Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/331

Rh On the other side of the city affairs went otherwise. Robledo was unable to maintain his position at the Santa Catalina Gate, and Trujillo hastened to his assistance. On his entrance into the city he was filled with consternation at the confusion which prevailed. Men, women, and children in wild alarm were rushing through the streets, shrieking and wailing, and proclaiming that the city was in the power of the insurgents. Soldiers were flying from their posts, and all seemed lost. Trujillo, however, displayed rare courage and presence of mind. Raising the cry of victory, and that Calleja was approaching, he succeeded in allaying the panic, and hurried forward to the Santa Catalina gate.

There the greatest disorder prevailed; the artillery was dismounted or in the hands of the enemy; the soldiers were fleeing, casting down their arms, and throwing off their uniforms. Arresting the flight with orders to kill all who did not rejoin their ranks, Trujillo sallied on to the plain and attacked the enemy. He was, however, compelled to retire; and although in a second charge he gained some slight advantage, his position was desperate. His troops were giving way at other points, and all was apparently lost. At this crisis, when the victory of the insurgents was no longer doubtful, to the inexpressible amazement of the royalists, the besiegers retired from the contest, retreating in good order, but abandoning twenty-two cannon to the enemy. Divers reasons are assigned as the cause of this extraordinary movement. Some at tribute it to the miraculous interposition of the image of the saviour in the sacristy of the cathedral. Trujillo claimed that the valor displayed by a portion of his troops caused the insurgents to withdraw; but the more probable explanation is that advanced by Bustamante, namely, the failure of ammunition and the envy and jealousy of Muñiz, who, being the only one who had sustained repulse during the day, refused to furnish the other chiefs with cartridges when their