Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/112

92 The occupation of Mexico by his enemies completely unmanned Guerrero. On the night of the 25th, without apprising General Ignacio Mora and the troops of his intention, he secretly left his camp at Jonacate escorted by Colonel Francisco Victoria and fifty horsemen, and took the road to the south, considering himself safe after he had crossed the Mescala River. The simple-minded patriot had not calculated that perfidy could reach him there. From the south he made a representation to the congress offering to abide by its resolution. For some time Guerrero remained with his family on his estate of Tierra Colorada near Tixtla, but left it on receiving news from Mexico that six cut-throats had been taken out of the jail of Mexico and employed to murder him.

Before the end of 1829 all the states except Vera Cruz had accepted Bustamante's plan. The legislature of Vera Cruz had hurriedly summoned Santa Anna to assume in person the civil and military commands, the acting commander of the forces, Juillé, and Antonio Heredia, colonel of the 5th battalion stationed there, having already refused to accept the revolutionary plan. Santa Anna took command on the 17th of December, and issued a manifesto in which he declared his intention to defend the established government, Guerrero being the lawful chief magistrate of the nation, and recognized as such without objection from any of the representatives in congress after