Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/505

Rh Ocean, Morelos took steps to destroy the small royalist garrisons under Páris, Reguera, Añorve, Rionda, and Cerro, whose chief point of support was Jamiltepec. Miguel and Victor Bravo, who had shown much gallantry and judgment at the capture of Oajaca, were the officers chosen for the purpose. Moving forward with activity, they soon drove Páris and Reguera into Acapulco, while Rionda retired to Mexico, and Cerro to the other side of the Mescala. This, however, did not seem to affect in the least the royalist proclivities of the inhabitants which Reguera encouraged from La Palisada. Águila, who had entered Tehuacan on the 21st of November, when he heard that Morelos had gone to Oajaca, started after him and even advised Régules that he was marching to his relief; but on learning of the fall of the city, and that Morelos had possession of the passes, returned to Tehuacan. Morelos had now no armed foes on the southern coast, except the few concentrated in Acapulco.

All these advantages gained were the result of Morelos’ plan in having made Tehuacan the central point of operations. On the other hand, we cannot but observe the series of blunders of the viceroy and his officers in Puebla and Oajaca. The royalist leaders certainly displayed ignorance and inability in leaving uncovered so many points of easy defence between Tehuacan and Oajaca, and concentrating in the latter place most of their available forces, thus inviting defeat with the abundant resources at their command.

About this time there came to visit Morelos two members of the ayuntamiento of Tlascala with a