Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/747

Rh to the inhabitants of the capital, calling on them to receive with open arms the ejercito trigarante, which would assuredly complete the task it had undertaken of making Mexico a free and independent nation. O’Donojú now hastened to Mexico, having in his correspondence with Novella finally assumed a threatening tone on account of his refusal to recognize his legitimate authority. The result was that Novella held a conference with O’Donojú, and expressing himself satisfied with the latter's powers as captain-general and gefe superior político, surrendered the command.

O’Donojú, being now recognized as the chief royal authority, went with Iturbide to Tacubaya, where he received the congratulations of the civil, military, and ecclesiastical authorities. The only question which remained to be settled was the removal of the royalist troops from the capital. It was finally arranged that without any form of capitulation, and simply by virtue of O’Donojú's orders as captain-general, they should march out, and be quartered in Tezcuco and Toluca till opportunity offered for their embarkation; and that the trigarante forces should occupy the positions evacuated by them.

The plan was carried into effect on the morning of the 23d of September, and the same day the grenadiers, under Colonel José Joaquin de Herrera, occupied the fortress and palace of Chapultepec. These arrangements being completed, Iturbide and the ejercito trigarante, on the 27th of September, entered the capital in triumph. The chief, mounted on a black charger, was surrounded by his aides and