Update!
So What Exactly Happened in Puebla?
Even today most historians cannot agree on what exactly provoked the Puebla uprisings of 1848. However, most agree that the events where crucial in causing General Winfield Scott’s retreat from the Mexico City and the termination of the Mexican American War.
Since Santa Anna’s ascension to power Puebla had been in constant conflict with Federal government of Mexico City. This rivalry was defined by the struggle between liberals and conservatives, and between centralists and federalists that had plagued the nation from birth. When Precedent Herrera solidified his hold on the Presidency, no one could be more discontent with the outcome than the local elite of Puebla. It was not until the execution of Santa Anna that this antagonism was appeased and Puebla began to cooperate with the Federal government. But even then, when the American army approached the city, Puebla surrendered without a shot being fired.
But as the war progressed the local residents of the city had grown tired of their guests. Truthfully their guests had overextended their stay for quite some time. Not to mention that Scott’s Mexican collaborators, the Mexican Spy Company, where prone to looting and raiding local estates. There is much debate over what exactly was the spark that started the fire but in March of 1848, Matías de la Peña y Barragán, a local elite, rose up against the occupiers declaring himself Jefe del Ejercito Salvador de la Independencia y Libertad (Commander of the Salvation Army of Independence and Liberty) [1]. Ironically, Barragán’s declaration also called for the abdication of Herrera, who, according to him had failed to deliver his promises of a hasty end to the war.
Barragán mustered a small force and hastily marched against the occupying American forces. Although the Americans barely suffered any losses Barragán’s actions had stirred the populace of Puebla. Over the next few days several other militias of the kinds had sprouted; some were targeting the Mexican Spy Company for their treason, others the American forces, while even others had declared themselves against the rebellion and actively fought against Barrágan and other militias. Most notably was the Ejercito de la Patria under José María Lafragua. Lafragua had rallied a significant number of volunteers who fought in the name of the Federal government against both Barrágan and the American occupiers. (Ironically Barragán and Lafragua will serve together in the army during the quelling of the Caste War in Yucatan [2])
Puebla had been set aflame; the American occupation control of the situation, threatening Scott’s supply line to Veracruz. To worsen all matters a similar event, although of much smaller scale, had occurred in Cuernavaca where a small Mexican militia under José Vicente Miñón had attacked the occupation force under Capatain Robert E. Lee. Although it was quickly quelled the uprising had caused Scott to retreat from the Mexico City Valley to Cuernavaca in order to quell it. There, Scott had to make the choice of whether to press forward hoping for a quick victory in Mexico City or retreat back to Puebla.
Luckily, an envoy from Washington arrived just then saving him from having to make the choice.
The Puebla Uprisings
[1] de la Peña y Barragán actually adopted this title in OTL during the Polkos Rebellion when he rose up against Farias’ government. In this case he was actually fighting alongside his former enemy Santa Anna, who had astutely switched sides.
[2] This is true for Barragán in OTL, Lafragua was just a minor figure during the Polkos rebellion but I guess he will be more prominent ITTL.
So What Exactly Happened in Puebla?
Even today most historians cannot agree on what exactly provoked the Puebla uprisings of 1848. However, most agree that the events where crucial in causing General Winfield Scott’s retreat from the Mexico City and the termination of the Mexican American War.
Since Santa Anna’s ascension to power Puebla had been in constant conflict with Federal government of Mexico City. This rivalry was defined by the struggle between liberals and conservatives, and between centralists and federalists that had plagued the nation from birth. When Precedent Herrera solidified his hold on the Presidency, no one could be more discontent with the outcome than the local elite of Puebla. It was not until the execution of Santa Anna that this antagonism was appeased and Puebla began to cooperate with the Federal government. But even then, when the American army approached the city, Puebla surrendered without a shot being fired.
But as the war progressed the local residents of the city had grown tired of their guests. Truthfully their guests had overextended their stay for quite some time. Not to mention that Scott’s Mexican collaborators, the Mexican Spy Company, where prone to looting and raiding local estates. There is much debate over what exactly was the spark that started the fire but in March of 1848, Matías de la Peña y Barragán, a local elite, rose up against the occupiers declaring himself Jefe del Ejercito Salvador de la Independencia y Libertad (Commander of the Salvation Army of Independence and Liberty) [1]. Ironically, Barragán’s declaration also called for the abdication of Herrera, who, according to him had failed to deliver his promises of a hasty end to the war.
Barragán mustered a small force and hastily marched against the occupying American forces. Although the Americans barely suffered any losses Barragán’s actions had stirred the populace of Puebla. Over the next few days several other militias of the kinds had sprouted; some were targeting the Mexican Spy Company for their treason, others the American forces, while even others had declared themselves against the rebellion and actively fought against Barrágan and other militias. Most notably was the Ejercito de la Patria under José María Lafragua. Lafragua had rallied a significant number of volunteers who fought in the name of the Federal government against both Barrágan and the American occupiers. (Ironically Barragán and Lafragua will serve together in the army during the quelling of the Caste War in Yucatan [2])
Puebla had been set aflame; the American occupation control of the situation, threatening Scott’s supply line to Veracruz. To worsen all matters a similar event, although of much smaller scale, had occurred in Cuernavaca where a small Mexican militia under José Vicente Miñón had attacked the occupation force under Capatain Robert E. Lee. Although it was quickly quelled the uprising had caused Scott to retreat from the Mexico City Valley to Cuernavaca in order to quell it. There, Scott had to make the choice of whether to press forward hoping for a quick victory in Mexico City or retreat back to Puebla.
Luckily, an envoy from Washington arrived just then saving him from having to make the choice.
The Puebla Uprisings
[1] de la Peña y Barragán actually adopted this title in OTL during the Polkos Rebellion when he rose up against Farias’ government. In this case he was actually fighting alongside his former enemy Santa Anna, who had astutely switched sides.
[2] This is true for Barragán in OTL, Lafragua was just a minor figure during the Polkos rebellion but I guess he will be more prominent ITTL.
