283
PAPERS OF l\1IR,\BEAU BUONAP,\RTE LAMAR
perate effort to redeem the Royal losses. Arredondo 's army was estimated at Ten thousand. He now advanced to a small lake where he fortified distent about 6 miles from l\fadina. Toledo marched to meet him, and arrived at Madino on the 16 of august. Whilst at ·Medino, the Enemy made their appeance; Arredond divided his forces; one half remaig in reserve at the lake where he was fortified; the other half 5000 stng, advanced with four pieces of artillery and attacked the patriots; the patriots entered into the fight with their usual vigor; crossed the river; the eney retreated but kept up firg; in this way the battle lasted for some time until the Enmy retreated in such haste as to loose their artillery. Toledo conceived that his men were getting too far off from water called a halt and ordered a retreat back to the river. This order caused great contention and confusion among the officirs. Kemper had returned and taken command of the American forces, and l\Ionchack the prin- ciple Col. Commadig the Mexicans. These two Colonels were opposed to Toledo personally, so that when he gave the order to retreat to the River, Kemper and l\Ionchack galloped violently up & down the lines counternandig the order and swearing that there should be no retreat. Toledo was as we have already stated unpopular in the army, and the consequence was that Kempe1, & l\Ionchack charged vigorously on the Enmy, who still Kept retreatig but still fighting-In this way the bat- tle lasted until the patriots drove them back to their entrenchmts, when to the utter astonishment of Kemper & i\lonchack, the whole force of .Arrodondos army made their appearnce opnd a most dreadful & ·destructive fire. Kemper had supposed that he had all along been con- tendig against the whole force of the Enmy & dreamed not of this re- serve. He now found that the retreat of the foe was only a stratagem. This was not discovered until they were in 40 yds of the Breast ,vorks. At the first fire the Mexicans fled. Toledo had formed the line of battle by placig alternately on compay of Mexicns and one of Americus. The l\fexicns flying left the Americns in a state of disorgan- ization & confusion, who :nevertheless, retreated not but fought with all •the desperate bravey the case requird. The contst contined long & severe; it was doubtful, which would gain the day. At lngth the Cavalry of the Enmy fled and·Aradondo commenced packing up his • nules for a retreat; at this crisis, a traitor in the patriot ranks, Col. l\Iusquis father of Ramon Musquis, galloped over to the enemy's ranks and informed the gen!. that the Americns were whipped; that thy were feinting for the want of water. On hearing this Arredondo rallied his disconcerted cavalry & other companies, ana coming again to the fight with renewfld vigor soon compelled the Americns to give back. Their defeat was now certain-a dreadful slaughter ensued- they broke but more than one half who had not fallen in the Battle fell in the retreat. The l\1exicens lost but few having deserted at an early period. There were many indians in the fight. they stood by the Americus to the last & shared their fate- This closed the war. The principle inhabitants of St Antonio left the place-& fled across the Sabine-- In 1814 another attempt was made to get up another expedition. Tolado, Henry Bullard his aid, now Judge in Louisiana, Mrs. Smith T.,
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