however, despite the statements by other Mexicans who knew the route, insisted that they were on the right road to Saltillo, although he knew himself that this was not the road to Saltillo.[98]  After some argument, he finally admitted that he was in error, having taken the wrong road from his ignorance of the country. By this act he lost the confidence of most of the Texans, but not of Jordan. The Federalists now retraced their steps, and the Texans, and probably a part of the Mexicans, spent the night of October 11 at Jaumave, while Molano and a few of the others stopped at Palmillas, nearby. In the meantime, Molano and López displayed great energy in "calming the torrent," said Molano, "that had no other object than to deprive me of command, perhaps assassinating me," and taking control of this contingent of Federalist troops.[99]  It was at Pamillas [Ed: Palmillas], on the following day, that Molano received Arista's appeal of October 11 from Victoria to end the war, and it was from this time on, declared Molano, that "all my efforts were directed toward separating the Mexicans from the strangers."[100]

At 3 o'clock on the morning of October 12 Molano ordered the tobacco which had been brought from Victoria burned in the public square of Jaumave, and three hours later, after having encamped in the Jaumave area one night, the Federalists headed northwestward toward Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila. On the fourth day after leaving Jaumave, a youthful ranchero from San Antonio named Martinez[101]  informed one of the Texan officers "that López and Molano were conducting their forces to a deep mountain gorge, wherein the Texans were to be butchered."[102]  Jordan ordered a halt, and the Texans demanded an explanation. Molano and López were horrified. How could