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render, a misfortune which Santa Anna had hoped would befall that gallant patriot, because Herrera possessed greater prestige and enjoyed more public favor t_han himself, and because Herrera stood in his way. Our hero was present at the surrender of Jalapa, which place was occupied by Calderon, Obregoso and Rincon; and he was also at the siege and capture of Perote. After these events he publicly usurped the rank of Colonel, although he had no legal right to it, not having been more than a captain when he deserted the King's cause for that of his country. Notwithstanding this fact, by his own authority he appointed himself commander of all the Independents in the Province of Veracruz, and in the same manner enjoyed the pay, honors and rank of Commander with as much boldness as though he justly mer- ited them. Though at the head of a weak force Farfulla entertained the idea of surprising the nation by taking the city of Veracruz. He was fool- ish enough to undertake it. Ignorant in the extreme of military tac- tics, he advanced toward the public square with a handful of soldiers, flattering himself upon a grand and glorious outcome; but he had scarcely come within cannon-shot of the walls when he was compelled to retire hastily and seek shelter on the sandbanks. The only profit which he reaped from his high plans was the death of many valiant men sacrified for his arrogant folly. Even more shameful and unfortunate was his -second attempt. The time having come when it was necessary to take the City of Veracruz, general preparations for that purpose were taking place. However, Santa Anna, who then still had that voracious ambition which has been so fatal to his unfortunate country, feared that some other com- mander more skillful than he in the art of warfare would have the honor of taking the city in which he was born, and decided to take it with his own forces, which had increased, and without the cooperation of other officers; and accordingly, he accomplished his purpose by an attack at night. He ordered some of his troops to scale the walls of the San .T ose Fort, with instructions to put to death the garrison which defended that post, and immediately afterward to open the door of the Merced so that he could enter with the remainder of his troops. This was clone, and everything promised a successful outcome; but on reaching the public square Farfulla began to talk, and left his troops to visit his lady love. His soldiers, not having a leader to direct them, gave themselves up to untimely pleasures and, as a result of this schoolboy escapade of Dbn Antonio, many of the inhabitants armed themselves, united with the King's soldiers, and completely routed our Napoleon (in parody) who, leaving his lady love, shamefully fled and abandoned his army without even ordering retreat to be played. Tak- ing refuge on the sand banks near the city he ordered several of his officers to get his soldiers out of the square where he had so cowardly abandoned them. In this way Don Antonio de Santa Anna began his knightly deeds. As the revolution was progressing rapidly, Santa Anna had little difficulty in increasing his force, so that in a short time he found him- self at the head of an army sufficiently formidable to besiege Veracruz properly. The siege was so vigorously maintained that the Royalists
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