Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-05-19
SANTA ANNA.

The early military career of Santa Anna is
thus sketched in theSeptember number of Black
woods Magazine
''Santa Anna, in S23, was unknown: he was
simply Colonel in the Mexican service. The
declaration of public opinion in that year. in fla
vor OF repubicansm, found him Jealous con-
vert: and at the head of his troops he marched
from Vera Cruz to meet the troops of lturbide.
Ne met the Emperor's General, Echavari, half
way to the capitol, and after some trivial en-
counters, made convert of his enemy Echa-
vari's battallions marched into Santa Annals
camp. Iturbde, thus suddenly stripped of his
troops, had no alternative but to capitulate, land
90 in:o Punishment. The Republic was pro-
claimed, and Santa Anna was recognized as the
deliveTer of his country. Bot an occasion oc-
Cured, in which his military talents were also
to be equally conspicuous.
troops, under General Barradoss,n msae e1 r
pearance off Tampico, despatched TO recover
the country for the Spanish crown. The in
stance of the activity of Old Spain was so I'M
expected that the republic was in general con-
sternation But Santa Anna took his measures
with equal intelligence and bravery. Collecting
about coo men hastily, he crossed the gulf in
open boats, aud evading the Spanish vessels of
war, landed within few miles of the Spanish
tApCulltCu. DdiiouOo uilplCNdiCu LII tuiS uusi-
inc antagonist, had gone on some rash excur-
sion, carving with him three-lourths of his
force; the remaining thousand were the garri
son of Tampico. Santa Anna lGosing no time,
assaulted the place next morning: and after
few hours struggle, made the whole garrison
prisoners. His victory placed him in imminent
danger BARBADOS rapidly returned. The Mex
lean General, encumb red with prisoners found
himself in presence oftrippe his numbers, and
with a river in his rear. Death or surrender
seemed the only alternatives. In this emergen
CIV he deXterouslv proposed an armlstice, impress
sing the Spanish General with an idea that he
was at the head of an Overwhelming force-an
impression the more easily made. from the APP
parent hardihood of ventu-lng so near an army
of Spanish veterans. One Of his first conditions
was, that the Mexican troops sffouM return 10
their own quarters unmolested. Thus, with
merely 600 men, he escaped from five times
that number. In few days he was Joined BY
700 men, he then commenced an incessant and
vigorous attack upon theSpanrsf position, which
was followed by the surrender of the whole
corpse; and 1920 Spaniards were embarked for
the Havana as prisoners of war. Santa Annals
force never exceeded 1900 men.
"a campaign Of this rank naturally placed
him in a distinguished point of public view
Yet he remained IN comparative quiet on his es-
tates near Vera Cruz, on the Nepolian princi
ple-watlng his opportunity. 1t soon came:
IN 1871, Bustamente, the President, fell into un-
popularity: murmurs arose ominosly among the
troops. and Santa Anna was summoned to head
d revolution, Gathering FIVE or six thousand
men. chiefly raw recruits, he marced on the
capital. The enterprise was singularly anven-
turous, for Bustamente was an experienced off,
ce with 5000 men under his immediate COM
mand. Santa Anna again tried the effect of
diplomacy: the result was, that Bustamente
finally surrendered both his power and his place,
and was shortly after sent into exile.
''Santa Anna now governed the country as.
dictator. Els administrator bad the rashness
but relieved from the encumbrances of the
Spanish dependence, was beginning to enjoy the
relics of her unparalleled climate and boundles
fertility, when new enemy arose in Texas"