University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1988 Felipe Angeles| Military intellectual of the Mexican Revolution, 1913--1915 Ronald E. Craig The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Craig, Ronald E., "Felipe Angeles| Military intellectual of the Mexican Revolution, 1913--1915" (1988). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 2333. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/2333 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT IN WHICH COPYRIGHT SUBSISTS, ANY FURTHER REPRINTING OF ITS CONTENTS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE AUTHOR, MANSFIELD LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA DATE198ft FELIPE ANGELES: MILITARY INTELLECTUAL OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION 1913-1915 by Ronald E. Craig B.A., University of Montana, 1985 Presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts University of Montana 1988 Chairman^ Bagprd—of—Examiners Dean, Graduate School / & t / Date UMI Number: EP36373 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI' OtssMsetswion PuMsMfifl UMI EP36373 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest* ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Copyright 1988 Ronald E. Craig All Rights Reserved Craig, Ronald E., M.A., June 1988 History Felipe Angeles: Military Intellectual of the Mexican Revolution (181 pp.) Director: Manuel A. Machado, J This thesis examines the role of Felipe Angeles in the Mexican Revolution through his contradictory character traits and partnership with Francisco Villa. The basis of the inspection originates from and is guided by his two distinctive and occasionally contradictory characteristics: Angeles the soldier and Angeles the intellectual. Analysis of his relationship with the outlaw-general, Francisco Villa, exposes an unorthodox association of opposite yet complementary personalities and explains the intricate dilemma faced by Felipe Angeles. The study incorporated information in English and Spanish, first searching Angeles' writings and diary excerpts for the personality inside the person. From that understanding it progressed to an inspection of his activities, viewpoints, and role in history. To discern his historical role, eye-witness comments, personal accounts, official reports, and historic accounts were examined and compared. The results of the investigation and analysis exposed a multi-faceted man who adhered to a fundamental value system and moral code. An intelligent, unassuming man emerged who used the weapons of reason and logic in an emotionally charged atmosphere of revolution. His role in that chaotic historical event was subtle and difficult to disclose, yet profound and visionary. The results exposed Felipe Angeles as one of the few truly virtuous leaders of the Mexican Revolution. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF MAPS iv THESIS STATEMENT v THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION ix PREFACE xiii TABLE xviii CHAPTER I-The Reluctant Rebel 1 CHAPTER I ENDNOTES 21 CHAPTER II-The Master of Artillery 24 CHAPTER II ENDNOTES 48 CHAPTER III-The Deserts And Mountains 51 CHAPTER III ENDNOTES 72 CHAPTER IV-Disobedience Of The Generals 75 CHAPTER IV ENDNOTES 100 CHAPTER V-General Of The Army 103 CHAPTER V ENDNOTES 129 CHAPTER VI-The Division Of The North 134 CHAPTER VI ENDNOTES 163 CONCLUSION 168 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 178 iii LIST OF MAPS aji Name of Map Between Pages 1 Railroads-Northern Mexico 28-29 2 Railroads in the area of 28-29 Torreon 3 Gomez Palacio 32-33 4 Torreon 39-40 5 San Pedro de las Colonias 52-53 .6 Paredon 66-67 7 Three Routes 83-84 8 Zacatecas (Two Parts) 90-91 9 Monterrey Area- 1915 121-122 10 Northeast Campaign 124-125 11 Celaya-Leon , , . ,,145-146 12 Battlefield of Leon 152-153 iv THESIS STATEMENT Felipe Angeles was a military intellectual, which is a contradiction in principles and purpose. As a soldier he was expected to act according to the dictates of military psychology which was based on a national perspective and controlled by rules, regulations and a system of rewards. As a member of the military he was also expected to evaluate and consider things from a perspective of black and white or good and bad. Yet, as an intellectual he perceived a universal relationship and meaning. He utilised a creative mental process that was dictated by logic and reason, through which he questioned, examined, and refused to blindly accept assertions of facts. As an intellectual the appearance of black and white dissolved into gray