On the proclamation of the Republic in 1889, Vargas became the head of the Rio-grandense Republican Party ("Partido Republicano Riograndense") in São Borja. A few years later, in 1893, the Federalist Revolution broke out in Rio Grande do Sul, an attempt by federalist rebels (known as ""maragatos"") to overthrow the state governor, Júlio de Castilhos. As a partisan of Castilhos, Vargas returned to the army in order to take part in the suppression of the revolt. He was wounded in battle in his hometown Passo Fundo in July 1894. During this period he was promoted to colonel by president Floriano Peixoto, and finally to brigade general by Floriano's successor Prudente de Moraes.