Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/369

Rh in his approach to the city were so great that he was eight days in accomplishing twelve leagues, sometimes advancing not more than half a league in twenty-four hours. In many places entirely new roads had to be opened at the cost of immense labor, and the sufferings of the soldiers were excessive as they toiled under pitiless storms of rain, snow, and pelting hail which alternately descended upon them from the sunless sky. Had the royalists been assailed in this pass, it is probable that they would never have reached Zitácuaro, but the insurgent leaders too confidently relied upon their strong position, and their fortifications, which had been elaborately completed under the direction of Ramon Rayon, brother of Ignacio. Having surmounted all obstacles, Calleja, on the 1st of January, 1812, encamped before the town on a rising ground just beyond reach of the enemy's batteries. Having personally reconnoitred the enemy's lines of defences, he made his dispositions for attack on the following day. His plan was to assail the insurgents' fortifications in the rear, while he threatened them with attack in front. With this object, he placed a division of his forces under the command of García Conde, who was directed to move round to the left toward the road leading from Los Laureles, while Calleja with the main body made a detour along the heights toward the right. A strong reserve force was placed in charge of the conde de Casa Rul. At ten o'clock in the morning the royalist commanders had taken up their respective positions, and having placed their artillery on commanding eminences, opened fire. For a short half-hour the revolutionists replied vigorously; but their fire then slackened before the superior