Battle of Monte de las Cruces — Insurgents Triumph but Turn Back from Mexico City

Hidalgo's insurgent army of ~80,000 defeated a royalist force of 2,500 under Torcuato Trujillo at Monte de las Cruces, just 60 km from Mexico City. Despite the victory, Hidalgo made the fateful decision not to advance on the capital — historians debate whether he feared his force's lack of artillery or feared the breakdown of discipline (the Alhóndiga de Granaditas massacre of Guanajuato had alarmed many moderates). The hesitation gave the royalists time to strengthen Mexico City's defenses.