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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
which we have of his connection with the events of this country is derived from himself. It appears from his own account, that he joined Hidalgo and Allende at the Hacienda of Santa Marie whilst they were on their retreat to the northem provinces after the disasterous battle at the bridge of Calderon; and in consideration of some services which he had recently rendered, as well as his known devotion to the cause of Independence, he was deputed by these distinguished chiefs to proceed to the United States of the North for the purpose of cultivat- ing friendly relations with that goYerment and procuring munitions of war, as well as the military assistence of its citizens. He accordingly sat out upon his mission without delay; but had not not [sic] advanced more than the days travel on his journey before he was overtaken by the unwelcome tidings that his chiefs had fallen into the hands of their enemies through the treachery of two of their former companions, Ignecio Ellisond ancl the lawyer Bustemente. These desperate traitors, alarmed at the recent defeat of Hidalgo, were mean enough to purchase their own peace with the Government, by a cowardly desertion of the cause which they had once espoused and a base betrayal of their com- patriots in arms. Guiterez had some short time previous to his joining Hidalgo, issued various proclamations, strongly appealing to the chivalry and patriot- ism of his countrymen, and urging them to desert the royal standard and strike boldly for the cause of liberty. It appears from his own statement, that these addresses, had a wonderful effect in stirring up the people to resistence and especially in producing the declaration of the Garrison at Bexar in favor of Independence. This post, then about two thousand strong, was under the command of Captain Juan Cassa, who was the first to avow himself on the side of the liberals The soldiers following his example, and the citizens stimulated to the same by the Eloquence of Aldama, a patriot of great abilities and address, the Gov- ernors Salcedo and Herrera, were immediately made prisoners and sent to ::\[onclover, together with other distinguished & dangerous royalists. Salcedo and Herrera, however, had been in Monclover but a short time before they succeeded in corrupting the two traitors already mentioned Ellisondo and Bustimente, who hacl received many favors from Hidalgo and still enjoyed his entire confidence. Influenced by their perfidious counsels, this unfortunate hero, leaving Ryan in command of the main body of his forces, started for l\fonclover, accompa11ied by Allende and other of his faithful followers, and waR surprised and captured at a ranch callecl Aratita de-Bejan. He waR hurried to )fonclover & thence to Chiahua, where he was degraded and shot by order of Nemecio Sal- cedo commander General of that province and uncle to .:\Ianuel Salcedo, the Governor of Texas. Hidalgo was captured on the 21st of :March and suffered on the 27th July 1811--.! So soon as the intelligence of his capture was conveyed to Bexar, a counter-revolution immediately ensued, headed by Padra Zambranon, who hoped to escape the resent- ment of Salcedo by becoming as violent a royalist now as he had been a patriot in the first revolt. The first demonstration of new loyalty was • to make prisoners of Cassa a.nd Aldama. 'l'he latter individual, shocked, at the Padra's infidility, and still hoping that he might awaken him as well as the soldiers and citizens, once more to a sense of duty, he made a powerful appeal to their chivalry, honor and patriotism; in
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