Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/728



events immediately succeeding Iturbide's defection were not favorable to his aims; the viceroy, on the other hand, received from all sides expressions of loyalty. Even the troops that had seconded the movement did not show the resolution needed for such an enterprise; desertions daily occurred, owing to the influence of the masonic order, which had taken a decided stand in favor of the constitutional system, and the ejército trigarante was soon reduced to less than one half of its original number. Iturbide, fearing that he might be attacked by an overwhelming force, abandoned Iguala, and placing the money of the Manila conducta under a strong guard on the Barrabás hill, went on the 12th of March to Teloloapan, continually losing men by desertion. His position became perilous, and had Liñan marched in force against him, as the viceroy wished, the revolted army would have been compelled to disperse and Iturbide have been driven to seek safety with Guerrero on the