of 500 men from the capital to the assistance of the besieged. Porlier, on the arrival of this detachment, assumed the offensive, and drove the insurgents from their positions with the loss of their artillery, arms, and ammunition. Of 100 Indians taken prisoners all were drawn up in file and shot, except one who was dismissed to bear the tidings to his countrymen.[1]
The viceroy now peremptorily ordered Calleja to march against Zitácuaro.[2] Calleja, aware of the peril in which Guanajuato would be placed by his departure, was nevertheless compelled to obey these instructions, and unwillingly left that city on the 11th of November, having been frustrated in his attempts to provide for the safety of the province by arrangements with Arredondo and Cruz, who, indeed, were fully occupied in protecting their own territories. Thus abandoned to its own resources of defence, the city of Guanajuato lay exposed to the attack of numerous bands of guerrillas who gathered round as soon as Calleja was out of sight. On the 26th that indefatigable chief Albino García occupied the hill of San Miguel with some 12,000 men, and opened fire on the city. An attempt made by a party of royalists to capture the enemy's cannon by assailing their rear failed, nearly every man being killed; and the insurgents, taking advantage of their success, pushed forward into the town, and attacked the plaza. Here, however, they lost a cannon which they had placed in the plazuela of San Diego, and Albino García, aware that reinforcements were approaching from Leon and Silao to the relief of the besieged, hurriedly with drew to the hacienda of Cuevas, where a great number of his followers dispersed.[3] But although the insurgents failed in their attempts against the capital
- ↑ Gaz. de Mex., 1811, ii. 957-60, 977-80, 1006-10; Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 392.
- ↑ The despatch of Venegas was concluded in such terms as to cause Calleja additional offence. Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 132-3.
- ↑ Id., Cuad. Hist., i. 424-7; Hernandez y Dávalos, Col Doc., iii. 447-9. Cruz had, moreover, instructed Captain Angel Linares, then at Lagos, to hold himself in readiness to assist Guanajuato. Id., iii. 429-30.
