Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/320

304 unflinching bravery, and firmly maintained themselves in their positions. The assault was continued during the whole of the following day, and the garrison, whose ammunition was almost exhausted, was now in a critical position. Morelos, however, was already hastening to their assistance, and on the 17th assailed the rear of Fuentes' force with 300 cavalry and 100 infantry, supported by three cannon. Galeana and Bravo immediately availed themselves of this diversion and sallied from the town. Fuentes, thus attacked in front and rear, ordered a retreat, which at first was conducted with order and deliberation. A drenching rain-storm, however, commenced, impeding the movements of the royalists, and rendering their ammunition unserviceable. Morelos now ordered Galeana and Bravo to come to close quarters with sword and bayonet, while he swept down upon them with the cavalry. The charge threw the royalists into confusion; completely routed, they fled in all directions, leaving on the field 200 killed, more than 300 muskets, two guns, and a quantity of other arms, as the spoil of the victors, who, moreover, captured 366 prisoners. Three days later Morelos marched into Chilapa, whither Fuentes with a remnant of his scattered force had fled. The insurgent army was now over 1,500 strong, and the defeated royalist, as well as the Oajaca troops stationed there, abandoned the town on its approach, leaving two pieces of artillery and a quantity of ammunition. At Chilapa, the artilleryman Gago, whose perfidious design had so nearly involved Morelos in disaster at Acapulco, was captured, together with José Toribio Navarro, who after having received from Morelos $200 with, which to raise troops for the independent cause, had passed over to the royalists. The unfortunate men were summarily executed.