weather-beaten hides, stripped from doors to which they had been nailed for years, were macerated and eaten; foul grubs and crawling insects were devoured;[1] and pest, the companion of famine, followed in her footsteps. The church of San Diego was converted into a hospital; from twenty to thirty died daily; gaunt, spectral forms moved wearily along the streets, and the children no longer, as heretofore, marshalled their bands in mimic warfare.[2] But still they yielded not, and still Calleja dared not risk a second assault.[3]
And all this time the junta at Sultepec remained inactive, the leaders in Michoacan with their numerous forces came not to the aid of these brave, long enduring patriots. Morelos vainly endeavored to break through the besiegers' lines and introduce provisions. On the open plain the enemy was superior.[4] On the 27th of April a desperate effort was made, but failed.[5] After this an unusual stillness and inactivity was observed by the besiegers to prevail in the city. The last hostile sally had been made. No hope was left except to evacuate the town. Calleja's bloody intentions were too well known, and capitula-
- ↑ The house doors in Cuautla were protected with strong hides nailed to them, instead of sheets of tin. Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 519. 'La espantosa escasez que la reduxo al término de comer insectos, cueros y quantas inmundicias se les presentaba,' are Calleja's own words. Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 479.
- ↑ For an account of the children organizing themselves into companies, and of their capture on one occasion of a royalist dragoon outside the walls, see Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., ii. 55-6.
- ↑ He says to the viceroy: 'No convenia asaltar á un enemigo que lo deseaba.' Alaman, Hist. Mej., ii. 513-14.
- ↑ In one of these attempts directed by night against the redoubt on the Calvario, Gil Riaño, a son of the intendente who fell at the alhóndiga of Guanajuato, was killed on the side of the royalists. Id., ii. 515.
- ↑ Matamoros and Colonel Perdiz sallied with 100 men on the night of the 21st and forced the enemy's lines on the Santa Inés road, Perdiz, however, and many others being killed. Matamoros succeeded in joining Miguel Bravo, who was stationed at Tlayacac near the Zacatepec range with a strong force and a large convoy of provisions. The design was to introduce it by the barranca Hedionda and the town of Amelcingo, and on the 27th, signals having been exchanged with Matamoros during the preceding night, Morelos attacked with the greater portion of his forces the royalists at several points. Calleja had, however, intercepted a letter which informed him of the plans of the besieged. He accordingly made his preparations. A sanguinary contest took place, the assailants being repulsed. Bravo and Matamoros were driven back with the loss of the convoy and their artillery. Id., ii. 516-18; Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 447-52.
hist. mex., vol. iv. 24
