Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/484

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CHAPTER XIX.

SUCCESS OF MORELOS.

1812-1813.

Morelos' Third Campaign — Chilapa Retaken — Reoccupation of the Country to Acapulco — Matamoros at Work in Izúcar — Nicolás Bravo's Victories — Viceregal Tribulations — Publication of Decrees of the Spanish Córtes — Death of Trujano — Morelos' Visit to Ozumba — He Attacks a Royalist Convoy — Takes Orizaba — Defeat on the Heights of Aculcingo — Captures Oajaca — Enormous Booty — Establishment of Government — Victor and Miguel Bravo's Campaign to Jamiltepec — Morelos' Plans — Venegas Superseded — Review of his Rule.

We will now return to Morelos and follow his operations subsequent to his remarkable escape from Cuautla in the early morning of May 2, 1812. It has been already stated that he went from the town of Ocuituco to Chautla where he tarried one month gathering the dispersed forces of Galeana and Bravo to the number of about 800. Of this small army Morelos took command and marched to retake Chilapa and Tixtla, which, during the time he was in Cuautla, had been reoccupied by the royalists. The commandants Añorve and Cerro resolved not to wait his coming, but to retreat to Ayutla. The insurgents under Galeana on the 4th of June encountered part of them and took a number prisoners besides 200 muskets. They finally succeeded in reaching Ayutla, timely reënforcement having been sent them by Páris who was stationed there.[1] The royalist prisoners were.

  1. Páris' report from Ometepec of July 11, 1812, in Gaz. de Mex., 1812, iii. 901-4; Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 120-8.