After this, the organization of the forces was left to the viceroy, who was an experienced soldier. But, as Great Britain had in her North American colonies the material for an army, and in Jamaica a naval station, and was thus in a position to strike at any moment a blow against New Spain,[1] the government deemed the forces already organized insufficient, and several regiments were despatched from Spain. By the 18th of June 1768, there had arrived at Vera Cruz on the frigate Astrea and seven transports the regiments Saboya, Flandes, and Ultonia. Later came the Zamora, Granada, Castilla, and Guadalajara.[2] Each regiment was of three battalions. The veteran force now in the country consisted of 10,000 men. Their uniform was white, with trimmings of different colors to distinguish the regiments. For this reason the people nicknamed them blanquillos. The office of sub-inspector, formerly held by a maestre de campo, was created with larger powers and importance; he had the direct management of the troops. The marqués de Rubí was appointed to it.[3] His superior in Spain was the inspector-general, who at that time was the conde O'Reilly.[4] The chief duty of this officer was the discipline of the troops. From time to time his functions were more clearly defined till 1806, when
- ↑ Such an emergency had been foreseen, as appears in the correspondence of the marqués de Croix with Minister of State Arriaga in 1776. Bustamante, Suplem., in Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 6.
- ↑ The secretary of war of Mexico in an official report gives these names: Ultonia, Saboya, América, Asturias, Granada, and Zamora. Mex., Mem. Guerra, 1835, 9. The fact was that the Asturias came out in a ship of the line in June 1776. Gomez, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., 2d ser., vii. 22.
- ↑ The officer was called cabo subaltemo, or segundo cabo. Some years after a doubt having occurred whether he should take the command in chief in the event of the viceroy's death, the crown, on the 10th of January 1786, decided the point in the negative, adding that in that event he was merely to command the forces subject to the real acuerdo. He was declared to have no prerogative. Reales Ordenes, MS., iii. 158.
- ↑ From this time Mexico assumed a military aspect, and retained it ever after. Bustamante, Suplem., in Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 6. A provisional regulation for the army was issued in 1774. Bucareli, Reglamento, 1-32. In this same year was decreed the creation of a cuerpo de inválidos, which was organized in 1779. Mex., Mem. Guerra, 1840, 37-39.
General Palacios was made governor of Vera Cruz. Panes., Vir., in Monum. Dom. Esp., MS., 120-1.
