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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BtrONAPARTE LAMAR
weather a norther blew all day furiou ly the [rain] fell in torant all c:itize1.., of Texas know the censation experienced of a norther when fillell with wet MORNING 1837 [1836) This mornings sun has just elevated itself above the the [sic] verdent praaries to lighten me on my glorious mission in obedent to his call at nine oclock we ware off several volunteared themselves to go in sight of the enemes camp with us amongst others was the ever to be remembered Smith alias old deaf whose nam [e) will live in son[ o-Y] and immortal with posterity \Ve quietly journed on until twelve before we caugh the glimpse of any human as we approached an old hut or ranch as the . iexicans call them and indulging in a thousand degres- ions of immagination and constantly inticipating an immediate sulu- tation from &n enemir.s 1'Copette-We were depicting the 1elancholy tragic i:icene of Goliad, when suddenly a wild and strange, voice, sud- denly bur ted, from a bit of timber on my right_-it was the voice of [a] Mexican- • we suddenly halted, believeing him, to· be one of the enemies Picket Guards, but a few words fi'om him who held his Rifle at trail arms, told me Was a Rancllero the owner of the house just before us, he cour- teously asked us to dine with hirri. Semiltaneously turning his steps homeward, and not waiting for an answer, for I presume experience had taught him, that soldiers, usu·ally are posse ed of insatiable a_ppe- tites- consequently, understood, that his kindness extenuated would be promptly attended to, He was extremely kind to us; and stated to tis, that if we .did not immediately countermarch-we would find, that we had been ignis fatuisly led into an unmitigating un or irretrievable destruction-At the same time he gave us 1 the first accurate account of the defeat and execution of Col J. W. Fannin and his brave but unfortunate a sociates & fellow soldiers, who now silently repose in the grave of the Warrior- We listened silently to the tragic war-tale, nnd heaved a sigh, sophi ticated alone, with my execrations, upon the heads of them, who ordered & Sanctioned their exicution-I stifled my reproaches; ave in ilent prayer, to him, who was able to visit the ill wrought & helli h deed upon the coJ,1.Sciences of the most for- midable of all mental ·demons- To prevent further discussion on the lamentabie occurrence, I communicated fully my mission, which led me to the Mexican army- which I here understood was at Goliad- On saddlil1g my Ilone, I found. that he had been injured by the saddle- The l\[exiran immediately aid he could remedy, my situation, and more particularly that of my Ilorse- This he sooi1 done. bv giving me hi own riding Hor e untill I should return- I-Tc had the appearance and proved to be a better one, than my own- After having dined for the first time iu my life ,Yith the fexican, and a ear [?] mess it was-I mounted & was off- -In 2 hours, & a half we were in sight of the iexican camp at Goliad, but 5 miles di tant-what happened be- tween that time & the time in which I was halted by the sentinel of our enemy, one can better imagine thf.m pen----- Paratterre, [ .] 77 wa hailed by the sentinel, who appeared indus- triou ly promenading hls- ground- this ·I instinctively understood "Blank in document.
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