Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/140

124 de la Vega and Chamacuero, he moved toward Celaya, and approached the town on the evening of the 19th. The officers in command of the troops stationed there, deeming resistance useless, retired at night with some companions of the provincial regiment to Querétaro, accompanied by the European residents. On the night of the 19th, Hidalgo and Allende conjointly addressed a letter to the ayuntamiento, summoning the town to surrender, and threatening to put to death

their prisoners to the number of seventy-eight if opposition was offered.