Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/285

Rh equal arms and superior numbers. Delusive dreams! Far different was the fate in store for them. Already death had them in its horrible toils.

About this time Hidalgo received a letter from Cruz, enclosing a copy of the general pardon extended to insurgents by the Spanish córtes, and exhorting him to accept the clemency offered, and avoid the further shedding of blood. But this was not for a moment to be thought of, and for two reasons: Hidalgo would not trust him or his promises, and he would never abandon the cause. Let him now recant, and what hope would there be for another? Perhaps his death would better serve the revolution than any action of his while living; if so, he would cheerfully die. He therefore not only emphatically declined to accept the present offer, but kept the matter secret among the leaders.

Previous to the arrival of Calleja at San Luis Potosí, that city had been held by the insurgents under the leadership of Herrera. By directions of Iriarte, he had successfully attacked two royalist officers, Reyes and Ilagorri, at the hacienda of San Pedro