Description:

ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA
(1794 - 1876) Mexican general and politician, a President of Mexico who sought to crush the Texas Revolution, seizing the Alamo only be defeated by Sam Houston at San Jacinto. SANTA ANNA DESCRIBES HIS VICTORIES OVER ITURBIDE TO THE EMPEROR OF MEXICO Lengthy and important L.S., 12pp. legal folio, Jalapa, Apr. 23, 1822, to AGUSTIN I (1783-1824), the first emperor of Mexico. In part: ‘…Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Colonel of Infantry Regiment No. 8 and Military Commander of this city, addressing your Highness with all due subservience, declares: that he has the honor to have served in the defense of his beloved fatherland since March of last year, 1821. He gave the cry of liberty in the city of Orizaba, attracting to the side of justice 70 infantry troops that had been sent by the Government of Spain to maintain its tyranny, with others joining him out of conviction, fatigue, and for the sake of money put toward that effect. With this city already independent and delivered into the hands of Brigadier Don Joaquin Herrera, who was wandering lost with few troops, I called him and had him take charge of its forces, arms, ammunition and other war materiel...I marched alone to the town of La Soledad to gather the useful population...I surprised some detachments in the area and was able to add more foot soldiers, adding more each day with deserters from the garrison at Veracruz, thanks to the emissaries I sent to the city for that purpose. As a result, I was able to go to the city of Alvarado with a division of 500 men and a quarter-pound cannon, having already organized the civilians I had armed into companies and disabused them of the ideas they had learned in the last revolution. As quickly as they joined me, I turned them into soldiers. Once we had taken the Port of Alvarado…I quickly occupied the whole area and organized it, putting in charge individuals who were eager to join and support the system…This is an account of my deeds that I have the pleasure to present for your highness's esteemed consideration. They are small when compared to the ardent desire I have always had to sacrifice myself for my beloved fatherland, but their simple narration should clearly demonstrate that ever since I picked up my sword to defend its just rights, I have worked tirelessly to pursue an endeavor as dangerous as it is glorious. It is not up to me to weigh the benefits of my actions for the common good, whether in weakening our enemies or feeding the flames of the defenders of our yearned-for emancipation, but those who witnessed these events and their results can speak for my character, a topic about which I myself am obliged to remain silent…It is the case that, for a variety of reasons, the inconveniences, privations and ill health the above-mentioned campaign caused me to suffer led to a meeting with the General, who agreed that, since I had achieved everything I had aspired to in occupying Veracruz, I be excused from general command of that province and be allowed to return to Mexico City to reestablish myself, and in fact Your Highness agreed to this…' Some marginal tears with some trivial marginal stains, otherwise very good. Emperor Augustin I rewarded Santa Anna with the command of the vital port of Veracruz, the gateway from the Gulf of Mexico to the rest of the nation and site of a customs house. However, Iturbide subsequently removed Santa Anna from the post, prompting Santa Anna to rise in rebellion in December 1822 against Iturbide. Santa Anna claimed in his Plan of Veracruz that he rebelled because Iturbide had dissolved the Constituent Congress. He also promised to support free trade with Spain, an important principle for his home region of Veracruz. Although Santa Anna's initial rebellion was important, Iturbide had loyal military men who were able to hold their own against the rebels in Veracruz. However, former insurgent leaders Guerrero and Nicolas Bravo, who had supported Iturbide's Plan de Iguala, returned to their base in southern Mexico and raised a rebellion against Iturbide. The commander of imperial forces in Veracruz, who had fought against the rebels, changed sides and joined the rebels. The new coalition proclaimed the Plan of Casa Mata, which called for the end of the monarchy, restoration of the Constituent Congress, and creation of a republic and a federal system.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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