heartily wished himself away from the infernal place, as he called it.[1] He little imagined what the enemy were doing. With all his vigilance he was deceived; nor did he know till more than two hours afterward that he was being outwitted, so skilfully had Morelos made his arrangements. Directing its course to the river, so silently did the column move, that unperceived it approached the earth-works running north ward from the Calvario redoubt, drove back the guard, and demolishing a part of the intrenchments advanced to the river, which was crossed by means of hurdles provided for the purpose.
But now the enemy was upon them. Llano's forces assailed them on the flank; their rear was attacked as the royalist troops rapidly came up. For a time the revolutionists sustained themselves under cover of the stone walls that surrounded the country haciendas, and for an hour a fierce contest raged. Out flanked at last, the order was given to disperse and fly,[2] but not before more than 800 had fallen. Morelos, after having two of his ribs crushed by falling with his horse into a ditch,[3] fled by way of Zacatepec to Ocuituco hotly pursued. Here, while changing horses, the enemy overtook him. To save their leader's life, those around him fought until they died, almost to a man,[4] and he escaped wellnigh alone. Pursuing his flight to Izúcar he there met Victor Bravo, and thence proceeded to Chautla. Here, in safety at last, he remained for a month, and unbroken in spirit,
- ↑ He wrote a letter to the viceroy that same morning at half-past four, in which he says: 'Conviene mucho que el ejército salga de este infernal pais,' and adds that his own health is such that if he does not attend to it at once all aid will be too late. Negrete, Mex. Sig. XIX., iv. 438-9.
- ↑ Ward says that this was done with such promptitude that the Spanish troops which were advancing from opposite directions fired upon each other before they discovered their mistake. Mex. in 1827, i. 199. Bustamante makes the same statement.
- ↑ He was saved by José María Franco, who assisted him out. Mex. Refut. Artic. Fondo, 13.
- ↑ 'Opusieron alguna resistencia á las nuestras con sacrificio de sus vidas que casi todos perdieron,' is Calleja's testimony to their self-sacrifice. Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 480-1.
