Battle of Santa Rita de Morelos

The Battle of Santa Rita de Morelos or Battle of Morelos (24-25 March 1840) was between insurgents under the command of General Antonio Canales fighting for the Republic of the Rio Grande and the Centralists under the command of General Mariano Arista fighting for the First Mexican Republic. The result was a victory for the Centralists.

Battle of Santa Rita de Morelos
Part of Rio Grande rebellion
Date 24 - 25 march 1840 Location Morelos, Coahuila Result Mexican victory
Belligerents
Mexico	Republic of the Rio Grande
Commanders and leaders
Mariano Arista	Antonio Canales Rosillo José Antonio de Zapata
Strength
1800	30
Casualties and losses
Unknown	23 killed

Battle

The respective armies of the insurgents met at Morelos, Coahuila on the 24-25 March 1840. The Centralist Mexican forces defeated the insurgent forces. Included in this defeat was the trial and execution of 23 members of the insurgents' cavalry, including Colonel Jose Antonio de Zapata, the commander of the cavalry, on the 29 March.

Aftermath

General Canales and the remaining insurgents that survived the Battle of Morelos sought refuge in San Antonio, Texas. Later that year Canales organized an expedition back into Mexico, but the vanguard under the command of Samuel Jordan met with defeat at the hands of a Centralist force under General Rafael Vasquez near Saltillo. Jordan and his command retreated back into Texas and soon afterwards Canales capitulated to the Centralists.

References

• Jaques, Tony, ed. (2007), "Santa Rita De Morelos", Dictionary of Battles and Sieges: P-Z, Greenwood Publishing Group, pp. 890, 907, ISBN 9780313335396
• Salmón, Roberto Mario (June 15, 2010), "Zapata, Antonio", Handbook of Texas Online, The Texas State Historical Association, retrieved August 21, 2014.

Further reading

• Arambula, Odie (November 8, 2008). Gonzalez, Josh (ed.). "Republic of the Rio Grande started in Revilla". The Zapata Times. ISSUU.com.