rancher.

His loss, however, may have given him a more serious reason to continue the fight against the Mexican Centralist government. Meanwhile, in January, 1840, the streets of Laredo were abuzz with a special convention in their city. Around mid-month the convention attendants broke the news that they were declaring independence from Mexico and claimed for its continued from the previous page independent territory the areas of tamaulipas and Coahuila north to the nueces and Medina rivers, respectively, adding Nuevo León, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua, and new Mexico. t he newly formed Republic of the Rio Grande elected as its leaders: Jesús de Cárdenas, president; Antonio Canales Rosillo, commander-in-chief of the army; Juan nepomuceno Molano, delegate and member of the council for tamaulipas; Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor, for Coahuila; Manuel María de Llano, for Nuevo León; and José María Jesús Carbajal, secretary to the Council. it is interesting to note that part of the Zapata-led troops were made up of anglos, tejanos and native Americans. sent on a volunteer recruiting mission along the soon-to-be t hey named both their county and county seat, Zapata. pecial Convención que se efectuaba en esa ciudad. A mediados de mes los asistentes a dicha Convención dieron la noticia de que declaraban su independencia de México y reclamaban para sí las zonas de tamaulipas y Coahuila —al norte de los ríos nueces y Medina, respectivamente— a las que se sumaron Nuevo León, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua y nuevo México.

¡Viva Zapata!

Zapata became rosillo’s cavalry commander as they prepared to launch initial attacks against the Centralist forces while Laredo became their capital.

Col. Zapata’s proven leadership begin to bear fruit as he led the troops into early battles against the Centralist troops taking town after town. At the Battle of Matamoros, however, the Federalist followers faced stiff resistance from the Centralists, but succeeded in lifting the town’s siege.

It was on to Monterrey, an important city held by the Centralists where things went south. As the plans for the attack of the city begin, internal strife enveloped the CanalesZapata led soldiers and many of them decided to join the Centralists. A big blow made worse as the intense fighting brought heavy losses to the Federalists.

U.S.-Mexico border, Col. Zapata and his men were surprised at the Coahuila town of santa r ita de Morelos and captured.

Col. Zapata and his men refused to betray their newly formed republic and were convicted of treason.

All of them were executed. the Centralists decided to send a bloody message to their enemy and on March 29, 1840, Col. Zapata’s head was severed and taken to Guerrero, his home town, to be exhibited on a pole for three days, serving as a warning to those thinking of splitting from the existing Mexican government.

The Federalists took the Col. Zapata’s beheading to heart and soon disbanded their entire operation and sought refuge along the Nueces River. They would, according to Dr. Salmon, occasionally revive their independence inspiration to no avail.

In a twist of fate, in 1858, that South Texas area was part of two counties, Starr and Webb. Residents of the area then known as Carrizo, decided to separate and become independent as their own county.

¡Viva Zapata!

Esta naciente nación, bautizada como República del Río Grande, eligió como sus dirigentes: Jesús de Cárdenas, presidente; Antonio Canales Rosillo, comandante en jefe del ejército; Juan Nepomuceno Molano, delegado y miembro del cabildo por tamaulipas; Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor, por Coahuila; Manuel María de Llano, por Nuevo León; y José María Jesús Carbajal, secretario del Cabildo. todos fueron ejecutados. Los centralistas decidieron enviar un sangriento mensaje a sus enemigos y, el 29 de marzo de 1840, la cabeza del coronel Zapata fue cercenada y llevada a Guerrero, su ciudad natal, para ser exh Ibida en un poste durante tres días —como escarmiento a quienes pensaban de escindirse del gobierno mexicano existente. nombraron “Zapata” tanto a su jurisdicción como a su cabeza de Condado.

Zapata se convirtió en el Comandante de Caballería de Rosillo, y se preparó para lanzar los primeros ataques contra las fuerzas centralistas. En el ínterin, Laredo se convertía en su capital.

El comprobado liderazgo del Coronel Zapata comenzó a dar frutos cuando dirigió a las tropas en las primeras batallas contra las tropas centralistas —las que se tomaron pueblo tras pueblo. Sin embargo, en la Batalla de Matamoros, los seguidores federalistas enfrentaron una dura resistencia, aunque lograron levantar el sitio de la ciudad.

Fue en Monterrey, importante ciudad en manos de los centralistas, donde las cosas comenzaron a salir mal. Al iniciarse los planes para el ataque a la ciudad, la lucha interna envuelve a los soldados dirigidos por Canales y Zapata —y muchos de ellos deciden unirse a los centralistas. todo empeoró cuando la intensa lucha causó grandes bajas a los federalistas.

Es interesante notar que parte de las tropas dirigidas por Zapata estaban compuestas por anglosajones, tejanos y nativoamericanos. Enviado en una misión para reclutar voluntarios a lo largo de la futura frontera entre EEuu y México, el coronel Zapata y sus hombres fueron sorprendidos en la ciudad de santa rita de Morelos, Coahuila, y capturados.

El coronel Zapata y sus hombres se negaron a traicionar a su recién formada república y fueron condenados por traición.

La decapitación del coronel Zapata desmoralizó tanto a los federalistas que pronto disolvieron toda su operación y buscaron refugio a lo largo del río Nueces. Según cuenta el Dr. Salmón, de cuando en cuando revivirían sus impulsos independentistas, pero en vano.

Y en una de esas vueltas del destino pasó esto: en 1858, esa área del sur de Texas era parte de dos condados, Starr y Webb. Los residentes de dicha área —entonces conocida como Carrizo— decidieron separarse e independizarse como condado propio.

¡Viva Zapata!