1 JAN 1919 - 16 SEPT 1919

Some neighbors at Huandacareo who were still residing in Morelia, wrote to don Nicolas Nunez, Head of the Defense, for help, asking for an escort to take them from Morelia that would protect them as they passed through "El Puerto." Because of General Pruneda's approach to the town, Captain Luis Perez Gil--who had a small detachment of forces of the state and had been named by the Governor, Ortiz Rubio, as Regional Head of the Civilian Defenses in the Zone--was in our town with ten men. Upon learning of the request of the Huandacrenses residing in Morelia, he proposed to don Nicolas that he with his soldiers would accompany the escort sent to pick up those in Morelia. In effect he agreed that we would leave the first day of January, but Perez Gil indicated to me that we could spend the last night of the year in Morelia.

Having consulted with the companions that had been assigned to me to go to Morelia, they were in accord that we would leave the afternoon of the 31st. They accepted without knowing that a notice had already been published in the town advising of our departure the 1st of January. Thus we left on the afternoon of the 31st arriving without incident at Morelia at 8:00 in the evening. On the first day [of January], upon communicating to the Huandacarenses that we would leave from Morelia on the 2nd day, we received the fatal notice that seven of our neighbors from our town [of Huandacareo] had been captured at "El Puerto" by the people of Bravo, Fidel Gonzalez, Froylan Tena, and Ramon Medina "La Media." Upon identifying them as townspeople from Huandacareo, they had hung them at the "Hacienda de San Agustin" at the edge of the lake ["Lago de Cuitzeo"]. We immediately set out with Perez Gil to verify the version and recover the cadavers, which we handed over to authorities in Cuitzeo and we took them the following day to our town [Huandacareo]. Assassinated were Jose Maria Castillo and his two sons who along with one that was a defender, Salvador Gonzalez, had left to work at the "Hacienda de Los Bancos" near Paracuaro. [Also assassinated] were three mule drivers or herdsmen ("arrieros") who were going to Morelia to sell vegetables.

With the objective of getting revenge for those assassinated, we proceeded to reorganize the [civilian] defense, incorporating many who wished to accompany us. We bought 20 arms--Mausers and Winchester 30-30--incorporating the following neighbors: Jose Alvarez Diaz, Juan Diaz Diaz, Benito Diaz, Salvador Diaz M., Melesio and Pompeyo Alvarez, Nicolas Cisneros, Aristeo Tena, Lorenzo Loeza, Camerino and Jose Pizano, Miguel Paramo, Jose Ines Garcia, Atanasio Campos, Mauro Velazquez, Epitasio Loeza, Epifanio Cahue, Josafat Manriquez, Francisco Espinosa, Atilano y Mauricio Ambriz, Florencio Sarabia, Juvencio and Sabas Diaz (from Cuaro), Julian Alvarez, Vicente Ambriz, Teofanes Diaz, Felix Lopez, Lorenzo Torres and Castulo Tinoco--as well as some whose names escape my memory.

At two in the morning, the 9th of January, 1919, we left the town, 50 men under the command of Luis Nunos and second in command, Jose Socorro Diaz. We arrived without incident at "Rancho La Siberia," on one side of "Cerro de La Leonera" at about six in the morning. There we captured the father of Felipe Calvillo who had with him four steers, stolen from "Rancho de Marijo." We took him prisoner to "Hacienda de Barreras," used by the bandits as their general headquarters. But upon approaching the property, they began to shoot at us and we began to circle the property but were unable to cover the west where 30 or 35 bandits were able to escape. We were only able to down four and the old man Calvino who died in the battle. For our part, we had no one to die and lament that day. We captured at the ranch, two rebels who had been unable to escape and the wife of Fidel Gonzalez who was sick with "gripa."

The bandits having succeeded in fleeing by way of "Cerro de La Leonera," we took possession of the ranch and found more than 250 head of cattle or better said, the ones stolen from us the 13th of September of the previous year (1918), along with others that had been stolen from the "Hacienda del Colegio," whose property we delivered to them. In addition (we recovered) a storehouse or granary with 200 hectolitros of corn and five (hectolitros) of beans.

Because of this, it was agreed that I should go to Huandacareo to bring drivers to recover the corn and beans, with 20 men. Left at the property ["Hacienda de] Barreras," were don Luis Nunez and Luis Perez Gil, who had accompanied us with his ten soldiers.

