Ignacio Elizondo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ignacio Elizondo
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Captain Ignacio Elizondo [center horseman] captures Hidalgo, Allende and other insurgent leaders at the Wells of Bajan on 21 March 1811.
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| Born |
Francisco Ignacio Elizondo Villarreal
March 9, 1766 |
| Died | c. September 12, 1813 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Military |
Francisco Ignacio Elizondo Villarreal (born March 9, 1766, in New Spain – died around September 12, 1813, in Spanish Texas) was a military officer. He served the Spanish King during the Mexican War of Independence. He is best known for capturing important rebel leaders. These leaders included Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, José Mariano Jiménez, and Juan Aldama. This famous capture happened at the Wells of Baján, Coahuila, in 1811.
Elizondo first supported Mexican independence. However, he later switched sides to support the Spanish King. Some people compare him to the American Benedict Arnold, who also changed sides. In 1813, after winning battles against rebel armies, Elizondo was killed by one of his own officers.
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Early Life and Military Career
Ignacio Elizondo was born in a village called Salinas. This area is now known as Salinas Victoria, in Nuevo León, Mexico. His parents were José Marcos de Elizondo and María Josefa de Villarreal. His family had Spanish and Basque roots. As a child, Elizondo lived in Pesquería Grande, which is now Garcia, Nuevo León. His father owned several large farms, called haciendas.
In 1787, when he was 21, Elizondo married María Gertrudis. Sadly, she died in 1797 while giving birth to their son, José Rafael Eusebio.
Elizondo started his military career in 1798. He became a Lieutenant in a local militia group. Two years later, he was promoted to Captain of the Punta de Lampazos provincial dragoons. This was a large military unit in the New Kingdom of León. In 1806, the governor of Nuevo León asked him to lead a group of dragoons. This group would operate in Spanish Texas to fight against Apache attacks. Elizondo later married Maria Romana Carrasco. In 1806, they moved to a hacienda in Coahuila state.
Capturing Rebel Leaders
The Mexican War of Independence began on September 16, 1810. A Roman Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla started it with a famous call for freedom, known as the ""grito"".
At first, Elizondo supported the rebels. He was stationed in Texas and was responsible for guarding Spanish prisoners in Monclova, Coahuila. While there, he was convinced to switch his loyalty to the Spanish King. Some historians believe he was persuaded by Spanish generals or bishops. Others think he was convinced by two Spanish governors he was holding as prisoners.
Elizondo was asked to pretend he was still with the rebels. This allowed him to gather information about the plans of Hidalgo and Allende. These rebel leaders were trying to escape to the United States after a big defeat in the Battle of Calderon Bridge.
In March 1811, Hidalgo, Allende, and their remaining rebel army were in Saltillo. This city was about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Monclova. Spanish supporters in Monclova, including wealthy landowners, helped Elizondo.
The rebel leaders believed Monclova was safe. So, Allende, Hidalgo, and about 1,000 rebel soldiers left Saltillo for Monclova. On March 21, 1811, Elizondo was waiting for them at the Wells of Baján with 150 of his own men.
The rebel leaders arrived first in carriages. Elizondo greeted them with an honor guard. He led their carriages behind a nearby hill, out of sight from the rest of the rebel army. There, his men demanded the rebel leaders surrender. Padre Hidalgo, who was on horseback, tried to use a pistol but was stopped by a Spanish soldier. Allende, in a different carriage, started firing. In the fight, Allende's son and several rebel soldiers were killed.
The Spanish soldiers tied the hands of the rebel leaders and their guards. They took them to a temporary prison camp. This process continued all day. As more parts of the rebel army arrived, Elizondo's men captured them. By the end of the day, the Spanish had 893 prisoners. About 40 rebels who fought back were killed. Only the very last group of the rebel army realized the danger and managed to escape.
The next day, Elizondo divided the prisoners into three groups. These were the main rebel leaders, captured rebel priests, and common soldiers. All prisoners were first taken to Monclova. The less important prisoners stayed there for trial. Ten captured priests were sent to Durango. Twenty-seven military leaders and Hidalgo were sent to Chihuahua for trial. Many of the rebel leaders and their followers were executed.
Serving the Spanish King
After capturing the rebel leaders, Elizondo was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Spanish army. Even though his capture of the leaders was very important, the rewards he received were not very large.
In March 1813, the Spanish army in Texas lost a battle. The rebels then took control of San Antonio. To get Texas back, General José Joaquín de Arredondo told Elizondo to scout the rebel forces. He was told not to fight them.
Elizondo crossed the Rio Grande with 1,050 men in June. Against Arredondo's orders, he camped near San Antonio and demanded the rebels surrender. On June 20, the rebel army, led by José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara, surprised Elizondo. In the Battle of Alazan Creek, Elizondo's forces were badly defeated. He had to retreat back to the Rio Grande.
General Arredondo then ordered Elizondo to join him to retake Texas. With 1,830 men, the two commanders moved from Mexico towards San Antonio. On August 18, 1813, at the Battle of Medina, Elizondo led a cavalry group. They defeated the 1,400-man rebel army. This crushed the rebellion in Texas.
Elizondo's last military duty was to chase and capture the remaining rebel soldiers after the Battle of Medina. He led 500 cavalrymen. His reports show he marched towards eastern Texas. He captured and executed many rebel soldiers at a Spanish hacienda on the Trinity River. He burned this hacienda. He chased rebels as far as Nacogdoches in eastern Texas. He executed 71 rebel soldiers and took over 100 prisoners.
Death
On September 3, 1813, Ignacio Elizondo was badly wounded. He was sleeping in his camp near the Brazos River when Lieutenant Miguel Serrano attacked him. He died a few days later.
Many historians believe he was buried on the bank of the San Marcos River in Texas. He died there while being carried back to the capital. However, some records suggest his body might have been moved. A record from October 9, 1815, in San Antonio's San Fernando cathedral, notes his burial. It states: "Ignacio Elizondo, Lt. Col. of the cavalry. Spanish, married to Romana Carrasco. He died of wounds received from an attack whilst he slept."
See also
In Spanish: Ignacio Elizondo para niños
