who claimed to be intendente of San Luis Potosí, Moreno, Lúcas Flores, the famous Pachon Ortiz, and above all, Father Torres,[1] who had now assumed the foremost place in the revolution. They were even bold enough to propose an attack on Guanajuato it self, cheered by a profitable raid made upon it in August 1815, for which Iturbide was severely blamed.[2] After his arraignment at Mexico in April 1816, and renunciation of the command, his second, Orrantia,[3] took charge till Apodaca appointed Colonel Ordoñez, who had so ably guarded the high road to Mexico. He gave fresh chase to the insurgent bands, and captured, on March 10, 1817, the stronghold known as Mesa de los Caballos, near San Felipe, after a vigorous resistance, slaughtering every occupant.[4] Another sweep was made along the eastern line of Querétaro by the three divisions of Villasefior, Torre, and Casanova, of which the former took Cerro de la Faja, held by Tobar, who was soon after caught and shot.[5]
- ↑ Several of them combined in Feb. 1816, with a force of fully 1,500 men, but were dispersed by Iturbide before the intended movement could be effected.
- ↑ Among the preceding operations may be noticed a victory in October 1814 over the Zacatecas border troops, in Pinos district, by Rosas and Ortiz, and a defeat on July 24, 1815, at Rincon de Ortega, by Orrantia and Castañon of the same leaders, assisted by Rosales and Moreno. The insurgents lost a great number, including Rosas, who was executed. He had been a sergeant at Guanajuato, and connected from the first with the revolution. Francisco Rayon met a similar fate soon after. Orrantia received a colonelcy for his success. Ortiz was again routed on Sept. 12th, at Dolores, and his 300 men dispersed. His comrades gained an advantage near Celaya in the following month, whereupon Iturbide shot several of his men for yielding.
- ↑ Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., iii. 199, refers to him as looked upon with mingled hatred and disgust by Americans, and this caused him to leave for Spain in 1821. A cruel man, without education and principle, says Robinson. Mem.,i. 202.
- ↑ The place, known also as San Miguel, was an elevation of about two leagues in circumference, well provided with water and timber. Ortiz, Nuñez, and Carmona held out here, and are said to have lost 250 men. Gaz. de Méj. , 1817, viii. 456; while Bustamante, Cuadro, iv. 298-302, assumes that the royalists lost 303 out of nearly 1,700 engaged. For further details on this and preceding operations in Guanajuato, see Gaz. de Mex., 1815-16, passim; Notlcioso Gen., Id.; Liceaga, Adic. y Rectific., 262-70; Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 311-12; Mégico, Bosquejo, 22-39. Colonel Álvarez, who kept the south east corner in disorder, was caught and shot in April 1817.
- ↑ Faja fell Dec. 17, 1816. Several leaders now surrendered, among them colonels Gonzalez and Vargas, the latter aiding in a campaign through Sierra
