Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/276

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260
HIDALGO'S CAPTURE AND DEATH.

after the delays which embarrassed his advance until he had crossed the Lerma, had hastened forward by forced marches to join Calleja. Personally these two commanders were unknown to each other, but although latent feelings of jealousy might exist, their meeting was cordial in the extreme. Nor did Cruz's seniority of rank as a brigadier interfere with an amicable arrangement as to their respective positions; he waived his right to take the chief command in favor of Calleja.[1] It was afterward agreed that each should retain command of his own division, and that Cruz should march at once to San Blas to recover possesion of that port, while Calleja remained in Guadalajara to reform the government.

On the 22d and 23d Calleja issued two proclamations: the one congratulating his troops upon their late victory and exhorting them to abstain from excesses; the other was addressed to the inhabitants of Nueva Galicia, and was of the usual tenor, containing threats of death in case of future disobedience, and to all caught with arms in their hands.[2] Moreover, he caused ten of the prisoners taken at Calderon to be shot as traitors.[3]

The late action taken by the audiencia and the ecclesiastical powers on the entrance of Hidalgo into Guadalajara was not likely to win favor for them in the eyes of the viceroy; and they now hastened to send to him protestations of fidelity and explanations of their conduct. The former expressed its unbounded joy at the late victory, and the restitution of its func-

  1. This action of Cruz was highly approved by the viceroy, who writes: ‘Con lo que ha dado V. S. la prueba mas convincente de su conducta, y de que nada ama tanto como el buen servicio del rey.' Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 137.
  2. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 345, 349-50; Gaz. de Mex., 1811, ii. 107-9.
  3. One of these, Simon Fletcher, was from the U. S. He was one of Hidalgo's captains of artillery, and had commanded a battery at Calderon. Although severely wounded, Calleja caused him to be taken from the hospital and shot. 'Era tal el deseo de Calleja de fusilar á alguno de los de aquella nacion que andaban fomentando la revolucion.' Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 154-5; Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 104. The latter gives the names of those executed. They were all shot with their backs to the firing platoons.