Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/292

276 however, only hastened his doom, for Allende, convinced of his perfidy, had left orders with Rayon to have him beheaded if he returned, which was promptly done. The prisoners were conveyed to Monclova, and every precaution taken to prevent their escape. The principal chiefs were lodged in a house provided for the purpose by Herrera, the others being confined in the public jail. Great excitement prevailed in the city, and Elizondo, not considering his captives in safe keeping, sent to Ochoa, who was approaching Saltillo, requesting of him a reinforcement of 500 men, which was immediately despatched to Monclova by forced marches.

As the capture had been made on territory under the government of the comandante general of the interior provinces, it was necessary to send them to Chihuahua for trial, where resided the brigadier Nemesio Salcedo, who then held that position. On the 26th of March the principal prisoners, including Hidalgo, Allende, Jimenez, and Abasolo, as also the regular and secular ecclesiastics, were led forth on their long journey to that city. Shackled hand and foot, mounted on miserable beasts of burden, and escorted by a strong guard, these unhappy men painfully travelled the two hundred leagues of rough road which connected the two cities. Their sufferings were painful in the extreme; even their halt by night afforded little relief to their strained muscles, as their