5
PAPERS OF MIR.\Blll.\U BuoN.\P.\RTE L.\M,\R
the revo] [ution and] al o of everything which I myself have under- taken and executed in favor of our [sacr]ed cause, according ~o my limited ability and power, but nevertl1eless animated, as one of many, hy the holy fire of patriotism. I make known to your fajesty that in the Y!Jllr 1811 Lieutenant- General ~[ariano Gimenes, with the division under his command, entered l\[ateguala for the purpose of penetrating the internal prov- ince of the east. This mnstrion chief, not being able to carry out his plan with the rapidity which he desired (and which we the •patriots of those provinces desired), because of the forces with which Cordero, Governor of 1\Ionclova, ·opposed him at Agua Nueba, for the purpose of preventing bis entrance into the provinces of i\Ionclova aforesaid and the New Kingdom of Leon; because Gover- nor Yturbe was organizing all tlrn forces of the province of Colonia in the town of Aguallo to oppose Ximenes' entrance in that section; and finally, because in the province of Vexar Governors Salc,edo and Herrera were preparing to aid the former ,vith the formidable forces which were stationed three years before hy the ministerial police. - Said Ximenes was delayed for some months in Mateguala by other powerful obstacles, and it was even considered impo sible that his troops, who were without order or discipline, could contend with troops who were provided with everything. At this time, I who anxiously desired to see the four provinces free from the ignominious Spanish yoke, could not be indifferent when I saw the insuperable difficulties which presented themselve , but the desire of overcoming them led me to consider the proper means of disorganizing the Royalist £01·ces. Among the various ideas which occurred to me I chose that of making a great number of proclamations and of. paying some courriers generously to get them into the canton of, Aguallo. At the same time I wrote to Captain Gordiano Benavides to contribute to this so glorious an undertaking, according to his inclination. In fact, everything turned out as I had planned. The troops were undeceived and began to desert in large and small bands, and many deserted to Ximenes' canton. Cap[tain Bena- 'videsYl placed himself at tlie head of the remaining troops and took some Euro[ pean] prisoners [remainder of sentence too badly muti- lated to translate]. This news with some proclamations were rgiven out] in the Can- ton of Agua Tueba, and the t1·oops prepared to opp [ose] their op- pressors as soon as Senor Gimenc should advance, which they did. At this time, Lieutenant Saens in Aguallo, having collected some of my proclamations, marched to the army of, Vexar and distributed them there, whereupon, the troops and the people unanimously de. clared tliemselves for independence, arresting the governors and all their followers, including Brigadier·Aranda, who had entered Mon- clova. with a division at the order of Sefior Ximenes. Some days later in the month of April, I took up my march to Saltillo to communicate with Sefior 'Ximenes and offer my services to the country. I found him at the Hacienda of Santa Mari.a in company ·with Senor Hidalgo and Seiior Ayendes. On the march to fonclova I communicated with them and informed· them of my
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