otherwise tractable people.[1] His own act in taking away nearly all the mules and horses required for agriculture, the interruption of communications, the circulation of copper money which had been introduced, and the effects of the change on his occupation of the capital, had all assisted toward ruin.[2] The appointment of Rayon to the command had been made partly in view to remedy the evil; but he was unknown in the province, and without influence or interest.[3] He did not advance farther than Huajuapan, sending thence San Martin and other agents to organize forces, collect means at Oajaca, and correct abuses;[4] measures which were nullified partly by partisans of Morelos, hostile to Rayon, but mainly by the sudden advance of the royalists.
The conquest of Oajaca, as a complement of Armijo's operations, was intrusted to Colonel Melchor Álvarez,[5] who set out from Tepeaca after the 10th of March, with over 1,000 men. Colonel Hevia accompanied him as far as Huajuapan, there to remain in observation, and to pursue the feeble force collected by Rayon and Rocha. Álvarez marched unmolested to Oajaca, which opened its gates with ovations
- ↑ The canons Moreno and Bazo having shown strong royalist proclivities, Morelos sent Velasco to exile them. They went to enlighten the viceroy on the true condition of affairs. Velasco remained with the Mariscal Anaya, to create disorder by their shameless and pompous conduct. Brigadier Montezuma, left in charge by Commander Rocha, showed himself a dissipated gambler. Bustamante had vainly urged the congress to make Oajaca its seat and capital, as more secure, open to foreign intercourse, etc. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 50. He even proceeded to it in January, thinking that the deputies would follow. Not. Biog., 10-19.
- ↑ Murguía in framing this report, sent in by Alvarez in April 1814, admits that the insurgents had not otherwise been exacting with levies and contributions. Gaz. de Mex., 1814, v. 555-60; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., iii. 16-19.
- ↑ Morelos disliked the appointment, and Rosains proclaimed against it in his Justa Repulsa. See also Diario de Rayon, 650; Teran, Manif., 5. Rocha recognized Rayon.
- ↑ Velasco was arrested after some trouble, but escaped to join the royalists and publish a rabid denunciation of his late comrades. Text in Gaz. de Mex., 1814, v. 472-6. Vicario-general San Martin was sent to represent him, and Teran to organize troops. See the different instructions in Diario de Rayon, 651-3; and Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., v. 299-301.
- ↑ Subordinate to Brigadier Diaz de Ortega of Puebla. See proclamation in Gaz. de Mex., 1814, v. 289-90, 408.
