CHAPTER XVII.
RAYON PRESIDENT; MORELOS IN THE SOUTH.
1812.
President Rayon at Tlalpujahua — His Relations with the Villagranes — Royalist Successes on the North of Mexico — Affairs in Michoacan — Father Salto and his Execution — Venegas' Sanguinary Decree — Insurgent Priests Deprived of their Immunity — Episcopal Indifference — Excitement in Mexico — Second Anniversary of Independence Celebrated — Ramon Rayon's Profitable Movements — Attack against Ixmiquilpan a Failure — Rayon's Arrangements with Royalist Traders — Proposed Negotiations for Peace — Assault of Yanhuitlan — Siege of Huajuapan — Trujano's Brilliant Defence — Morelos Comes to the Rescue and Wins a Victory — Gates of Oajaca Opened to Him.
The president of the supreme junta, Ignacio Rayon, had meanwhile established his headquarters at Tlalpujahua, upon a hill called El Gallo, and fortified it. He raised troops, and extended his authority to the districts near and surrounding the province of Mexico, as well as to those on the east.[1] The town of Ixtlahuaca, to which the viceroy's sway extended, as before stated, became thus the frontier of the territory ruled over by Rayon from Tlalpujahua.
Having described the military operations which culminated with the restoration of the viceregal authority in the valley of Toluca and the regions near, as well as to the south-west of Mexico, I will now
- ↑ The Nadó hill, near Aculco, deemed impregnable, was further strengthened and a factory of arms established there. The president's four brothers greatly aided him. Ramon Lopez Rayon not only established another manufactory of arms in El Gallo, a position chosen by himself, at which many men were at work, but also constructed and set up a new war engine of his own invention. Mora, Revol Mex., iv. 419-20; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., ii. 199-201.
