Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/452

436. The success of the besiegers was assured, when they suddenly raised the siege and retired. The royalists could not understand it; but seeing the independents march away in perfect order, they did not venture out to pursue them. The cause was an order from Morelos to the Bravos to hasten to his relief at Cuautla. Régules after this supposed that the independents had entirely abandoned the Mizteca, but he soon discovered his error; the day when he must atone for his many cruel acts was not far distant.

Trujano continued his excursions in the Mizteca country for some time, his field being chiefly the road from Yanhuitlan to Cuicatlan. After defeating Manuel Guendulain, a rich man of Oajaca who had armed his negroes, killing the leader and many of his men, and capturing their arms, Trujano established his headquarters in Huajuapan, the chief town of the Mizteca, important for its large trade in dried goat's meat and grease with Puebla. He availed himself of the resources the place afforded to augment and support his force. Bonavía, the royalist commander at Oajaca, on his part concentrated all his available men at Yanhuitlan, to employ them in dislodging Trujano from Huajuapan. The force thus gathered together exceeded 1,000 men, with 14 pieces of artillery and a good supply of ammunition. The chief command was given to Régules, who on