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Jose Antonio de Zapata did not know that one day he would be the hero of songs and poetry.
He did not know that on his shoulders lay the future of Mexico's survival as a nation.
All he knew was that the Republic of the Rio Grande needed him to defend the town of Saltillo from the Imperial army which was marching his way.
During the previous days he had implemented a plan. He fortified the city to make it look like the bulk of his forces were holed up within, and had several hundred of his best infantry create a small battle line in the pass south of the city.
This would lure the proud but foolish attacking general Francisco Garcia into a frontal charge, which would be surrounded and attacked from the rear by Zapata's cavalry, positioned in the hills surrounding the pass. Garcia would probably bring his artillery into the pass in preparation for a siege, which if captured would be a great asset to his forces.
In the orange light of the waning day, and the cool breeze of Zacatzontli coming forth from the wide and sapphire sky, Zapata reminisced on the last few years, and of the success of the uprisings in the north against the traitor Santa Anna. He also remembered the brutality with which conservative forces had crushed the Zacatecas and Durango rebellions, and the sad turning of the liberal tide that had furiously swept across Mexico since independence. His allegiance to the Republic of the Rio Grande, the last great holdout of revolution, was a final and desperate hope.
Zapata turned to his cavalrymen as they camped in a narrow valley, with the light of the setting sun over the mountains to his back, and spoke with grave but steadfast tone the words which are inscribed for immortal glory on his tomb:
"To outlive defeat on this field would be to live under the rule of a traitor and a tyrant. If the day is to be theirs, then I will fall as gladly as I would be victorious"
The sound of bugles in the pass drew his gaze to the setting sun, the signal alerted them to the forces which were now in sight on the southwards road. Men mounted their horses with speed and proceeded to positions near the mouth of the valley, just behind the right flank of their infantry line.
Now, the plan was about to be put in motion as the Imperials marched northwards into the pass.
As expected, Garcia brought up his infantry line and, seeing the few hundred thinly spread defenders, ordered a mass bayonet charge. The lines met, and briefly engaged, after which the defenders turned and ran in a false retreat. They were faster, and easily outran the Imperial infantry, and Garcia charged after them along with his men.
They did not see, on the far side of the next row of craggy hills, the cavalry of Zapata, patiently waiting for the right moment. And when the hoofbeats echoed on the desert sand, and the defending infantry suddenly turned to fire, they were trapped.
Garcia's horse took a Rio Grande bullet to the skull, and tumbled to the ground along with its rider, while the front row of his army fell to a volley, and the rear was cut down by the cavalry. The panicked men saw the opening on their right flank, and flew to escape.
Of the 1500 men Garcia had commanded into the valley of Saltillo, only 75 managed to return to bring the news to Emperor Antonio. In a show of mercy against those who had none for him, the 300 men who were captured were given a choice between joining the Rio Grande Army or death. Most chose the former.
From the battle Zapata gained three things. 230 new men, captured rifles and cannon, and an important victory for the Republic, which garnered more support from the constituent states and a great boost of morale.