Reswration of Royal Autlwri.ty
leagues distant. Here, Salcedo, Herrera, and the other prisoners sent to Monclova in chains by Casas were being held as nominal prisoners by their friendly jailers. Their fetters had long since been removed and they enjoyed considerable freedom of action. Salcedo had, in fact, suc- ceeded in rallying the faithful subjects of the King in Coahuila from the lethargy which had seized them after the defeat of Governor Cordero. He had, likewise, convinced Colonel Elizondo of his grave error in embracing the cause of the Revolution, and had worked out a master plan for captur- ing the rebel leaders. Elizondo has been credited by historians with this betrayal, but the plan was conceived and its details put into execution by Salcedo, the deposed Governor of Texas. Munoz and Galan told Salcedo their story of counterrevolution in Bexar and of the intense desire of the new government of Zambrano to help rid all New Spain of the rebel scourge. The letter to General Jimenez, no longer needed, was turned over to Salcedo. Whatever hesitation was still felt by some of the conspirators disappeared when they heard of the successful overthrow of Casas in San Antonio and the arrest of Aldama and Father Salazar. When the Texas deputies inquired, as instructed, about the disposition of Royalist troops and the plans of the Revolutionists, they learned that Texas had nothing to fear, for the Loyalist troops of Nueva Vizcaya (modern Chihuahua) were already stationed in Parras to help intercept the march of the Revolutionists into the province. It was urgent that the Commandant General be acquainted with the recent events in Texas. Salcedo asked the deputies to rest for a day or two and then proceed to Monclova. He informed them that he would, in the meantime, dispatch two fast couriers to take the good news to Don Nemesio and to announce their coming. Since time was pressing, Elizondo left that same afternoon with Salcedo and the other leaders of the counterrevolution. There were important details needing attention in connection with the capture of the leaders at Saltillo, who were expected to begin shortly their march northward. 5 Plot of the counterrevolutionise.r. The work accomplished by Manuel Salcedo under the most adverse circumstances is short of marvelous-re- gardless of the merit of the cause. On February 12 he had been sent in chains to Monclova together with the other prisoners. Had not friends and fate interfered, they would have continued to Saltillo where they would in all probability have been summarily shot.
5 Report of the Deputies, May 4, I 8 I I, Nacogdod1u Archives.
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