GUTIERREZ DE LARA, Bernardo, Mexican patriot: b. Quanajuato, 1778; d. San Antonio, Bejar, 15 March 1814. When Hidalgo and Allende, after the defeat of Cal deron in 1811, were on their way to the United States to reorganize their forces, Gutierrez met them early in March and offered his services. He was appointed colonel and sent to Wash ington, where he arrived in August. His mis sion was not recognized and he went to New Orleans, where he gathered a force of 450 men. He marched to Texas in February 1812, cap tured the town of Nacogdoches and the presidio of Trinidad, and a few days afterward the Bay of Espiritu Santo, where he found important stores of ammunition and provisions. The Spanish governor of New Leon and Texas be sieged Gutierrez in Trinidad, but after four months the latter made a sally and broke through the enemy's lines. In August of the same year he defeated the Royalists at Rossillo, capturing all their artillery, and shortly after ward gained other victories, making him the master of New 'Leon and Texas. But Alvarez
de Toledo, who had been appointed commis sioner to Washington, entered there into secret transactions with the Spanish government, and also instigated Gutierrez's forces to demand the execution of the governor of Leon and Texas. When their commander, in a moment of weakness, submitted, Alvarez appeared in his camp with accusations, and brought about a mutiny, which deposed Gutierrez and put Al varez in his stead. Gutierrez was patriot enough not to abandon the army in the hour of need, as Arredondo was approaching with large forces to subdue the patriots. The revolutionary army was defeated and Gutierrez perished in the battle.