249.
PAPERS 01<' MmABEAD BuoNAPAR'rE L,D.IAR
ship and adherence and to show his devotion to the Federation and crood order. Guerrero, who well knew Santa Anna's motive for going- to the cock-fights at Zacatlan, replied that the Government had un-· pleasant information regarding him, that he had been denounced as. one of the leaders of the conspiracy, and that he should not move from the place where he was located until he, Guerrero, should write the Government about the matters and receive its answer. Not satisfied with this, Santa Anna decided to join the conspirators and left for Bravo's encampment. Much is due the Minister Pedraza for the energy with which he worked, and for the sudden suppression of the insurrection, for scarcely fifteen days had passed after Bravo's exit and defeat before Guerrero,. who was the idol of the nation at that time, marched against the rebels. The two parties met at .Tulancingo almost simultaneously, and on the! 6th of January, 1828 a battle took place which resulted in the com- plete dispersion of the conspirators. And what part did Farfulla take- in this battle? Did he fight for or against the Government? Permit· Mr. Zavala to speak. This historian says: "General Santa Anna, who, had gone to General Guerrero's camp; actively served on this occasion against the rebels, although the latter evidently counted ·upon his co- operation." The truth is he fought against the same rebels with whom he had co-operated a short time before, nor is it less certain that they depended a great deal upon his assistance, but Mr. Zavala does not explain the circumstances which influenced Santa Anna to adopt the- part he played.. They were as follows. In accordance with the resolution which he made after the commu- nication with Guerrero mentioned above, Santa Anna departed to join Bravo, but on reaching Tulancingo at seven or eight o'clock at night accompanied by two officers, one from Veracruz and the other a Span- iard, who afterwards married his sister, he found the place strongly besieged. While he was looking for some means by which he could enter the town, a patrol of Guerrero's cavalry made him prisoner and bi-ought him before the General. This leader was filled with wrath and indignation on seeing him, but Farfulla greeting him in a d~- clamatory tone: "Comrade! I told you at J alapa that my sword would always be at your side and ~y love for the illustrous General Guerrero is so great that on realizing that he had commenced his mili- tary operations I could not wait the permission of the Government to- serve my country and my friend." . Although Guerrero knew the mockery of all this, and Santa Anna's· dissimulation in his devotion for him or for anyone when he could get nothing from it; still, the discourse produced the desired effect. There• was something of the dramatic in him. The ingenuity, the vehemence, the earnestness with which he spoke, and the man's unblushing audac- ity all conspired first, to surprise Guerrero, and then to make him break into a Homeric laugh. When an honest man laughs cheerfully,. his anger has passed. Thus it was with Guerrero. He pardoned the- two-faced traitor and despite the petitions, the strong and almost unani- mous manifestations of opposition on the part of the officers and soldiers who were opposed to receiving him into the division, the kind- ness and charity of the commander triumphed over this opposition, and Santa Anna was permitted to remain and co-operate with them. Zavala
Powered by FlippingBook