Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/313

Rh The cura told him that the only object he had was the independence of the country, which decided Morelos at once upon his course of action. He offered his services, and received a commission from Hidalgo to levy troops as his lieutenant on the southern coast, and further the cause of independence in conformity with verbal instructions.

The preliminaries for the expedition having been concluded, Morelos bade farewell to Hidalgo and returned to his cure—bade him farewell for the last time, for these two friends and fellow-patriots never again met! When he arrived at his parish, Morelos, with all the stern enthusiasm of his nature, applied himself to the work in which he had engaged. Calling to him twenty-five followers, he armed them with lances and a few muskets, and then directed his steps to Zacatula. It was an humble beginning, but it led to mighty results. The want of military organization in the territory he was invading was favorable to his designs. The militia companies of the different towns were wholly undisciplined, were never assembled for the purpose of drill or other military instruction, and their arms were stored in the residences of the commanding officers, most of whom obtained their positions as a mark of honor, and had never seen the soldiers they commanded. On the arrival of Morelos at Zacatula, he was joined by Marcos