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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
agreement which he had made, because no one had faith in his word of honor; out after great perseverance, weeping, pleading, confessing his repentance and pledging his fidelity for the future he won over his adversaries and then laughed at their credulity. Thus he escaped from the difficult situation by means of his customary arts-deceit and :treachery. As soon as he entered Oajaca he appropriated the public funds, en- forced a loan of $5000 on the Town Council and another of a like sum on the Cathedral and then gave himself over to his three favorite passions, gambling, lottery and sensuality. As an example of his usual conduct it would not be amiss here to state that during his marches, as well as when he was in the city, it was his custom to take by force :anything that pleased him and to permit his army to do likewise. Nor were the wives and daughters of the most respectable families whom he often insulted exempt from his insults and brutality, if they did not accede to his wishes. With money· to sustain him in his wicked- ness, he became engulfed in endless dissipation, spending the time gaily in the midst of balls, banquets, and the adulation of incontinent women. Finally, on the 13th of November the anticipated answer came from the Government refusing to ratify the treaty made between 'General Farfulla and Rincon and ordering the latter to pursue the former until he should surrender unconditionally, which Farfulla co_n- ,sidered equivalent to losing his head. As soon as Rincon received orders from the Government not to accept any of Santa Anna's proposals, he marched to Oajaca to attack 'him. Santa Anna, knowing what was happening, also left the city for the purpose of giving battle. The two armies met each other at El llfarquesado. Rincon had 2400 infantry and 800 cavalry and no ·cannon. Santa Anna had 1200 foot-soldiers, 250 cavalry, and 4 artil- lery pieces. Considering the inequality of the forces, Santa Anna as .a skillful general should have occupied the most favorable position and :awaited the attack, but instead of doing this, he arrayed his forces on the plateau and presented open battle. He was completely routed. His troops scattered, fleeing in all directions. On reaching the city "Santa Anna saw that some of the fugitives were going toward the ·santo Domingo convent. He followed them, entered with them and "from there sent several officers and sergeants to assemble the dispersed troops and bring them to that place. He succeeded in collecting 500 men with which he guarded the convent. In the meantime, Rincon -.reached the city and took possession of it. As there was an absolute lack of food and resources of all kinds in the convent, they had to obtain rations for the troops by robbing the neighboring farms. They made excursions every night, and not with- ,out success, for the parties were wont to return with spoils on all of :their sorties. One day Santa Anna received a letter from one of his ··-love.rs who had taken refuge in the San Francisco convent informing ·him that there were very valuable goods hidden there, consisting of ·money, jewelry and provisions belonging to the citizens and merchants of the city. Desirous of obtaining these goods, and no less desirous of seeing his sweetheart, he decided to surprise the convent and ap- propriate all that he so greatly desired-the booty and the beauty. It
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