Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/317

Rh preconcerted signal was seen at the appointed hour, and Morelos, dividing his force into two divisions, placed one under a man from the United States named Elias Bean, and the other under Ávila. These officers were directed to approach the castle from different points. But Gago's overtures were all a feint; and when one of the divisions had advanced within favorable range, the fort and vessels in the harbor simultaneously opened fire upon it. Morelos, realizing the treachery, quickly withdrew his men. He then concentrated his forces on the Iguanas hill, and laid siege to the fort. For nine days he kept up a steady fire with four pieces of artillery of light calibre, and a howitzer. Carreño, however, by a successful sortie on the 19th gained possession of the artillery with the exception of one gun.

After this loss, and being threatened by Nicolás Cosío, who had been appointed by the viceroy commander in the south and had already joined Páris, Morelos raised the siege and retired to the Sabana, where he remained for a month, after which time, prostrated with sickness, he was conveyed to Tecpan, having left Francisco Hernandez in charge of the troops.

During the two following months no operations of importance were undertaken. The insurgents, how ever, firmly held their position against Cosío, who, having approached the Sabana, was compelled by Hermenegildo Galeana, who assailed him at daylight