Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/642

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CHAPTER XXVI.

LAST CAMPAIGNS UNDER CALLEJA.

1815-1816.

Effect of Morelos' Fall — Respective Strength of Insurgents and Royalists — Intrigues and Overthrow of Rosains — He Joins the Enemy — Teran Rises in Fame and Influence — Arrival of the Congress at Tehuacan — It is Forcibly Dissolved — The Goazacoalco Expedition — First Naval Victory for the Mexican Flag — The Mounted Raiders of Apam Plains — Osorno's Last Campaign — The Convoy Service in Vera Cruz — Miyares' Measures for its Protection — Operations under Victoria and his Associates — Bravo and Guerrero on the South Coast.

The termination of Morelos' career, which to the royalists appeared so great a blow, was after all the fall of only one among the leaders. The late generalissimo might have accomplished much good had he been allowed to raise his voice in the south, where none stood so high as he, or had he been sent to promote harmony along the gulf coast; but in Michoacan, under the thumb of the congress, his influence counted little. The disaster at Tezmalaca was hardly felt beyond the Zacatula. Teran controlled, in the region of Tehuacan, about 2,000 well armed and disciplined men, and had a certain influence in Mizteca, where Sesma and Guerrero also commanded perhaps 1,000 mountaineers. He was, moreover, recognized by some chiefs in Vera Cruz province, although here Victoria claimed to be the leading spirit, with nearly 2,000 men, most of them mounted rancheros, intent mainly on spoils and adventure. Osorno had a similar and more united force of about 1,000, with a few scattered bands