The Seeds of an Army: Felix Calleja and the creation of the Royalist forces of Potosi in 1810

Abstract

After the outbreak of the Dolores insurrection on September 16, 1810, Brigadier Felix Maria Calleja, military commander of San Luis Potosi, formed an expeditionary force composed of three provincial militia corps and over one thousand volunteers, organized into two new units. Calleja’s project had the support of most authorities and the different sectors of Potosi society; and despite the inherent shortcomings of the improvised militia contingent, Calleja was able to organize the best army possible at San Luis. After a month of training, the nearly 3,000-man force departed San Luis under the command of Manuel de Flon, Count of La Cadena, and, together with the troops from Mexico and Puebla formed the Army of the Center, the first force to confront and defeat the rebels led by Hidalgo and Allende. The rebel insurgency completely transformed the Potosi militias –units formed by fellow countrymen- with mostly peninsular officials that were converted into professional military men at the service of a majority of Creole officials.