PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR 63 He could _do nothing without the advantages of that port. 'Thl:!t it should be kept open for the reception of supplies, and for the admission of emigrants and soldiers coming into the country, was an indispensible matter. Nor was it less essential that it shouTd also be made a source of public revenue. But these were objects which could not be effected without the acquiesence and friendly co- operation of Lafitte. Hence the necessity of General Long repairing to that point with all possible despatch. The importance his going, was not unappreciated by his fair lady; who was of too sound an understanding to disuade her husband from the calls of duty, how- ever much inclined she might be to exclaim, "here we meet too soon to part. "-Leaving his wife with the family of a Mr. Amberson, and placing Major Cook (who had returned from Pecan Point) in com- mand of the garrison, the General departed for the Island on the twenty second day of September, taking with his thirteen men; and while he is rapidly pursuing his coast-wide journey, we will avail ourselves of the opportunity it affords, of taking a transient ghrnce at the operations of the enemy.- The Spanish authorities at Bexar, having their emisaries in every quarter, were fully apprised at all times, of the movements of General Long; and as early as their limited resources would permit, the necessary preparations were adopted for opposing and defeating them. Ignacio Perez received orders 67 -dated 16th of September, a few days only before the departure of Genl. Long for Galveston- to take up the line of march for the Sabine; which he did without much delay; and continued his progress with tedious monotony until he reached the vicinity of the Yegua, where he was notified by the Tonkaway Indians, that the enemy of which he was in pursuit, was not very distant from him. This occasioned him to halt. He arrived at the Yegua probably about the 10th of October-crossed the Brazos according to the Americans' account, on the 15th and re- sumed his march according to his own repart 68 on the 20th. During this short period he succeeded in -surprising, capturing and dispersing the entire forces which General Long had despatched to that section of the country. This was effected through the instrumentality of a Tonkaway chief, called Captain Cojo-which means a brave man- who was partly forced and partly bribed to act in the capacity of a spy and guide. He was well acquainted, as a matter of course, with the localities of the country-had been trading with the Ameri- ~ans-knew their ·several positions, and consequently could have no difficulty in conducting the Spaniards. to their camps. It was almost impossible for the Americans, under the circumstances, to have escaped the fate they encountered. There was no way by which -they could have guarded against such treachery as Cojo 's; and be- 1ng altogether too inconsiderable their numbers to compete with the ·enemy, their surprise and defeat was necessarily a catastrophe which could not be averted. ·we are only astonished that they escaped as well as they did. Two of "Walker's men were cap~ured on the 67 A copy of these orders and the original of Perez's acknowledgment of them are in the Bexar Archives. 68 A translation of this report was printed as no. 25 of this collection.
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