“MONSTROUS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS”: LAW ...

positioned the Ribeiro faction to gain from a colorado triumph. The Ribeiros, however, were
not alone in these efforts to secure colorado support. Canabarro, their rival, now equally
threw his weight behind Flores to gain influence. Canabarro funneled “munitions, men and
logistical support” to the colorados. 231 Canabarro’s support served two mutually reinforcing
purposes. First, he could use military assistance to continue his efforts to forge reciprocal
relationships that proved vital in protecting the property rights of his allies. Second, his
support equally ensured that the borderlands would remain commercially open and
integrated.
Canabarro also turned to his old allies from previous property disputes to ensure ties
with Flores. In his efforts to influence events in the Estado Oriental in his favor, Ylla in
particular offered Canabarro a powerful lieutenant. Eduardo Castellanos, the departmental
commander in Tacuarembó described Ylla’s participation in the 1863 colorado campaign in
vivid terms:
[G]iven that I have not been in the department since July of last year [1863],
I cannot say exactly which Brazilians resident there are currently in Flores’
ranks, but in service of the truth, I must state that up until the moment of my
departure, the only hacendado that took active part in the revolutionary
movement was D. Manuel Vicente [Y]lla. 232
Ylla’s marked prominence alongside Salto’s colorados represented another revolution in the
cycle of litigation of property rights, cross-border legal conflicts and violence. With the help
of Canabarro and his web of local colorado allies, Ylla reclaimed possession of Fernandez’s
tract in 1864. 233
231 Carneiro, A Identidade Inacabada, 92.
232 Uruguay, Documentos Oficiales, 28.
233 The Ribeiros’ colorado ally in Salto, Agustín Sañudo, continued efforts to displace Ylla
under the colorado government in the late 1860s. Eventually, Antasio Saldaña ordered Ylla to
vacate the property or face charges. For subsequent events regarding the ongoing dispute
between Ylla and the Jubim family over the land, see Casa de los herederos del finado Bernardino
Alves Noguiera Jubim, AGN-SJ. Salto. Penales (1869); Juzgado Ord. del Departamento al Sor. Gefe
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