and Victoriano Maldonado, an Indian of great resolution and intelligence. From Tlapa he inarched to Chautla de la Sal, where Mateo Musitú, a rich Spaniard, had organized and armed at his own expense a considerable force, fortifying himself in a strong building which had formerly been the convent of the Augustinians. Morelos, however, despite the vigorous defence made, carried the place by storm, and captured Musitú and 200 of his men. Although Musitú offered fifty thousand dollars for his life, he was treated with the severity dealt to belligerents, and shot with other Spaniards who were taken prisoners with him.[1]
At Chautla, Morelos divided his force into three divisions, one of which he placed under the command of Miguel Bravo, with instructions to march against Oajaca; with the second Galeana was sent to attack Tasco; at the head of the remaining division Morelos advanced to Izúcar, which he entered on the 10th of December without opposition, and was there joined by Mariano Matamoros, the acting cura of Jantetelco, who afterward figured as a prominent revolutionary chief. On the 17th, however, he was attacked by a force of over 500 men under the command of Miguel de Soto y Maceda, a lieutenant of the navy, sent against him by Llano who, in recognition of his ser-
- ↑ Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 429-30; Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 382. Morelos while here attached to his service José" Manuel de Herrera, cura of Huamuxtitlan, who was found secreted in the church and brought before him overwhelmed with terror. Morelos appeased his fears, and he was afterward admitted into his closest confidence, and made a chaplain of his army. Cavo says: 'Este es el famoso Ministro de relaciones de Iturbide, que tanto daño hizo á la nacion.' Ib.
Campillo is dated Zitácuaro, October 10, 1811, that of Morelos, Tlapa, Nov. 24, 1811. The latter chief, irritated perhaps by the upbraiding tone and somewhat acrimonious style of the bishop's letter, forwarded to him a sarcastic note which he had appended to two letters received by him from the curas of Tixtla and Chilapa relative to the protection of their flocks from abuses by insurgents! The following is a translation of the document: 'Tlapa, Nov. 24, 1811. I certify in due form that those curas of the people who have declared in favor of the gachupines can kill and perform their religious functions without being liable to the charge of irregularity and to excommunication, and that only the cura Morelos and the other American curas will be considered irregular, excommunicated, etc. Let the original be remitted to the bishop of Puebla for his information. Morelos.' Id., 97-8.
