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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
against the rebels that he did not do anything, while the enemy's forces increased daily, clue to Victoria's popularity. . As soon as it was known in the Capital that Victoria hacl again unsheathed his sword, Guerrero and Bravo resolved to follow his ex- ample, but being under the suspicious gaze of the Government they could not escape from the city until the 5th of January, 1823. Their flight caused Iturbide great uneasiness. Until that moment his fears had not been awakened. Having entrusted the war to one who was personally interested in destroying the prime instigator of the insur- rection, he had no doubt as to the successful outcome, but when these leaders entered the field, affairs took on a most formidable aspect, and the influence which they exercised together with Victoria was sufficient cause to actually frighten him. Iturbide immediately sent a detachment in pursuit of the fugitives, who were overtaken and ar- rested in a hovel where they were found resting. It seemed that there was no alternative but that these two champions of liberty should suffer the fate of those patriots who had perished for the qause of the country, but fortunately for them, the Commander of the party was not insensible to the voice of humanity and justice. Writing to this official Guerrero said to him: "Dear Sir-It depends upon your will whether we shall be arrested and taken to Mexico to be shot in recom- pense for the many services which we have rendered for liberty and which we now intend to render fo,r it. The country groans under despotism, and whoever desires to sustain that oppression is unworthy of being called a Mexican." These remarks had the desired effect. Not wanting to assume the responsibility of liberating them, the offi.1.. cer accomplished that object by relaxing his vigilance and permitting them to escape. They fled to the mountains in the south, and Guer- rero, quickly organizing a force of men, did not await mounted men, but presented battle to General Sanchez at J almolonga. In this en- gagement Sanchez was killed by Guerrero's lieutenant at the moment when that man was attempting to shoot and kill his master. Guer- rero, however, did receive a wound in his lung which did not heal and which he sustained for the remainder of his life. It is ·supposed that his energy declined with his constant bad health and great suffering. The death of Sanchez and the wounding of Guerrero suspended the war in the South. The struggle was afterwards limited to the province of Veracruz, and it can be said that the operations were more theatri- cal than real. Our hero's first attack was the defeat of Colonel M:an- lacia in which no blood was shed. He succeeded in surprising and taking this officer prisoner with all of his regiment, which he added to his own forces. He immediately began his march to J alapa, know- ing that the garrison there was very weak. Be that as it may, upon reaching the city he was prostrated with fear and dread by an intense artillery fire which greeted him. The garrison had been reinforced by Perote's troops; our protagonist did not know this and doubted whether he should fight or flee. The officers decided for him, and a fight be- gan between the two forces. In the heat of the battle, Farfulla, as was his custom, abandoned the :field, leaving his army to get out of the difficulty in the best way they could, ancl fled to Veracruz where
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