In Colonel Valerio Trujano the reader will recognise the ex-muleteer,
who, it will be remembered, declined exposing his life to the chances of
war before paying his debts. Though in full command at Huajapam, he was
simply a leader of guerilleros--nothing more; and in these partisan
chieftains the country at the time abounded. The renown, however, which
Trujano had gained within the narrow sphere of his exploits, had already
rendered him a subject of constant inquietude to the government of
Oajaca; and to crush this formidable enemy had been the object of the
march upon Huajapam, where Trujano chanced to be at the time. The
Royalist officers believed that a favourable opportunity had offered, in
the absence of two of Trujano's ablest supporters--Miguel and Nicolas
Bravo--both of whom had been summoned by Morelos to assist at the siege
of Cuautla.
Such was the importance attached to the defeat of the religious
insurgent, that the government employed against him nearly every soldier
in the province--concentrating its whole force upon Huajapam.
The little town was at the time entirely without fortifications of any
kind, and on all sides open to an enemy. All the more does the
remarkable defence made by Trujano deserve to be immortalised.
Fortunately for him the place was well supplied with provisions.
For all this, resistance against such a superior force would have been
impossible, according to the ordinary rules of war; and it was not by
these that Trujano succeeded in making it.
His first act was to store all the provisions in a common magazine; and
these were served out every morning in rations to each soldier and each
head of a family among the citizens. He also established a code of
discipline, almost monastic in its severity; which discipline, from the
first hour of the siege, in the midst of its most sanguinary episodes,
during the long period of nearly four months, he managed to maintain
without the slightest infraction. The energy of his character, combined
with the prudence of his dispositions, obtained for him an irresistible
ascendency over both soldiers and citizens.
The time was distributed for various purposes in the same manner as in a
convent; and the most part of it that was not taken up by military
duties, was spent in prayers and other devotional exercises. Orations
and vespers were performed in public--every one, both soldiers and
citizens, taking part; and in this remote village, cut off from all
communication with the world, amidst a population little used to the
pleasures of life, hourly prayers were offered up with that fervour with
which the mariner implores the protection of God against the fury of the
storm.
It must be acknowledged that these dispositions were somewhat droll and
eccentric. They were prudent, however; since the followers of the
insurgent chieftain, thus continually kept in occupation, had no time to
become discouraged. If provisions were becoming scarce, they knew
nothing about it. No curious gossips were permitted to explore the
magazines, and report upon their emptiness. No indiscreet tongue was
allowed to talk of approaching starvation. This arrangement could only
lead to one of two issues: either the besiegers must destroy the last
man in Huajapam, or themselves abandon the siege.
During more than a hundred days, as already stated, this strange
condition of things existed in the town; and in all that time only one
attempt had been made from without to relieve the place. This was by
the insurgent leaders, Colonel Sanchez and the priest Tapia. The
attempt had proved a failure; but even that did not shake the constancy
of Trujano and his followers. The discouragement was altogether on the
side of the Royalists.
Among the besieged perfect confidence was placed in their leader--a
truly extraordinary man--one in whom were united the most brilliant
qualities, and even those of a kind that are rarely found existing
together.
Never did he permit the ardour of his courage to interfere with the
prudence of his plans; and never did he advance them too hastily to
maturity. Brave almost to rashness, he nevertheless calculated minutely
the chances of a combat before commencing it. His frank open
countenance had something so winning in it, that all freely yielded up
their secret thoughts to him, while no one could penetrate his.
His gentleness towards his soldiers, tempered with a due measure of
justice, had the effect of gaining their obedience by love rather than
fear. An indefinable charm, in short, emanated from his person, which
excluded all idea of disobedience to his will.
It may here be observed that at this period of the Mexican Revolution
(1812), the Spaniards were in possession of all the resources of
administration--the posts, and express couriers, with the principal
highways of the country. The insurrectionary forces were in scattered
and isolated bodies, either besieged in towns or pursued among the
_sierras_. Bearing these facts in mind, it will not be wondered at,
that although, while Trujano was besieged in Huajapam, and Morelos was
in Cuautla, at the distance of only two or three days' journey, the
Mexican general was entirely ignorant of the situation of the
ex-muleteer! Even a month after Morelos had evacuated Cuautla, and
retired upon Isucar, the position of his compatriot still remained
unreported to him. Fortunately Trujano had learnt the whereabouts of
the general, and had despatched a messenger to him demanding assistance.
Enclosed as Huajapam was by the enemy--who guarded every approach with
the strictest vigilance--it seemed impossible that any messenger could
make his way through their lines. Several days had passed since the
man--an Indian--had gone out of the town; but whether he had succeeded
in safely reaching Morelos' camp, or whether he might be able to return
with the answer, were questions of prime importance to the plans of
Trujano.
On that same day in which the council of war was held in the Spanish
camp, Trujano had ordered a mass to be performed--specially devoted to
prayer for the return of his messenger. It was in the evening, the hour
succeeding twilight, that this mass was held; and all the population of
the town, including the soldiers, was assembled in the public piazza,
which was illuminated by torches of _ocote_, although the moon was
shining brilliantly above. A church, whose dome was shattered with
bombs, and rows of houses in ruins, surrounded the square. The temple
in which the offering was made was the Piazza itself, and the roof was
the starry canopy of the sky. There, under the red glare of the
torches, might be seen the assembled people of Huajapam; the priests who
assisted at the ceremony in their robes, covering a military garb
underneath; the women, children, and aged, grouped around the walls of
the houses; the soldiers, in ragged uniforms, with guns in hand; and the
wounded seated upon doorsteps with bloody bandages--having dragged
themselves thither to take part in the sacred ceremonial.
Profound silence reigned throughout the Piazza.
On the appearance of a man who advanced into the centre of the square,
his countenance calm, and his eye beaming with religious enthusiasm,
every head was uncovered, or bent in obeisance. This man was Trujano.
Stopping in the midst of the multitude, he made sign that he was about
to address them. The silence, if possible, became more profound.
"Children!" he commenced in a sonorous voice, "the Scripture saith,
`except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.' Let
us pray, then, to the God of battles to watch with us!"
All bent down at the summons, the speaker kneeling in their midst.
"This evening," said he, "we celebrate mass for a special purpose. Let
us pray for our messenger; let us pray to God to protect him on his
journey, and grant him a safe return. Let us sing praises to that God,
who has hitherto preserved from evil the children who have trusted in
Him!"