Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/197

Rh within close range. Trujillo now opened fire with grape and canister from his masked batteries with such deadly effect upon the crowded masses in front, that they were soon thrown into confusion and driven back, causing some disturbance to the disciplined troops. These, however, held their ground, and replied with their artillery, while a brisk fire was maintained all along the fronts, with no little loss on both sides, the insurgents suffering most. Trujillo, perceiving that he could hold the enemy's centre in check, now ordered Bringas to engage their right wing, and sent a detachment of three companies of the Tres Villas infantry under the command of Iturbide to occupy an almost inaccessible height covered with pine trees, at a considerable distance on his right flank.

Bringas now charged with great impetuosity, and engaged with the 1,200 picked men opposed to him. The contest was long and fierce, but eventually terminated in favor of the insurgents. These, encouraged by the bravery and example of Aldama and Malo, who commanded in person in that part of the field, maintained their ground with unflinching firmness, in spite of the heavy loss inflicted by the loyalists; but it was not until Bringas fell mortally wounded that they succeeded in repulsing his troops. Nor was Trujillo more successful in his manoeuvre on the right. Allende also had marked the importance of the position which Iturbide had been sent to occupy, and, unnoticed by the royalists, had already proceeded in person with 300 of the infantry and one piece of artillery to take possession of it, approaching unseen