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268 sequel we should judge that they could not, for destruction falls quickly upon them.

From Zacatecas Allende decided to retire with his forces to Saltillo, where, united with Jimenez, his position would be more secure than elsewhere. At this time a royalist force under the command of Melgares was threatening to attack Saltillo; and Allende having received a letter from Jimenez dated the 17th of February, hastened to his assistance with a portion of his forces, leaving Hidalgo at Matehuala. Jimenez, however, had already engaged with the enemy and defeated them when Allende arrived. The Europeans who fell into his power were put to death.

The situation of the revolutionary leaders, however, daily became more desperate. Of all the host routed at Calderon only an insignificant number followed their chiefs, and the whole force that could be mustered at Saltillo did not exceed four or five thousand ill-armed men. Allende had hardly marched out of Zacatecas when it was assaulted and taken by Captain Ochoa, and Calleja shortly afterward entered San Luis Potosí. Under these circumstances further action here would be useless. But they would not abandon the cause. The northern provinces were still in the hands of the independents, as they supposed, and they would go to the United States with their treasures, purchase weapons there, and solicit aid of that new and patriotic republic. Then they would return and meet the royalists in the field with