Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/725

Rh acts of hostility in San Juan de los Llanos; the Indians of Chapala revolted by instigation from Guadalajara, and Osollo, pursued by Lamberg, went to San Luis Potosí to assume command by order of the directorio conservador residing in Mexico. The government despatched 4,000 men under Parrodi, that had been organized by the governors of Guanajuato and Zacatecas, to bring the insurgents to terms. The latter soon found themselves destitute of resources. Discontent, and dissensions of which they had not been exempt from the start, now became general. Several interior towns had been terrorized by them, but on learning that the states were raising troops in aid of the government, Vidaurri having provided 1,600 men, besides others furnished by Zacatecas and Aguascalientes, they hastened their own ruin. One of their chiefs seized $240,000 deposited in the British consul's house, and in doing so broke open the door, over which was the British coat of arms. The rebel leaders finally concluded that San Luis could not be successfully defended, which led to its abandonment, most of their forces going toward San Pedro Toliman, and after evacuating Cadereita, taking up a position on the impregnable Magdalena, a hill at the entrance of the sierra, where Parrodi laid siege to them. Hunger and thirst forced them to leave the stronghold, and retreat on the night of February 6, 1857, by way of Ajuchitlan and the hacienda Esperanza; but their departure was detected, and they were routed in Tunas Blancas, this defeat being soon followed by the loss of their artillery, ammunition, and a considerable number of prisoners, one of whom was ex-Colonel Osollo with a wounded arm. The