in different groups were far in advance of the main body,[1] the artillery being slowly dragged along in the rear.
Fray Pedro Bustamante with five soldiers was the first to approach. Passing through files drawn up by Elizondo to receive the chiefs, they were saluted and unsuspiciously continued their way till they arrived at the ambush in the rear, where they were compelled to surrender. Then followed a troop of sixty men, who were similarly made captive and safely bound. Hitherto no opposition was met. Presently the first carriage arrived, escorted by about a dozen soldiers.[2] These attempted to resist, but were overpowered, and three of them killed. And thus fell into Elizondo's hands the occupants of carriage after carriage, till all the chiefs were captured with the exception of Hidalgo, who was far in the rear. Allende, however, had not yielded without a struggle. Elizondo called upon him to surrender. "Traitor!" cried Allende, and fired. But the shot was without effect. Elizondo then ordered his men to fire into the carriage. Allende was accompanied by one of his sons, who was a lieutenant-general; also by Jimenez and Arias. By the discharge his son was shot dead and Arias mortally wounded.[3] Thereupon Jimenez surrendered himself, and Allende was overpowered. Both were securely bound and conveyed to the rear. The last to arrive was Hidalgo, who might still have escaped had any suspicion of these occurrences been excited; but even the firing created no alarm. When called upon to surrender, the stout old hero prepared to defend himself, pistol in hand; but his escort, composed
- ↑ This order of march had been suggested by Elizondo. He had sent to Jimenez a soldier of Monclova, named Pedro Bernal, who said that on account of the scarcity of water it would be better for the carriages and all the principal officers to go well in advance of the main body. If all marched together the supply in the wells would be quickly exhausted, while by this arrangement the wells would be replenished by the time those in the rear came up. Jimenez replied: 'Pues bien, así lo haré, me parece muy bien lo que vd. dice.' Relacion, in Hernandez y Dávalos, Col. Doc., ii. 417.
- ↑ It was occupied by women. Cavillo, Sermon, 144.
- ↑ He died a few hours afterward. Ib.; Negrete, Mex. Sig. XIX., iii. 146.
