Don Alejandro del Serrano
Army of Operations Forward Base, Coahuila y Tejas Province, March 3rd 1836
“Who is next?”
“One Don Alejandro del Serrano, General Santa Anna.”
“Ah
si, this is our young star, is it not?” Santa Anna’s aide nodded. “Excellent. No need to prompt me here. Send him in.”
A young man in the distinctive golden-yellow coat of a dragoon captain was ushered into the tent. He was tall and tanned, with long, black hair falling close to his shoulders, and he held himself upright, with his head high- a stance brimming with pride and self-confidence. He reached the centre of the room and bowed low and elegantly to the collection of Mexican generals and officers standing around one table, at which sat President Santa Anna himself, then stood straight again.
“Don Alejandro del Serrano?”
“
Si, I am him.”
“And I,” began Santa Anna, “am General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna”. He spoke with the tone of a man who loved both the sound of his own voice and of his own name, and his manner was grandiose. “We have heard reports of your deeds yesterday, Don Alejandro. My aides tell me you killed a man in the uniform of an officer…”
“
Si, General, I apologise, General. It merely seemed appropriate at the time, and it was in the moment of battle-”
Santa Anna cut him off: “Why are you stuttering like that as though you had committed some sin, boy? Be proud! You killed an officer of the Texan Army! You killed a general- one James Grant!”
“I know, General, but according to the rules of war-”
Again Santa Anna interrupted: “You know, Don Alejandro, there’s a funny thing about the rules of war. I have fought more campaigns than you have seen summers, and when you have experienced as much as I, then you too will recognise that the only situation in which the rules of war don’t apply is war. The Spaniards spent so long troubling themselves over the rules in the War of Independence that they had lost each battle before they could even decide which flag to march to battle with. It was pathetic.” There was a pause. Santa Anna seemed to be waiting for Alejandro to respond.
“
Si, General…” He said uncertainly.
“But I did not summon you to talk about the Battle of Veracruz!” Continued the General with a laugh, sounding very much as though he wished he could talk about just that. “No, Don Alejandro, we have more serious matters to discuss. Now I am right in believing that you hail from California, am I not?”
“
Si, General. My family holds land near Los Angeles. The English call it the Orange County…”
“
Bueno. Well, you see Don Alejandro, your good compatriots are causing me a little discomfort just now. Here we are, we fight the Texans because they rebel against the authority and the peace of Mexico, and we make good progress. But while good, loyal, brave Mexican citizens are dying at Agua Dulce and the Goliad, do you know what message I receive from your good compatriots?” Santa Anna waited a moment expectantly, then carried on impatiently. “I receive a messenger from San Francisco, and what should he tell me? The Californios and the Americans who live in California are forming an assembly, and they are calling it a ‘Californian Parliament’. Does that not strike you as strange, Don Alejandro?”
Alejandro hesitated. Again, he was not sure what to say that would please Santa Anna. “Er…
Si, General. Most strange.”
“Indeed. Now I may be an old-fashioned man, but I was always under the impression that California was ruled from Mexico, which surely might leave one thinking that they don’t need a parliament there?” His speech was laden with irony, which still failed to conceal his obvious anger at events. “So what obvious question does this lead us to?”
Again, Alejandro hesitated. “What…” He began.
“What in the Devil’s name they are
doing forming a
government?” The General spat in indignation. “How dare they stand in contempt of the government of Mexico, while we are fighting for their safety here? Wouldn’t you say that was a fair question?”
“
Si, General Santa Anna. Most fair.”
“Well here is what I summoned you for, then. You are a Californian- a Californian Don, and as it was you who defeated the Texans at Agua Dulce, and you who killed General Grant. You are the youngest decorated soldier in the Mexican Army, Don Alejandro, and I can think of no-one better than you to resolve this situation in California.”
“What would you have me do, General?”
“It is simple. Ride to San Francisco, and
encourage your compatriots to dissolve their ‘assembly’. Then you will raise an army of true patriots, those loyal to Mexico, and meet me at Tijuana one month from now. If your compatriots fail to comply, then you will raise the army and meet me anyway. We will deal with the Californians together. I have full confidence in your ability both to raise an army and to lead it in battle, and I have no reason to doubt your loyalty to the Republic, do I?”
“No, General. Of course not, General.”
“
Bueno. I suppose that is all?”
“
Si, General Santa Anna. I shall be at Tijuana to meet you with a Californian army one month from now.”
“Excellent, Don Alejandro. I trust that you shall not fail me. A party from your dragoon company is waiting for you at the main stable, your horse is ready, all has been prepared.”
“
Si, General. And
gracias, General, for this honour.”
“You are quite welcome, Don Alejandro.” The young dragoon turned to go. “Oh, and Don Alejandro?” Added Santa Anna. Alejandro turned round. “Just one small thing, I hate to be kept waiting.” Alejandro nodded. “April 3rd,
si?” Don Alejandro saluted, and left.
The formation of the Californian Republic, March 1836