ready to scale the walls, Velez saw that even if he succeeded in repelling the assault Morelos would surely set fire to the mine as soon as his own men were out of the way. Indeed, he wondered why it had not been done before. In this strait he asked for a parley, and proposed to capitulate if the honors of war were granted. Morelos acceded, Vouchsafing even more liberal terms; and on the 20th the independent standard of Mexico waved over the castle of San Diego de Acapulco.[1]
Morelos tendered Velez, who was a native of Córdoba, a position in his army, which being declined, the former told him that his fidelity would be ill requited by the Spanish government; this was indeed true, as an order had been issued, before news of the surrender reached Mexico, appointing the naval lieutenant Jacobo Murphy to supersede him, under the pretext of allowing him needed rest, and instructing Velez to proceed to San Blas and Guadalajara. Velez was subsequently tried, at his own request, by court-martial, and was not honorably acquitted till after his death.[2]
We have seen that the royalists were so harassed that they were unable to send any relief to Acapulco. The present was in fact their most critical period since the beginning of the revolution. Yet this success was
- ↑ The result of this victory was the capture of 407 muskets, 50 sabres, 35 machetes, 145 lances, 50 boxes of powder, 80 pieces of artillery of the calibres from 4 to 36, two 12-inch mortars, 20,000 cannon-balls, flags, provisions, and dry goods, besides about 200 prisoners. The terms of the written capitulation were in eight articles, the first of which called for forgetfulness and forgiveness of the past, forbidding all abuse or insult. The prisoners who were officers or natives of Spain were allowed passports to go where they liked, not within the enemy's lines, on giving their parole not to take up arms again in the royalist service. The native-born were mustered into Morelos' army. Passports were accordingly issued to Velez, the paymaster, his wife and children, the chaplain, 2 captains, 5 subalterns, 2 merchants and their families, and about 9 others. The terms were made public by Morelos on the 25th of August. They were first printed in the Correo Americano del Sur, 1813, no. 30, 235; Alaman, Hist. Méj., iii. app. 53-5; Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 113-14; Negrete, Mex. Siglo XIX., v. 383-505. See also Morelos' Decl., in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., vi. 27-9; Velez' Decl. and Official Despatch, in Id., 100-19, 130-8, 161-89.
- ↑ The day following the capitulation the officers of both parties dined together, when Morelos gave the toast 'Viva España! but España as a sister, not as a ruler over America.' Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 173.
