undertaken by Linares himself in seven large canoes, he came in conflict with the islanders, and succumbed with several officers and twenty-three men, three canoes only regaining the shore.[1] Equally unsuccessful was the main attack in June, under General Negrete with about five hundred men. For this the new large boats from San Blas were brought out, some lashed together to sustain cannon. Paralyzed by stone showers from the rock, the lumbering squadron became an easy target for the light active canoes. A large number of the assailants were killed, two boats were captured with cannon and ammunition, and Negrete had a narrow escape, with severe wounds.[2]
Royalist operations were after this reduced to little more than a defence of the shore line from the head quarters at Tlachichilco, supplemented by a blockade for cutting off supplies which was maintained by a cruising flotilla.[3] The occupants of the rock numbered at this time about a thousand, including 300 women and children.[4]
- ↑ According to Cruz' report. Castellanos asserts that 'apenas' one canoe escaped with five men. Santa Ana, who commanded at the island, lost three men. This occurred on Feb. 27th. The islanders are given 70 canoes by the opponents. Soon after a division against San Pedro, under Lieut-col. Alvarez was routed by the valiant Indians, who also defeated another at Vigía. Castellanos' report is full of similar and less important skirmishes, always favorable to the islanders, who kill large numbers while suffering little them selves. Royalists of course report their own victories.
- ↑ The expedition is said by insurgents to have consisted of 600 men with 11 guns. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 641. Castellanos claims that the greater part of Negrete's force was lost, with one gun, etc., the leader leaving the fingers of one hand behind. Cuad. Hist., iii. 95.
- ↑ The leading vessel thereof was successfully assailed and captured one night by Santa Ana, who distinguished himself about the same time by almost annihilating the forces of Cuellar and Vallano, the former numbering 'nearly' 500 men.
- ↑ This from the report of a captured Indian, who is rather vague in his statement, for he knows the leader only as a Franciscan, with one Morillo 'apparently' as second. He states that they were poorly provided with armament and supplies. He enumerated 10 cannon and fully 100 canoes. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 204-6. For additional details on movements in Jalisco, see Gaz. de Mex., 1813, iv. 15-20, 190, 839-40, 1085, 1107, 1294, etc.; Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 216-17. At this period figured a woman, Paula Atienza by name, who was recommended to the córtes by the municipality of Gaudalajara for her devotion to the sick and wounded on both sides. Córtes, Diario, xx. 82-4. The reports from this city at the opening of the year are signed by J. L. J. Pinilla, as intendente. Id., xix. 357.
