31 January 1811

Somehow I should say that all this is official.  The Rebel state of Darien has been born.  Yesterday I was talking with a council of Cuna leaders, here in the San Blass mountains with the confirmation that community leaders of several Cimarron and Indian villages in Chocó are supporting the revolution.

I have been expending my last week in this Cuna country.  I brought a draft of the constitution of the Free State of Darien that will be declared when the circumstances favor it and have present them to the representatives of the main Cuna communities.  The other commanders have done similar a similar labor in their areas.  Now too many people know... but the Spanish authorities, I hope, so there is no steep back.  We must either take this to the last results or been eventually prosecuted for rebellion... and I doubt the Spanish will be merciful with most of us.  Anyhow, with the support of the Cunas I was confirmed yesterday, we have at least a last resource.

The other important move I have done was to open two more camps, both outside Darien.  I have not receive confirmation yet but I am very hopeful on their success.  Comandante Francisco José, a Mestizo, was sent with an expedition to Sumapaz mountains, close to Santafé, for establishing a camp there and exploring a good corridor from Darien to the heart of New Granada.  Comandante Jesús María, a Mulatto, was sent to Catatumbo River, close to Maracaibo, with similar orders.  I expect to have good news from them when I return to Lower Atrato.  Fortunately my people are not afraid to cross rivers and mountains and marshals and swamps.  They are also commanded to seek support from local Indian groups and other non-mainstream communities.

I am also planning to send similar expeditions to Bluefields and to the Patía region... probably further South to Esmeraldas, but this should be done when I can grant a more powerful force.

But for the moment, I count with Darien and I am confident that things can be safely run from here.  I am still expecting some support from fellow uptimers and something have been said that I should go to New Orleans to justify that help.  This should be on March or April, so I expect that things can run in my absence...  well, they run.  Jorge Tadeo, José María and Prudencio are running things very well in their Camps much without my supervision.  My only real concern is that things start before we are ready.

In April I expect to get some uniforms, rifles, explosives and advisors.  I don't like too much that the advisors are British but this seem to be the best I can get.  So, even if my troops have good discipline and moral and are not afraid of running and walking on any terrain, real military skills are not very well developed.  I expect them to be in good shape to be a real menace to the Spanish by the end of the year.  But... the war between the U.S. of A. and Spain appears too close, and if it starts and is developing too quickly I expect that the Criollos in Cartagena and Caracas will make a movement when I am still not fully prepared.  Also, the smuggling routes between the U.S. of A. and New Granada would become jeopardized as both the U.S. Navy and the Barlovento Armada of Spain would be very careful to any threat.

I would like to go to Washington too, to get support from the U.S. of A. government, however I have been advised not to go.  This could be fine, actually as I could come back to Darien more quickly and being in front of the training and fighting.  Also, it would be easier for some Criollo to lobby in Washington and be heard.

Speaking on Criollos, I would like to know what are Caldas, Camacho and Pombo are doing in Cascadia.  Unlike Lozano (Comandante Jorge Tadeo), they have been preserved of this Darien adventure and I am not sure if they should know.  I see that they will have a good future in the government of a freed New Granada.  I expect that they learn something on the political situation and the intrigues between Don Francisco and James Dahl.

But the Darien is a fact that will either succeed or be crushed, but that exists.  Now I have to do my best for this to succeed.

-- Comandante Tomás
   San Blass Mountains
   Panamá, New Granada