numbers to lay siege, Novella made every preparation for defence. The forces chosen to operate against the besiegers were placed under Concha's command, and General Liñan was made chief of the staff. The royalist line extended from Guadalupe by Tacuba, Tacubaya, Mixcoac, and Coyoacan, closing by the Peñon at Guadalupe. Royalists were constantly deserting to the enemy's lines; while on the other hand, repeated skirmishes occurred, one of which precipitated a bloody action at Atzcapotzalco on the 19th of August.[1] After this engagement the Spaniards concentrated their forces still more, abandoning Tacubaya, which the independents occupied.
When the treaty of Córdoba had been signed, Iturbide and O’Donojú approached the capital, and Novella, to whom a copy of the instrument had been forwarded, asked for an armistice, which was acceded to by the besiegers on the 7th of September. He then convoked a junta of representatives, at which the treaty and accompanying correspondence were read and discussed. The resolution to adopt no line of action until the arrival of O’Donojú being adhered to, two messengers were despatched to communicate the decision to him, and were received by him at Puebla.
On the 15th of September Iturbide arrived at Atzcapotzalco, where he established his headquarters.[2] From this place he addressed a stirring procla-
- ↑ The Spaniards claimed a victory, which Bustamante refuses to concede. Cuad. Hist., v. 235-7; Arrillaga, Recop., 1829, 272; Facio, Mem., 81. The truth is that neither side triumphed, the loss being equally severe. Among the killed on the independents' side was Encarnacion Ortiz, alias El Pachon.
- ↑ The army now united for the siege of Mexico numbered 9,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry, divided into three corps. The van was under Vivanco, who had lately joined the cause, with Guerrero as his second. The centre was commanded by Luaces, whose second was Anastasio Bustamante. The rear was in charge of Quintanar, with Barragan for his second. Negrete was comandante general of the troops of Nueva Galicia, and Andrade the next officer in command. Brigadier Melchor Alvarez was chief of the staff. The two Parrés and Bradburn were the adjutants. Iturbide's aides-de-camp were the condes of Regla and Peñasco, Marqués de Salvatierra and Eugenio Cortés. Alaman, Hist. Méj., v. 296-7, ap. 16-24; Liceaga, Adic. y Rectific., 506-7.
