Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/626

610 were directed to some extent by Ignacio Rayon, who had arrived here after his flight from Zacatlan, and assumed the command.

The siege began on January 28th, and continued for more than a month without the least progress being made. A battery had been advanced to within short range of the fort, but effected little; and even the stockade before the moat resisted all efforts to destroy it. A stronger foe began however to work within the intrenchments in the form of sickness and prospective famine; yet the defenders held out manfully, cheered by more than one fortunate sally. Even the sanguine Iturbide now regarded the task as hopeless, and believed it more advantageous to maintain a close investment with a thousand men, while the rest scoured the surrounding districts for much needed supplies, and cleared them of troublesome guerrillas; yet for the sake of royalist reputation he was ready to head an assault on the fort, by the only accessible approach. The immense sacrifice of lives which the attempt would involve held Llano back, but finally he yielded, insisting however that the attack should be directed mainly along a steep path on the left, leading to the brook, against which Iturbide protested, although he accepted the hazardous leadership.

Iturbide selected 500 infantry and 200 horsemen, the latter intended mainly to cut off retreat or remedy any unfortunate break, and moved against the fort before day-break on March 4th, ordering a feint and cannonade to be directed at the proper moment against the front to distract attention. Shielded by the darkness a column under Filisola approached in single file by the brook path, and arrived within a few paces of the gate without being observed. All was still on this side. The besieged were evidently