III. Table exhibiting in detail the distribution of the Militia. regiment 825 men in time of peace, and 1350 in time of war 5775 Three battalions: Guanaxuato, Oaxaca, and Guadalaxara, of five companies; 412 men in time of peaceand 675 men in time of war 1236 4592 238 Two companies of men of colour Carried forward 10,137 21,218 Continuation of Table III. Denomination of Corps. Brought over Men. 10,137 21,218 Six squadrons of lancers of Vera Cruz, created in 1767 Three corps distributed 384 over the frontiers (cuerpos fixos de frontera, en lo interior del reyno), 1320 viz. Four companies of Sierra Gorda, created in 1740 Nine companies of San Luis Colot lan created in 1780 Six companies of Nuevo Santander, created 1792 3. Mixed troops of foot and lancers, whites and men of colour, (compañias fixas de blancos y pardos) distributed on the eastern and western coasts, and formed in 1793 total force 6790 Division of the north (Atlantic 240 720 360 Divisions of the South (South-Sea coast) thirty-four companies First Division Second Division Third Division Fourth Division Fifth Division 680 1140 800 1030 409 2,587 b. Of the provincias internas fourteen squadrons or 48 companies 1,059 B. Town Militia (milicias urbanas) 129 created in 1787 Total of Militia in time of peace 22,277 We have not included in these tables, the corps of invalids formed in 1774, consisting of two companies, nor the troops distributed in the intendancy of Merida, and commanded by the captain general of the peninsula of Yucatan. I was unable to procure the state of the military force of that peninsula. There are eight companies of regular troops (tropas veteranas) at Campeche, and in the small fort of San Felipe de Bacalar; and the defence of Merida is entrusted to militia, composed of whites and men of colour. The cavalry is extremely numerous in the Mexican army, forming almost the half of the total force. In 1804 there were * A state of troops preserved in the archives 32,200 of the Viceroyalty, and tolerably conform to the Guia de fo In estimating the force of the Mexican army at 32,000 men, we must observe that the number of disciplined troops scarcely amounts to eight or ten thousand, among whom there are three or four thousand of considerable military experience, namely the cavalry stationed in the presidios of Sonora, New Biscay, and New Galicia. We have already observed that the inhabitants of the provincias internas live in a state of perpetual warfare with the Indians known by the name of Apaches, Cumanches, Mimbreños, Yutas, Chichimecas, and Taouaiazes. The presidios or military posts were established to protect the colonists from the attacks of these Indians, who are armed with bows and arrows, and mounted on horses of the Spanish breed. Since the end of the sixteenth century when Juan de Oñate formed the first settlements in New Mexico, horses have multiplied to such a degree in the Savannahs which extend to the East and West of Santa Fe, towards the Missouri and the Rio Gila, that the rasteros, published at Mexico by Don Mariano de Zw higa y Ontiveros (p. 152, 179,) gives 32,934. Compare 320 and the New Geo also Viagero Universal, xxvii. p. graphy of M. Pinkerton, p. 162, in which a larger es timate has been adopted. |