Fatigued, in part, the Head of the Defense ordered the preparation for the departure of the drivers for the following day at five in the morning. In order to better protect the caravan, it was agreed that another 20 men would accompany them so that the escort was at 40 [men]. We left at the hour indicated and at sunrise; in front of the Hacienda, we designated as head to lead ten men as advance--Mauro Garcia. The rest of the escort was distributed throughout the column. As rearguard were Antonio Alvarez, Carlos Murillo, Tomas Murillo, Genovevo Loeza and Mauricio Ambriz. This last person joined the column without my approval since he was over 50 years of age. We arrived at "Rancho de Siberia" at nine in the morning and there halted the caravan about 20 minutes to give the drivers time to congregate. Upon continuation, the advance was ordered to proceed through a type of canyon which is the road to ["Hacienda de] Barreras" and that has about three kilometers of hills. The head of the advance having gone about 300 meters, we began our march; but upon opening a gate that marks the boundary of "Rancho La Siberia," from the hill to the left, we were attacked by the bandits at a distance of about 200 meters. They let the advance pass without giving us time to take cover neither at the ranch nor at the hill to the right. We could only dismount and set the horses free, throwing ourselves behind a fence which served as a corral pin for goats, that is, a fence about 80 centimeters and branches from Hizache were the only protection from the enemy which was situated on a rocky hill. Little by little they began to approach us until they were some 80 meters distant.

We were fighting for some 15 or 20 minutes when I became aware that our rearguard (five men) not seeing the enemy, were advancing toward the rocky hillside where the enemy was entrenched. Without hesitating, I stood up behind the fence and shouted for them to come protecting themselves with the ranch fence, but the bandits were already shooting at them and they killed Mauricio Ambriz at 40 meters from their positions. But my companions, Agustin Rangel, Hilario Chavez, Juvencio Diaz, Miguel Paramo, Jose Ines Garcia and Pedro Guido did not permit them to get close to the weapon since they kept firing and the bandits were unaable to grab the 30-30.

Still shouting to my comrades to come to where we were, Juvencio Diaz, seeing the great danger I was in--I was completely without cover--gave me a blow to my calves that made me fall on my back. One of the drivers who ran away, arrived at the town informing [all] that I had died, since he had seen me fall. Meanwhile, a fraction of those that accompanied us regrouped at the "encinal" [evergreen oak] that was behind the battle scene and from there were shooting at the bandits who had us in the lower part or better said that the bullets from our comrades were passing over our heads [as they fired at the bandits], forcing the bandits to begin to retreat and stop firing at us. The ones that protected us from the hill behind us were: Aristeo Diaz, Genovevo Loeza, Juan Diaz, Epfanio Cahue and Antonio Alvarez.

The comrades that were at "Rancheria de Barreras" [Hacienda], from six in the morning, were firing from the "encinal" on the western side of the ranch. Nonetheless, upon being aware of the firing we were under and upon the arrival of our advance group who was fired upon by the bandits that attacked us, a group was organized to aid us comprised of Nicolas Manriques, Leopoldo Diaz, Epifanio Diaz and seven or perhaps ten; and cleared a path through the hill on the east. [Among those] coming to protect us were Epifanio, playing the clarin with "Fuego y Adelante" which made the bandits who were attacking us at our front to run, ceasing their battle with us.

Upon going to recover our horses, as reported, we had had to leave them to run setting free "los cabrestillos," and which had been held by Antonio, Juan Diaz, and Epifanio Cahue. Some 200 meters to the west from where we were fighting, we saw the party led by Feder Gonzalez taking cover with the "encinal," for which we stood "pie a tierra" firing while two made off with the horses. I gave the order that those who were on the road should take possession of the hill from where we had withstood the attack. Fortunately, our comrades were able to take the hill and from there were able to protect us, since there was a moment when the bandits were some 70 meters from us and Fidel was heard to say in his "atipiada" voice: "It's 'whitey' ('el guero') Diaz; rope him and bring him along to hang him."

But the protection given us by Hilario Chavez, Agustin Rangel and those that had gathered at the ranch ["Hacienda de Barreras"], forced Fidel [Gonzalez] to flee. Afterwards, we found out that the so-called General Bravo was the one that was shooting (with his people) at the ones that were at Barreras and that the brother of Chavez Garcia--Jose--was commissioned to ambush us near the "Rancho de Siberia." Fidel Gonzalez [was assigned] to attack our rearguard with his people. Fortunately, this last one arrived late otherwise it's possible I would not be alive to tell of this.

