Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/204

168 MEXICO. yet, he is said to have possessed the art of inspiring his fol- lowers with the warmest attachment to his person. He is still young (about 34), and his talents must, sooner or later, lead him to distinction. The early career of Rayon we have seen in the beginning of this sketch. During the prosperity of Morelos, he acted as one of his lieutenants, but always retained a sort of inde- pendent command in the mountainous parts of the province of Valladolid, where he was supported by the affection of the natives, and by the natural strength of the country. His principal strong-hold was in the Cerro de Coporo, where he was besieged, in January 1815, by a formidable Royalist force, under Brigadier Llano, and Itiirbide, which retired with loss, after an unsuccessful assault upon the works, on the 4th of March. From this moment Coporo became an object of particular attention to the Spanish Government. The country about it was laid waste, in order to deprive the garrison of supplies, and, during the absence of Don Ignacio Rayon, the fortress was again invested by Colonel Agiiirre, to whom it was surrendered on the 2nd of January 1817- Ra- y5n himself was soon afterwards taken prisoner by General ArmTjo, having been deserted by all his adherents, and con- fined in the Capital until 1821. He has since obtained the rank of general, and holds, at present, a high situation under Government in the Interior. The fate of Don Nicolas Bravo was similar to that of his former companions. After the dissolution of the Congress he wandered for some time over the country, at the head of a small division, without being able to make head against the superior forces by which he was surrounded. On Mina's landing he occupied the mountain of Coporo, which he en- deavoured to fortify anew, during the summer of 1817 ; but he was driven from it by a Royalist division, and, ultimately, taken prisoner by Armijo, (in December 1817,) by whom he was transmitted to the Capital, where he was confined until