borne with such a cheerful fortitude that Calleja soon saw that there was here no thought of surrender. And he dreaded to risk another assault. The unyielding attitude of the besieged made him fear for the result; and again he urged the viceroy to send him quickly more and heavier cannon, for there was work here which would tax his utmost endeavor.[1]
But it was all of no use. The place was not to be captured by cannonade; and recognizing this, or at least that to effect a breach with artillery of so light a calibre was not possible, Calleja reduced the siege to a mere blockade, and week after week passed by. The supply from the wells proved insufficient, and the besieged made daily sallies and fought for water at the springs and conduits outside the city. To stop even the supply thus dearly obtained, the watercourse of the Juchitengo spring was turned into another channel, and sixty varas of the old ditch filled in. But Galeana in broad day took possession of it, threw up a strong square redoubt around the spring, and connected it by intrenchments with the defences of the city. An attempt made the same night to take this fortification failed, and henceforth the besieged were in no want of water.[2]
Outside the line of circumvallation, too, the besiegers were continually harassed. Miguel Bravo and the cura Tapia hovered around with troops of cavalry; fierce skirmishes were fought, and convoys of provi sions and ammunition intercepted or brought in with great difficulty. But hunger, a foe more terrible than musket or sword, began to press the beleaguered revolutionists. Morelos had not had time to provision the city for a lengthened siege, nor had he expected that Calleja would adopt so slow a method of warfare.
- ↑ He wanted the heavy artillery from Perote. In April the brigadier, Juan José de Olazabal, lately arrived from Spain, was ordered to bring it up. He was intercepted at Nopalucan by the revolutionists and compelled to return to Perote, losing a rich convoy, and with difficulty saving the artillery. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 513. See Calleja's letter to Venegas of March 13th. Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., ii. 58.
- ↑ This occurred on the 3d of April. Id., ii. 61.