We picked up the body of Mauricio Ambriz and his arm [30-30 Winchester] and joined the main column heading for ["Hacienda de] Barreras," proceeding to pick up the cattle and load up the corn, leaving that place at 4:00 in the afternoon and arriving at the town at 8:00 in the evening. And we found great panic there, since it was said that the bandits had defeated us and they were awaiting an attack by the bandits during the night. For this reason, they had reinforced the battle stations ("retenes") especially at the tower ["Torre del Templo de San Jeronimo"] where Federico Diaz was in charge.

Upon learning of our triumph, their anxiety calmed down and they proceeded to hold a wake for the deceased Ambriz in the "parroquia" ["Templo de San Jeronimo"]. All the defenders kept vigil and they proceeded to bury him [Mauricio Ambriz] the following day.

The owners of the herds that were not neighbors of the town gave a reward of ten pesos for each head. Having collected close to 1,000 pesos, a part was given to the family of the deceased and the rest distributed among the defenders most in need; similarly, the corn and beans [that had been] recovered.

On the 28th of January, 1919, we learned that a new bandit by the name of Avalos with 15 or 20 men was operating near the vicinity of "Cerro de Los Amoles" and "Rancho de Los Amoles" and had been seen as far as "Rancho Chicho" in our jurisdiction. Upon receiving this news, Don Nicolas and 30 of the defenders who accompanied him left in pursuit and having dislodged them from ["Rancho] Chicho," we pursued them to "La Canada de La Vuelta" where reinforced by the bandits of Fidel Gonzalez, they lodged themselves on a hill. And because we had to cross a small plain ("llano") in order to dislodge them, we were unsuccessful at routing them out. In fact, they became stronger now settled in on a rocky hill ("penascal") and they were now about 40 men [strong].

Upon learning, in the town [of Huandacareo] that we were fighting in the direction of "Rancho del Jaripal," northeast of the town, a small troop was organized to aid us under the command of Luis Nunez M. with Benjamin Vargas as his assistant. But having gone out by way of road to "Villa Morelos," upon hearing a cessation of firing in "La Canada de La Vuelta" or "Mexiquillo", they turned back, arriving in the town at the same time we did.

On the 11th of February, 1919, at the request of General Jose L. Flores, we were ordered to leave to install in Chucandiro a small garrison under the command of one Captain Almanza. For that reason, Captain Luis Perez Gil, with his ten men, established himself at his "Rancho de Carucheo." With the 30 men of Almanza and ten (men) of Perez Gil, along with some of our people, we made excursions--three against Froylan Tena and Ramon Medina "La Media," at Santa Rita and Copandaro and two against Bravo at ["Hacienda de] Barreras." On another occasion, [we even ventured] to Teremendo in pursuit of a group of about 20 bandits who had attempted to attack the "Rancho de Carucheo" owned by Perez Gil.

On the 18th of February, 1919, again at the request of General Jose L. Flores, we went to Villa Morelos to meet up with one Lt. Felipe Hernandez, so that he might pass through the dangerous zone of "Las Canadas," whom we had to accompany even to Chucandiro where he was to reinforce the garrison with another 35 men.

On the 11th of March, our watch at the tower [torre del "Templo de San Jeronimo" at Huandacareo] communicated to us that a group of some 20 men were entering the "finca" (property) of the "Hacienda de Huandacareo" and as the head, Don Nicolas, was at his "Rancho de Cuaro" , at about 11:00 in the morning we left--some 20 or 30 defenders--to dislodge them from the "finca" (property).

It was General Bravo, himself, with his people, who upon becoming aware of our appraoch, left the Hacienda and began to shoot from the fence situated in front , as we arrived at "Arroyo Colorado." We continued advancing and minutes afterward, without giving them time to take all their horses--since they abandoned three and positioned themselves at the fence to the west of "La Cuadrilla" or better said the worker's township. Against my orders, three of my comrades jumped from the back border fence of the property with the intention of capturing the horses. One of them was wounded by the bandits at the thorax from 50 meters from the "gariton posterior," having had to go recover the man, Dociano Juarez ,"Cuatro Ojos" (four-eyes).

