A rumor of what was transpiring had, however, spread, and a number of the populace assembled before the cura's gate, ready to take part in the enterprise. Weapons, which had been secretly made and hidden, were now brought out, and Hidalgo distributed them with his own hand. The first step taken was to secure the person of Padre Bustamante, the sacristan mayor of the parish, who was a Spaniard. Hidalgo then addressed a few animating words to those assembled, raising in loud voice as he concluded the cry, "Viva Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe! Viva la independencia!"
The revolutionists now sallied forth,[1] and having first liberated the prisoners in the town jail,[2] thus swelling their numbers, they made captive the principal Spaniards.[3] Dawn was now approaching. It was Sunday. Hidalgo caused the church bell which summoned his flock to mass to be rung at an earlier hour than usual. The townspeople came forward and gathered in groups before the church door, and from the neighboring haciendas countrymen on foot and mounted were seen flocking in and congregating in
- ↑ Accounts differ as to their number. Sotelo gives a list of twenty-one names, without including any of the leaders and others whose names were not known. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 330. Negrete supplies a list of 43 names, only two of which appear in that of Sotelo. Hist. Mil. Sig. XIX., i. 134-5. The number in all must have been far in excess of that given by many Mexican historians, the smallness of which is incompatible with the success attained. Alaman states that Hidalgo, supported by his brother Maríano, José Santos Villa, Allende, Aldama, and ten armed men whom he retained in his house, 15 in all, proceeded to execute the design of seizing the Spanish residents. Hist. Mej., i. 375. Liceaga maintains that there were only ten engaged in the undertaking. Rectific. y Adic., 53. Mora, who incorrectly mentions Abasolo as being present, as also does Negrete in his list, says: 'Con diez hombres pues, de los cuales cinco eran forzados, se procedió a prender los Españoles del lugar.' Mej. y sus Rev., 20. Guerra's statement that Allende left San Miguel with 50 soldiers of his company on the 13th of September for Dolores, and increased his force to 800 men on his march by de claring that he was going to liberate the corregidor Dominguez, is utterly at variance with facts.
- ↑ Liceaga disputes this fact, but the evidence is conclusive. Consult Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., i. 17, 40; ii. 323.
- ↑ On page 55 of his Adic. y Rectific., Liceaga gives a list of 13 names of Spaniards made prisoners. Bustamante states that only seven were seized. Cuad. Hist., i. 22. Alaman says the number was seventeen. Hist. Mej., i. 376-7.
