Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/158

 122 MEXICO. as the Europeans were the only obstacles to this, it was necessary to banish them from the kingdom and to confiscate their property; but that, if the Spaniards at Guanajuato would submit without opposition, their persons should be re- spected, and they should be conveyed to the coast uninjured." The Intendant's answer was moderate, but firm ; and as it afforded no prospect of any capitulation, Hidalgo's troops immediately marched to the attack. The number of those who had flocked to his standard in the course of twelve days is estimated at 20,000 ; but they were principally Indians, armed with slings, bows and clubs, lances, and machetes; very few had muskets, and, on the whole, nothing could form a greater contrast than the appear- ance of this motley crew, when compared with that of the regiment of La Reina, which, together with a part of the infantry of Celaya, had joined Hidalgo, on his march to Guanajuato. The Alhondiga was surrounded by a number of little emi- nences, which were immediately occupied by swarms of slingers, who kept up such a constant shower of stones that the Europeans could hardly appear upon the fortifications. The musketry, however, from the fort did great execution, as every ball took effect amongst the crowds with which the streets were filled. But the whole population of the town having joined the Insurgents, such numbers pressed on to the attack, that they at last carried every thing before them. Their progress was checked for a moment by some shells, which the Intendant had invented by filling some of the iron flasks, in which the quicksilver is contained, with gunpowder, and boring a hole for a match; but confusion soon ensued amongst the besieged, and resistance was given up as hopeless, the great gate having been forced, and the Intendant himself killed by a ball, which struck him on the temple. The number of Whites who perished in, and after, the ac- tion, is not exactly known. I use the term ' Whites,'' because