The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 224
576 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Even while he was holding the council of war, Juan Bautista
de las Casas,9 a retired officer, was plotting against him. By the
afternoon of January 21, 1811, the majority of the troops of
the capital had been won over by Casas. At midnight of Jan-
uary 21, Casas, with a few men, surprised the general head-
quarters and captured the officers in command. The non-com-
missioned officers and privates at once joined the rebel leader.
At the head of the troops, Casas marched to the governor's palace;
but in a last effort to rally his forces, Salcedo had gone to the
barracks of the reserves. Casas pursued and captured him there
and, by the morning of January 22, Casas was absolute master
of the province.'
After having arrested Don Emanuel de Salcedo, Don Sim6n
de Herrera, assistant to the governor, and other officers, one of
the first official acts of Casas was to confiscate the property of all
Europeans." Then he issued a proclamation explaining his ac-
9Don Juan Bautista de las Casas, Captain of the Provincial Militia of
Nuevo Santander, Political and Military Governor of the Province of Texas,
and Commander-in-Chief of the Troops which Garrison the Province. This
was the title he assumed while he was in power as governor of Texas. Casas
was born at San Fernando, a town in the Colony of Nuevo Santander, in
1775. Before he assumed the governorship of Texas, he was a retired cap-
tain in the militia of the town of Croix, Nuevo Santander. After Casas
had made himself governor, Lieutenant General Josh Mariano Ximenes,
self-styled Commandant of the American Forces of the North, conferred
upon him the rank of brigadier.
After he was arrested by Zambrano, his trial was commenced in Bdxar.
Casas, however, refused to make a deposition, alleging that he could not
get an impartial trial in B~xar. Upon hearing of the objection of Casas,
the Commandant General ordered him sent to Monclova and there tried
by court martial. In Monclova, Casas was tried by a court martial, com-
posed of five men, with Dlon Antonio Cordero presiding. On July 29, 1811,
Casas was found guilty of high treason. On August 3, 1811, he was taken
to a hill by the name of Zapopa, near Monclova. There he was made to
kneel down while the sentence of death was read to him. In accordance
with custom, Casas then kissed the death sentence. He was despoiled of his
insignia, and shot in the back. His head was then cut off, packed in a small
box, and at once dispatched to Bfxar.--Report of trial of Casas, Nacog-
doches Archives, May 14-August 3, 1811, transcripts, Vol. 16, pp. 2-144, in
the Archives, The University of Texas.
10In regard to the state of mind of the people at this time, the Report
states: "At this point there was a general confusion of those who were
friends or enemies. People denied one another as Saint Peter denied the
Savior . . ."-General Report (translated by J. V. Haggard), Junta to
Nemesio Salcedo, April 29, 1811, Nacogdoches Archives, transcripts, Vol.
15, pp. 201-234. The University of Texas. (Unless otherwise stated the
General Report has been used as the primary source for this paper.)
11Inventory of S-alcedo's property, January 23, 1811; inventory of goods
found in the store of Don Apolinar de Masmela, January 23, 1811; inven-8224
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940, periodical, 1940; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101111/m1/238/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.