Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/377

Rh royalists, had determined to make his stand, and accordingly had united the divisions of his forces distributed in the neighboring towns. He made every endeavor to render his position as impregnable as possible. Without attempting to erect exterior fortifications, he confined his attention to a limited line of defences within the city.

Cuautla de Amilpas, distant about twenty-two leagues from the city of Mexico, is situated on a rising ground in a level plain. Its position, though not so strong as that of Zitácuaro, is suitable for defence, being commanded by no adjacent heights. At this date the town was an open one, surrounded by plantations of fruit trees and plantain patches growing close up to the houses. Its extent from north to south was about half a league, the main street running in a straight line in that direction, and connecting the plazas of the convents of San Diego and Santo Domingo. At the northern extremity is the chapel of the Calvario; on the east rise the hills of Zacatepec, between which and the town flows a rapid river in a channel 200 varas wide at the top, but contracting to twelve or fifteen varas in its bed. The portion of the town fortified by Morelos included the plazas and convents of San Diego and Santo Domingo, and was surrounded by trenches and ramparts, with embrasures and merlons. The outside doors and lower windows of the houses on the line of defence were walled up, and communication between the interiors opened by breaking through the partition walls. Deep trenches were cut across the streets, and batteries placed in suitable positions. The