Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/304

284 China. The convent had once been occupied as a a Franciscan propaganda fide college, famed throughout the north, and dating from the days of Cortés. It was a stone edifice of great strength, standing at the lower end of the convent-grounds, which were enclosed by heavy stone walls, and had at its higher eastern extreme a somewhat smaller but equally strong building known as the pantheon, the burial-place of the convent.

The following day the republicans made a general attack on the town, in three divisions, against the bridge of Miraflores, the convent, and the line west of the Alameda, a fourth movement against the Campana hill being a feint. The assaults were executed almost simultaneously under cover of batteries; the cavalry being directed against the south side, there Mejía received them with similar forces, driving them back in disorder. A second attack resulted still worse, and in the pursuit the reserve was overthrown with great slaughter. Castillo defended the bridge line with equal spirit, the cazadores distinguishing themselves, and earning the title of zouaves of Mexico; but the summit of San Gregorio was nevertheless occupied by the opponents, under the direction of Treviño. The main struggle took place at the convent, however. The pantheon having most unaccountably been left unprotected, it was carried at the first advance, and turned to advantage by the republicans. The importance of this commanding structure now became evident to the negligent imperialists, and Marquez led in the struggle to recover it. In this he succeeded, although at no small sacrifice. By five o'clock the repulse was concluded at all points; and it is not unlikely that with a more sustained effort to follow up