We were still fighting against the forces of Bravo, when Hilario Chavez arrived to reinforce us with another 20 men and with whom we could now dislodge the enemy and pursue them to the "cerro" more than two kilometers away. We returned to the town and immediately sent the wounded man to Morelia; he returned eight days later, well and requesting his weapon.

The 19th of March we became ware that there was a battle brewing toward the direction of "Las Canadas," and in the afternoon arrived, for the Head of the Defense, official notification from Colonel E. Garcia of the forces under the command of General Jose L. Flores, which advised that they had engaged in a battle with the rebel leaders--Bravo, Garcia Chavez (Jose) and Avalos between the "Canada de La Vuelta" and the "Cerro de Las Ventanas" completely destroying them and causing the aforesaid 30 dead and three prisoners. They had recovered 30 weapons and as many horses.

There might have been six or seven dead, since our spies, days ahead, had informed us that the three leaders and Fidel Gonzalez were at ["Hacienda de] Barreras" with more than 100 men and that Chavez Garcia--the brother of Ines Chavez Garcia, of whom nothing more was heard--was going to withdraw with 25 or 30 of his bandit-gang to "indultarse" [accept amnesty?] in the direction of Panindicuaro.

Fidel Gonzalez and Bravo continued operating in the region toward the direction of the ["Hacienda de] Barreras", "Las Canadas" and the region of the "Cerro de Los Amoles." And to rout them away from the area a hunting party was organized the 19th of May, putting us in contact with the detachment at Villa Morelos under Captain Juan Cortes; but the bandits retreated to the south of Chucandiro by way of Chiquimitio.

At the request of Capitan Manuel Ortega, of the forces of General Flores, the 3rd of July, we left to accompany him on a hunting party toward Teremendo, in pursuit of a leader, Miguel Hernandez, whom we chased up to a ranch in the vicinity of "La Cienega de Cantabria." Upon return, having been joined by the small detachment from ["Hacienda de] Carucheo" that Luis Perez Gil had in those parts, we climbed the "Cerro de la Leonera" and dislodged Fidel and the so-called General Bravo, who after that date left the region and according to what we heard, at the first part of August, [they] took amnesty and we heard no more of them until afterward, we heard in 1923 or 1924 that Fidel had died in a quarrel in the direction of Irapuato, where he had enlisted in the army to the grade of Captain.

Our last venture was to accompany Colonel Rafael Magana in a large raid on rebel forces that comprised the southern part of Guanajuato to Quiroga and from "Cerca de Coeneo" to Tarimbaro and San Bartolo. This roundup took place the 25th of August and was what to a certain extent brought an end to the rebel zones in [the state of] Michoacan, since they all surrendered or accepted amnesty. In this excursion participated Don Nicolas Nunez and 50 neighbors from Huandacareo.

Afterward, upon request of the Governor of the State [of Michoacan], Ing. Ortiz Rubio, I--along with 40 men--accompanied Colonel Teodoro Villegas to take the plaza at Moroleon in 1920 for the purpose of the Revolution Obregonista. On this occasion, the governor had failed to recognize the government of don Venustiano Carranza and had retreated to the south. But he returned to Morelia when Obregon acquired greater number of forces and from there invited us to affiliate ourselves with the band and asked that we accompany Villegas in his campaign to the north of the State [of Michoacan]. In fact, we were offered commissions in the army. From our parts, the only one to accept the offer was the Head of the Defenders at Cuitzeo, Enrique Gonzalez.

Being now at peace, since the dispersal of the bandit rebel gangs and since their acceptance of amnesty or retirement into civilian life; at the fiesta of the 16th of September in 1919, the entire town [of Huandacareo] assembled and it was agreed to request the Governor of the State [of Michoacan] to grant us autonomous municipality [status] independent from Cuitzeo.

Ing. Ortiz Rubio [Governor of the State of Michoacan], taking into account the great service done by Huandacareo citizens in the pacification of the entire zone, presented the initiative to the congress of the state, being approved with opposition from the district deputy, don Jose Tena Ortiz, who was a resident at Cuitzeo--although his parents were "Huandacarenses." The motions at Morelia before the Congress were done by Luis Nunez, Miguel Gazca, Hilario Chavez and Jose Socorro Diaz.