Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/587

Rh men; and Morelos sternly presented the dread alternative of surrender within three hours or bloody infliction.

But Calleja had not been deceived by the movements of the insurgents, and his plans had been so laid as to permit ready counter-movements in any direction. He ordered the concentration at Acámbaro of more than 2,000 men from Tula, Mexico, and Guanajuato, who, under the designation of the army of the north, were placed under command of Llano, the successor of Castillo at Toluca, Iturbide joining as second. Ramon Rayon sought to impede their advance, but was defeated; and after a forced march, the royalists came up on the 23d, guided by the cannonade which had already begun. The fighting was directed mainly against the Zapote gate, as most threatened by the expected reinforcements from Mexico. It had been taken by the select forces under Galeana and Bravo, retaken by Landázuri, and again captured by the former. At this moment Llano and Iturbide appeared from different directions, and fearing to be cut off, the insurgents fell back toward their camp, only to be driven into disorder and routed with great loss. The royal troops thereupon entered the city, amidst loud demonstration from the inhabitants.

It was a severe blow to Morelos, this check to his cherished plans, and the whole of the following