CHAPTER VIII.
PROGRESS OF THE REVOLUTION.
1810.
Calleja's Preparations — His Biography — Engagement at Querétaro — Calleja Joins Forces with Flon — Chavez Repulsed at Querétaro — Calleja's Movements — The Dispersion of the Insurgents at Aculco — Calleja Returns to Querétaro — Character of Torres — Defensive Measures of Abarca in Jalisco — Insurgent Operations in Jalisco — Engagement at La Barca — The Royalists Defeated at Zacoalco — Guadalajara Surrenders to Torres — Mercado Gains Possession of San Blas — Revolution in Zacatecas — Flight of the Europeans — An Unfortunate Intendente — Iriarte enters Zacatecas — The Commission of Doctor Cos — A Daring Scheme — San Luis Potosi Won by an Insurgent Friar — A Treacherous Visitor — San Luis Sacked.
While the events narrated in the two preceding chapters were taking place, Calleja in San Luis Potosi was making preparations, with extraordinary activity, to take the field; but at the same time with that avoidance of unprofitable haste which characterized all his movements.[1] The comandante of San Luis was first apprised of the occurrences at Dolores on the 19th of September. He had a few days before received warning of Hidalgo's meditated insurrection, through information supplied to him by José Gabriel de Armijo, and conveyed through the subdelegado Pedro García. At that time he was at the hacienda de Bledos, a property belonging to his wife. While returning to San Luis he narrowly escaped capture by a troop of horsemen sent by Hidalgo to make him
- ↑ Abad y Queipo, in his report to Fernando VII. in 1815, says of Calleja: 'Siempre obro con lentitud, dando mucho lugar á los enemigos para aumentar sus reuniones y defensas.' Informe, in Zamacois, Hist. Mej., ix. 871.
