Antonio Canales Rosillo (Monterrey, Nuevo León, 1802 – Camargo, Tamaulipas, 1852) was a 19th century politician, surveyor, and military officer.
Canales fought in the Apache wars in Mexico and under the many conservative attempts to control the Mexican national government of the 19th century. Canales was in discord with President Antonio López de Santa Anna's Centralist move against the Mexican Constitution of 1824.
He served as commander-in-chief of the army of the rebellion and, along with José María Jesús Carbajal, sought to establish the Republic of the Rio Grande during the short existence of that rebellion in 1840.[1]
After a portion of his army was captured, Canales eventually abandoned the cause of the rebellion and received a commission as Brigadier General in the Mexican Army.
In 1842, he led campaigns against the Texans at Corpus Christi, Texas and Lipantitlán near San Patricio, Texas and participated in capturing the Mier Expedition at Ciudad Mier.
Later, Canales badgered the United States troops stationed between Corpus Christi and Matamoros during the Mexican-American War. He participated in the battles at Resaca de Guerrero - Palo Alto. He served under General Pedro de Ampudia at Cerralvo, Nuevo Leon and under Santa Anna during the Battle of Buena Vista.[2]
He also participated in other rebellions under the patronage of the governor of Coahuila and later of Nuevo Leon, Vidaurri.
Some sources cite Canales as one the Mexican fillibusters.[3]