Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/417

Rh. They were soon joined by Montezuma, Francisco Leiva, Padre Sanchez, and Arroyo, the total force being now 1,500 men. Hoping to capture Córdoba, a demand for its surrender was sent to Panes, and refused. Presently, however, the independents learned that a large force of royalist regular troops was coming upon them. A general retreat then set in, the curate of Zongolica, who was the first to move, returning to his town. The viceroy had ordered Llano, on his return from Cuautla, to march from Puebla with 2,265 men, and attack the insurgents intrenched at Tecamachalco and Tepeaca, being specially desirous of securing 52,000 bales of tobacco which were at Orizaba and Cordoba. In the morning of May 30th the independents tried to check Llano's advance at the town of Amozoque but were repulsed. They made a second attempt on the Acatlan and Santiago hills, and a third on the parapets of Tepeaca, but were defeated with the loss of six guns. From Tepeaca, Llano advanced rapidly upon Orizaba, and took it on the 11th of June. At first he resolved to put the population to the sword, but was prevented through the intercession of the friars of San José de Gracia. Without loss of time he advanced on Córdoba, and Panes returned to Orizaba, but being suspected of insurgent proclivities was superseded by Colonel Andrade.

On the 25th Llano started on his return to Puebla, having in charge 4,098 bales of tobacco. Several