Welcome to the Republic of the Rio Grande.

Episode 7, Zapata Unleashed.

I'm Brandon Seal.

On November 22, 1838, Antonio the Brush Fox Canales and Antonio Sweat of his Brow, Zapata, met with the centralist colonel commanding government forces near the Rio Grande Villas.

Canales and Zapata voiced their grievances against the distant and indifferent central government that had just levied an unconscionable in their view tax on the long-suffering citizens of the frontier.

They gave the colonel 12 days to do something about it, or else. Twelve days later, nothing had changed, however. And so,

Canales and Zapata pronounced against the centralist government and aligned themselves with other

federalists in Mexico, fighting to restore the Constitution of 1824.

Antonio Canales and his chief of staff, the fiery Jose Maria Carbajal, kicked off the political side of the movement by shoring up their bases in the Rio Grande Vias, which one by one rallied to their side.

On December 23rd, Zapata's hometown of Guerrero, which was formerly known as Rivilla, openly pronounced.

Laredo followed on January 5, 1839, declaring that, quote,

as the present administration does not merit our confidence,

this town will continue in the future to act under the Constitution of the

year 1824 as the only thing that can save the Pueblo under the present circumstances."

Braynosa fell into line a few days later.

Yet it was Antonio Zapata who turned Canales' war of words into an actual war.

Just a few days after Canales's 12-day ultimatum to the Centralist colonel had told,

Zapata attacked the centralist garrison in Mierre and drove them out.

Zapata continued on with the force of about 400 men toward Matamoros now.

Suddenly, men from the Rio Grande Villas poured into his ranks.

The famed sombrero Mantecoso, Antonio Zapata himself, was on the warpath,

and people wanted to be a part of this.

...