evolution and a centre for new recruiting, the
army increasing so rapidly that in ten days' time its leader took the bold
step of advancing upon Mexico, the capital city.

The approach of the insurgents, who had now grown greatly in numbers,
filled the people of the capital with terror. They remembered the sack of
Guanajuata, and hastened to conceal their valuables, while many of them
fled for safety. As the insurgents drew near they were met by the army of
the viceroy, and a fierce battle took place upon an elevation called the
Monte de la Cruces, outside the city. A hot fire of artillery swept the
ranks of the insurgents, but, filled with enthusiasm, and greatly
outnumbering the royal troops, they swept resistlessly on, bearing down
all before them, and sweeping the viceroy's soldiers from the field with
heavy loss. Only his good horse saved Trujillo, the commanding general,
from death or capture, and bore him in safety to the city.

Mexico, filled with panic and confusion at the news of the disastrous
defeat of its defenders, could perhaps have been easily taken, and its
capture might possibly have closed the struggle in favor of liberty. It
certainly was a moment for that boldness on which success so often
depends, but Hidalgo at this critical stage took counsel from prudence
instead of daring, and, fearing the arrival of reinforcements to the
beaten army, withdrew his forces towards Queretaro--a weak and fatal
retrograde movement, as it proved.

The viceroy had another army advancing from the north, under the command
of Calleja, a skilful general. Meeting Hidalgo at Aculco on his march
towards Queretaro, he attacked him with such vigor that, after a hot
combat, the insurgents were utterly worsted, losing all their artillery
and many men. In fact, the whole loose-joined army fell to pieces at this
severe repulse, and Hidalgo was followed to Valladolid with an
insignificant remnant of his mighty host.

Calleja followed up his victory with a pursuit of Allende and a fierce
attack on him at Guanajuato, forcing him to abandon the city and retreat
to Zacatecas, which had proclaimed independence. Calleja, who had much of
the traditional Spanish cruelty, now sullied his triumph by a barbarous
retaliation upon the people of the city he had taken, who were most
savagely punished for their recent plundering outbreak.

The remainder of this story of revolution is a brief and unfortunate one.
Hidalgo gathered another army a