which the constancy of the generals and the fortitude of the soldiers who remained faithful have rendered famous.
During the time which Rayon remained in Zacatecas, which was less than a month, he occupied himself with indefatigable industry in augmenting and drilling his forces. He made cannon and wagons; and all the resources of the place in clothing, munitions of war, and money were put in requisition. The rich mine of Quebradilla[1] was thrown open to all who chose to work, one third of the metal to go to the laborers. With this incentive, thousands toiled night and day, and a large amount of metal was secured.[2] As far as it was possible, Rayon also organized the government of the province, retaining in their offices all those employés who gave satisfactory guarantees of their adherence to the cause. Moreover, having convoked a general junta of the municipal corporations, he laid before them his plans for the establishment there of a provisional representative government of the nation, independent of Spain.
At the same time he sent a communication to Calleja, who was already on his march against him from San Luis Potosí. This address, which reached Calleja's hands at the hacienda of Carro, sets forth Rayon's explanation of the cause and object of the revolution. The treacherous imprisonment of the Spanish monarch, he states, was no impediment to the establishment of a junta central or of provincial
- ↑ The owners were Spaniards, the chief being Fermin de Apezechea, who had retired to Mexico. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 263.
- ↑ Rayon caused it to be coined. Although the coins were of inferior workmanship, they were preferred at Vera Cruz, their value being at the rate of nine reales to the peso fuerte. They bore the initials L. V. O., which according to Bustamante meant, Labor vincit omxia. Cuad. Hist., i. 217. Negrete suggests another interpretation of the letters, namely, Levantaos vivientes oprimidos. Mex. Sig. XIX., iv. 86.
however, deter one of his comrades from following his example, who being well covered with sacking sustained little injury. When the camp was taken, the first soldier, then at the point of death, asked if the shot which had been fired from his back had taken effect. Being answered in the affirmative, he exclaimed, 'Pues bien, ahora muero con gusto!' and soon after expired. Cuad. Hist., i. 205-6.
