Gone to Texas by Don Worcester Page A

one column, Colonel Ramón Sesma attacked the fort, which was surrounded by a moat and connected to the city by a drawbridge. Ellis and Mier each commanded an infantry company in the column under Galeana and Matamoros, who sent them to capture the gate at the Marquesado Street entrance. The two led a spirited charge and opened the gate, allowing the rest of the column to rush through it. They drove the royalists back to the plaza. Ellis no longer wondered how the youthful colonel would do under enemy fire—Mier was a bom warrior.
    In the attack on the fort, Manuel Félix Fernández, who later changed his name to Guadalupe Victoria, plunged into the moat, determined to swim across and lower the drawbridge. He was immediately bogged down in thick mud, and had to be pulled out. After two hours of fighting, the royalists hauled down their flag.
    Knowing Oaxaca was a rich enemy stronghold, the rebel troops for once ignored Morelos’ injunction against looting, and plundered the shops and homes of Spaniards. Morelos immediately ordered the political prisoners released. Ellis felt sick when he saw the wretched, half-starved men, but Morelos was outraged. He had them lifted to the backs of horses and paraded throughout the city to give the people a taste of royalist brutality. Then he ordered four of the royalist commanders shot.
    Morelos soon formed a town council of creoles, or Spanish Mexicans, and extended patriot control over the surrounding area. Mier took charge of the royalist armory, while Ellis opened a powder factory.
    In January 1813 they learned that ruthless General Calleja had been named viceroy. Early the next month, Morelos left Colonel Rocha and Ellis with one thousand troops to hold Oaxaca, and set out with the rest for Acapulco. Along the way, he sent columns under his lieutenants to seize strategic towns. He wrote that he’d taken Acapulco and besieged the Castle San Diego. Its temporary governor, he added, was a Captain Vélez. Ellis smiled grimly when he read that.
    â€œIf I didn’t kill Carreño,” he said, “at least I put him out of action.”
    â€œI wish Morelos would just leave troops to pin down the garrison and get on with the campaign,” Rocha remarked, looking worried. “Every day the siege lasts means the enemy is that much stronger. The Spaniards here are boasting that Spain is sending three thousand soldiers who fought Napoleon. We should be closing in on Mexico City, not wasting time on Acapulco. That could lead to our undoing.” His expression became gloomier. “I’m not a prophet,” he said, “ but for the first time I have a bad feeling about the revolution.” Ellis said nothing, wishing Morelos would send for him.

Chapter Five
    Ellis waited anxiously for news of Morelos. He knew that in June, while the siege of San Diego Castle went on, Morelos had invited all rebel-held provinces to send delegates to a congress in Chilpancingo in September, for Oaxaca had elected a delegate. In August news came that San Diego Castle had finally surrendered, after a siege of seven months. Morelos had granted generous surrender terms, then hurried to Chilpancingo. Ellis also heard that three thousand Spanish troops had landed at Veracruz, but his confidence in Morelos remained unshaken. Mier y Terán, he knew, had won several victories. Why do I have to stay here making gunpowder when my friends are fighting the enemy? It was frustrating.
    The next news of Morelos made a knot form in his stomach. Late in December, with a large army, Morelos had attacked Valladolid, a strategic city Rayón had tried to take earlier. Learning of his march, Calleja had rushed powerful reinforcements there, and they repulsed the patriots with heavy losses. Before they could regroup, Agustín de Iturbide slipped out after dark with three hundred cavalry. His surprise attack had thrown the patriots into such confusion they fired on one another. The royalist