Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/279

ceded his carriage, and military music entertained the company at his table and evening receptions, want of provisions and pasturage made his march slow; and his long straggling line, composed of soldiers, women, camp-followers, and hungry beggars, presented an array far from military in appearance.^[1] On the 5th of March he arrived at San Luis, which place had been in the power of Herrera until his approach.

During this time Cruz, who had left Guadalajara on the 26th of January, was successfully engaged in reducing the north-western portion of the province to subjection. On the 28th he entered Ahualulco, and there proclaimed the general pardon extended to all who returned to their allegiance.^[2] With regard to Mercado, he even intimated that he would restore his benefice to him if he would avail himself of it.^[3] As to whether it was the intention of Cruz to carry out to the letter these fair promises, I leave it to the reader to judge. Mercado had evidently no confidence in them. The disastrous news of the loss of the battle at Calderon did not deter him from making further efforts. He ordered the concentration of troops; issued a proclamation exhorting Americans to join his standard and fight for the cause of independence; and gave instructions to Captain Ibarra to scour the district and seize the funds and all available property belonging to Europeans. As Cruz approached, Mercado took up a strong position commanding the difficult pass at the barranca of Maninalco. But the royalist victory

and Venegas used to remark that 'Calleja corria con batidores toda la tierra dentro como si fuera un virey.' Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 105-9.

1. 'Pudiendo decirse que caminaban tres ejércitos á un tiempo, á saber: uno de soldados, otro de meretrices y perros, y otro de vivanderos, mendigos, y arrimados.' Id., 105.
2. The pardon was extended to the inhabitants of Nueva Galicia by the viceroy on the 31st of Dec. 1810. Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 315. The acceptance of the general pardon was vehemently protested against by the independent leaders, and proclamations were issued exhorting Mexicans not to avail themselves of it. Id., ii. 133-4.
3. Manuel Alvarez, a friend of Mercado's, writes to him to this effect, and strongly urges him to accept Cruz's clemency. The original document is in the possession of Hernandez y Dávalos. See his Col. Doc., i. 394.