EXECUTION OF HIDALGO. 435 



1811, at El Puente de Calderon, eleven 

 leagues from thence, in which Hidalgo was 

 totally defeated. San Bias fell again into 

 the power of the royalists. Hidalgo, with 

 the remnant of his troops, proceeded to 

 Zacatecas ; from thence to San Luis Po- 

 tosi, and then to vSaltillo, about two hun- 

 dred leagues from Mexico. On the 21st of 

 March 1811, some of his officers having 

 been gained over to the royalists. Hidalgo 

 was unexpectedly attacked at Acatita de 

 Bajon by Don Y. Elisondo, who commanded 

 a detachment of his own army ; he was thus 

 easily overcome, and himself and the officers 

 of his staff were made prisoners : fifty-two 

 of the latter were executed on the spot, and 

 Hidalgo and nine others were taken to Chi- 

 guagua, where, on the 27th of July 1811, 

 they were likewise put to death. 



Other chiefs, however, still remained, 

 who supported the patriot cause; amongst 

 these were Don N. Villagran, Don J. M. 

 2 F 2 



