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354

SIEGE OF CUAUTLA.

gunnery of the royalists, and disorder was observed in their lines. Calleja had already made his dispositions for the assault, three attacking columns having been placed respectively under the commands of Castillo, Colonel José María Jalon, and Oroz and Meneso, the latter leaders being instructed to cover the right of the other columns, and occupying the Tuxpan road, connect with García's division on that of Los Laureles, thus closing retreat in those directions.^[1] These columns were now ordered to advance, while García Conde, having crossed the moat by means of a portable bridge provided for the purpose, was at the same time forcing his way into the town. The simultaneous attack was successful at all points. In deed, the defence appears to have been lamentably weak in comparison with the great preparations made, and by two o'clock in the afternoon the insurgents had fled from Zitácuaro as best they could, plunging into the ditches and escaping by the barrancas and mountain gullies.^[2] The junta fled to Sultepec, where it established a new seat of government.

The loss sustained in killed and wounded was inconsiderable in proportion to the importance of the fall of Zitácuaro.^[3] Forty-three cannon fell into the possession of the victors, besides a great quan-

↑ A deep barranca intervened between the position which Calleja took up and the town. He caused three mountain paths leading to this to be well opened for the advance of his attacking columns under cover of his artillery. Castillo moved along the one to Calleja's left; Jalon advanced on the central one; and Oroz and Meneso, whose forces were composed of cavalry, on the one extending to Calleja's right. Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 138-9.
↑ 'Á las dos de la tarde ya no habia en el recinto un solo enemigo vivo.' Id., iii. 140. The account of the capture of Zitácuaro has been derived from Calleja's report to the viceroy in Id., iii. 17-18, 135-42; Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 132-51; Guerra, Rev. N. Esp., ii. 413-19; Mora, Mej. y sus Rev., iv. 270-82; Torrente, Rev. Hisp. Amer., i. 310-13; Diaz Calvillo, Sermon, 152-59.
↑ Though Calleja in his report wishes to give the idea that great numbers fell, he only vaguely states that many hundreds of the rebels perished. A Spaniard, however, writing from Zitácuaro on the 5th of January, says: 'Apenas moririan 200 y en el pueblo no pasarian de 20, porque estaba y aun permanece solo.' Guerra, Rev. N. Esp., ii. 419. Negrete says: 'La pérdida de los independientes. . . fué corta: no pasó de cincuenta hombres, siendo mucho mayor la de los realistas.' Mex. Sig. XIX., iv. 389. Calleja estimated the number of the defenders at 35,000, of whom 12,000 were cavalry, 'número sin duda muy exajerado,' as Alaman remarks. Hist. Mej., ii. 455.

[1] A deep barranca intervened between the position which Calleja took up and the town. He caused three mountain paths leading to this to be well opened for the advance of his attacking columns under cover of his artillery. Castillo moved along the one to Calleja's left; Jalon advanced on the central one; and Oroz and Meneso, whose forces were composed of cavalry, on the one extending to Calleja's right. Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 138-9.

[2] 'Á las dos de la tarde ya no habia en el recinto un solo enemigo vivo.' Id., iii. 140. The account of the capture of Zitácuaro has been derived from Calleja's report to the viceroy in Id., iii. 17-18, 135-42; Bustamante, Campañas de Calleja, 132-51; Guerra, Rev. N. Esp., ii. 413-19; Mora, Mej. y sus Rev., iv. 270-82; Torrente, Rev. Hisp. Amer., i. 310-13; Diaz Calvillo, Sermon, 152-59.

[3] Though Calleja in his report wishes to give the idea that great numbers fell, he only vaguely states that many hundreds of the rebels perished. A Spaniard, however, writing from Zitácuaro on the 5th of January, says: 'Apenas moririan 200 y en el pueblo no pasarian de 20, porque estaba y aun permanece solo.' Guerra, Rev. N. Esp., ii. 419. Negrete says: 'La pérdida de los independientes. . . fué corta: no pasó de cincuenta hombres, siendo mucho mayor la de los realistas.' Mex. Sig. XIX., iv. 389. Calleja estimated the number of the defenders at 35,000, of whom 12,000 were cavalry, 'número sin duda muy exajerado,' as Alaman remarks. Hist. Mej., ii. 455.

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