Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/301

 

, who held the chief command of the besieging forces at Querétaro, was a lean man of fair stature, forty years of age, with a dark complexion, full black beard, and enormous ears, which had procured for him the nickname of Orejon. He had served with credit since his first enlistment during the United States invasion of 1847-8, and displayed considerable administrative ability; he had also earned a reputation for severity, united with a decided aversion for foreigners, and a temper that easily exploded under provocation. His blemishes were offset by strong patriotic instincts and rare unostentatiousness. Second to him stood the equally severe Corona, a finelooking man, somewhat bronzed in visage, whose

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