Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/219

 MEXICO. 181 vice in the field, being provided mostly with rusty muskets, all without bayonets, and many without flints. The two parties met in the plains which divide the town of San Felipe from that of San Juan, and in eight minutes the action was decided. Colonel Young, at the head of Mina's infantry, advanced close to the enemy, gave them one volley, and then charged with the bayonet, while the cavalry, under Major Maylefer, (a Swiss, who was killed in the action,) after breaking that of the, enemy, turned upon the infantry, already in confusion, and actually cut them to pieces. Castandn him- self was killed, with three hundred and thirty -nine oiiis men; two hundred and twenty more were taken prisoners, and not above one hundred and fifty effected their escape. A more de- structive engagement (considering the smallness of the numbers on both sides,) is not perhaps on record. Castanon's division was annihilated, and its fate was celebrated by the exultation of the whole Baxio, which had so long groaned under the inexorable tyranny of its chief. Mina, after striking this blow, returned to Sombrero, from whence he again set out in a few days, on an expedition against the Hacienda of Jaral, accompanied by a small de- tachment. This Hacienda, of which a more particular des- cription will be found in another part of this work,* belonged to Don Juan Moncada, (Marques del Jaral, and Conde de San Mateo,) a Creole nobleman of immense wealth, but thought to be devoted to the Royal cause. His estate was forfeited, and garrisoned by a Royalist detachment, which, in conjunction with the number of his own immediate depen- dants and retainers, had preserved him from the incursions of the insurgents during the earlier stages of the Revolution : but the dread of Mina's name induced the Marquis to aban- don all idea of resistance upon his approach. He quitted his house, and fled with his escort to San Luis PotosT, while Mina occupied the Hacienda without opposition, and pro-
 * Fifife Personal Narrative, Book V.