Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/179

MEXICO. 143 a considerable landholder in the Provincias Internas, and Victoria, at the age of twenty-two, had just completed his studies for the bar, in the Capital, when the Revolution broke out. From the first, his resolution to espouse the cause of his country was taken, but it was not until he saw a man of acknowledged merit at the head of the Insurgents, that he determined to place himself under his orders. The instant Morelos's character was known, he left the Capital, and joined him as a volunteer. In the present skirmish, which was a very sharp one, he received a severe wound, by which, however, he was the means of saving Galeana's life. Morelos was brought off with difficulty ; but he had the pleasure of seeing that his men, far from being intimidated by the idea of having to con- tend with troops, who advanced with the character of invinci- ble, had never behaved better than in this affair. Early in the morning of the 19th, Calleja made a general attack upon the town. His army advanced in four columns, with the artillery in the centre, and, animated by the recollec- tion of the late success at Zitaciiaro, which was infinitely su- perior to Cuautla in point of strength, the troops came on like men resolved to carry every thing before them. The Mexi- cans allowed them to approach within one hundred yards of their intrenchments, in the Plaza of San Diego ; but there they opened so tremendous a fire, that the column was forced to retreat precipitately. Galeana, who commanded in the Plaza, seeing a Spanish colonel at some distance from his troops, and endeavouring to bring them up to the charge again, sallied out upon him alone, engaged him hand to hand, and killed him on the spot ; an action, which contributed, not a little, to raise the spirits of his own men. Indeed, nothing coukl exceed the enthusiasm with which Morelos had inspired both his troops, and the inhabitants of the town. The In- dians, who were stationed upon the flat roofs of the houses, did great execution with their slings, and assisted in prevent-