with truth and reality becoming relative to the situation. Angeles was a composite of the two contradictory concepts and had the unique ability to balance their prinicples and perspectives. He used the intellectual skills of an organized mind and his military knowledge to command soldiers in war, yet retained humane motives and a peaceful purpose. While other people fought because of hatreds and vengeance, Angeles approached events of the times, his actions, and the war with a philosophical v perspective. The sources of information concerning the life of Felipe Angeles are rare and dispersed. Only two authors attempted to write biographies, and they were extremely biased. In his books, Feline Angeles. Federal and Lugarteniente Gris de Pancho Villa (Felipe Angeles). Bernardino Mena Brito created a literary trial in which he accused Angeles of multiple conspiracies. Using actual historical events, Mena Brito made assumptions and twisted the facts to serve his purpose which was to defame and degrade Angeles. If a person considers the bias of the author in reading the books, parts of the truth shine through. The other author who wrote a biography was Federico Cervantes, who served on General Angeles' staff during part of the Revolution. His book Felipe Angeles en la Revolution is apparently biased in favor of Angeles but not to the opposite extremes of those of Mena Brito. Although he portrays the general in a better light, faults are exposed. Glimpses into the personal side of Angeles are revealed in the numerous pages of the interrogation of Angeles during his trial in 1919 and Cervantes' visit to the general's cell. The other major source which includes information on Angeles is Martin Luis Guzman's Memoirs of Pancho Villa Because it is a personal account of the Revolution, it is also inaccurate and tainted. Villa's greatness and humble vi actions are exaggerated along with his knowledge of principles of military warfare. Yet, with all of its faults the book exposes the relationship that existed between Angeles and Villa, and many of Angeles' activities and attitudes. The primary book used to trace the battles of 1914 was Miguel A. Sanchez Lamego's Historia Militar De La Revolucion Constitucionalist-a: Tercera Parte, Las. Qperaciones Finales v El Triumfa De La Revolucion. Tomo V. Sanchez Lamego utilised accounts and reports from both the revolutionary army and federal army in his narrative of the movements and combat cited in the book, and presented it in an objective manner. The extensive Records q± the Department ol State relating to the Internal Affairs of Mexico 1910-1929 were extremely helpful, although many of the messages sent by agents were inaccurate or simply false. Often the reports made by field agents in Mexico during the Revolution were based on rumors or assumptions, and later corrected by them or other agents. Although it is an invaluable tool in researching the Mexican Revolution, discretion is necessary. The most revealing and personal sources were the two accounts written by Felipe Angeles himself. In the Description de la Batalla de Zaeatecas and Justification <ie la desobediencia de los generales de la Division del Norte vii Angeles exposed not only some of his feelings toward the war but his thought processes and the complexity of his personality. Besides the sources already mentioned, numerous others were necessary to fill in the picture. In order to better understand the complexity of artillery, the author referred to a number of books including the Text Book of Ordnance and Gunnery. Barrage: The Guns in Action, and Heavy (Coast.) Artillery Orientation- Napoleon and Modern War: His Military Maxims was utilised because Angeles attended numerous French military schools that taught Napoleon's principles of warfare; and many of Angeles' battle tactics corresponded to those maxims. As with other historical papers, this thesis is a composite of information from .various sources... The search for information and sifting of the facts has been a stimulating ordeal but one of pleasure. My thanks to Professor Manuel Machado for stimulating my interest in Mexican History and directing my efforts in this expedition. viii THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was not one continuous movement but a series of internal wars consisting of revolution, counter-revolution, rebellion, revolt, and civil war. The beginning of the Revolution was a movement against the regime of President Porfirio Dfas in Novemeber 1910. Diaz ruled Mexico from 1876 to 1911 with a policy of Pan 0 Palo (Bread or Club).