CHAPTER XXIII.
FALL OF MORELOS.
1813-1814.
Morelos Marches against Valladolid — Calleja's Counter-movement — Repulse at the Gate of Zapote — Brilliant Charge by Iturbide — Defeat and Death of Matamoros — The Congress Asserts Itself — Armijo Overruns Tecpan Province — Galeana Falls — Maleadministration in Oajaca — Álvarez's Triumphant Entry — The Enchanted Mountain — Speculations with Convoys — Quarrel and Misconduct of Rayon and Rosains — Expedition against Zacatlan and Flight of Rayon — Manhunting in the Central Provinces.
Valladolid, the capital of Michoacan, had ever proved an attractive spot to the insurgents, by reason of its wealth, its central position, and the revolutionary spirit of the surrounding population. Similar motives stimulated the royalists to strive for its possession, when every other point in the province was lost, and after defeating the Rayons, they made the city again their headquarters for energetic operations against the remaining leaders, wresting from them nearly all the northern districts, as far as Zitácuaro.[1] Southward, however, the ranges offered a comparatively safe retreat for the insurgents, who could thence make their raids into the rich lowlands, and in case of need fall back into the Zacatula region, beyond which Morelos held absolute sway, as undisputed successor of Hidalgo.
So he undoubtedly regarded himself. Flushed with
- ↑ It was recovered in Sept. 1813, from Ramos and other leaders, who had there reëstablished powder factories. Gaz. Mex., 1813, iv. 1082-4. See for other minor operations, Id., 805-1350, passim; Hernandez y Davúlos, Col. Doc., v. 107 et seq.
