Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/731

Rh garrison, reduced by desertion to 600 men, capitulated, and was allowed to depart to Tacubaya, and Iturbide in triumph entered the place of his birth on May 22d. Previously to his occupation of Valladolid he had an interview with Cruz, in the hope of inducing him to join in his plans. The conference was arranged by Negrete; and although Iturbide did not fully gain his object, he succeeded in the essential point, being assured that Cruz would remain inactive; and relying on Negrete's coöperation, he now was certain that Nueva Galicia and the internal provinces would not need his individual attention.

On the return of Cruz to Guadalajara things for a brief interval remained quiet. Although many officers of the garrison were anxious to join the revolution at once, both Iturbide and Negrete considered the time hardly ripe, as Cruz had at his command the force under Hermenegildo Revueltas. On the 13th of June, however, it was known in the city that the troops at San Pedro had taken the oath to support the plan of Iguala; whereupon Laris took possession of the artillery and munitions of war, the garrison proclaimed the independence, and Cruz' authority was set aside. On the 16th Negrete entered the town, and the oath was solemnly taken on the 23d. The whole of Nueva Galicia followed the example, except San Blas, and that port was soon made to submit. Cruz proceeded to Zacatecas with Revueltas' force, whence, with the royalist authorities and public funds, he pushed on to Durango, where he arrived on the 4th of July. Many of his troops deserted on the way and returned to Zacatecas, which proclaimed the independence forthwith. Negrete now went in