37
P,,PERS OF ~IrnABE.\U Buo~.\P.\RTE L,\M.\R
from :N'acogdoches who usually crossed at that point on their way to the Indian ~ation . Having organized every thing aareeable to the foregoing dispositions, I took up my line of march on the 20th of Octr., keeping constantly a well mounted party' of 8 or 10 legues in advance, carefully reconnoitering all hollows, woods, pathways with orders to communicate promptly a11y unusual occurrence or in- dication· of any unexpected movement. On the following day Lieut. Fernando Rodrigues with hl party returned, who having ,explored the different points through w~ich the fugitives might pas , only succeeded in capturing one titled Lieut. of Long's republican army of Texas, not being able to afect the same with the rest (that is to capture them) in consequence, .as I under- tand, of their taking the lower direction towards the Atasco ito. On the night of the same day I was joined by Lieut. D. Jose Salinas with ensign D. Adiodato [ 's 1 division [ Y] of 59 soldiers, having delivered all the prisoner & spoils to Lieut. Andre Saldana at Navasota. The diary which he manifested of hi opperations I herewith remit, docu- ment No. 4. On the 27th the spy company reported a fresh trail discovered on the eastern side of Neches and main road to Nacog- <loche , I immediately gave orders for the spy company to follow on the trail, and Fern~ndo Rodrigues with 50 men to advance and head them (the per ons making the trail, I suppose). 28 This officer was just about to march when I recd. a second communication from D. Jose l\f a. Zambrans commander of the spy company, reporting that he had met 2 Indian who had informed him that 3 Americans, 2 Spds. & 1 Indian were but a very short distance ahead with a large drove of horses. Rodrigues being at the mom·ent ready, marched instantaneously, and at dawn on the following morning he succeeded in capturing the aforesaid 3 Ans. 2 Spds. & Indian; & the horses & f?Oods manifested in list No. 5, inclosed in Official N'o. 6 which is Rodrigues' report. . As I was now within 10 leagues of Nacogdoches and it became nece ary to make dispositions for opperating [ Y], and eaqually to ex- plore the surrounding country, for the purpose of capturing _such as might be lurking about, I dispatched Lieut. Jose Salinas with 40 men to the ranch G11ajolote, with orders to capture all persons & expresa all property found there or on his way thlther. Lieut. F. Rodrigues I ordered, with 40 men to the east, ensign D. l\Ianl. Delgado with 60 to the south, ensign D. Claudio de Suna with eaquel number to the north, myself with the remainder of my division taking the main road leading to said town; in this manner and at the same time we all ad- vanced at day break on the morning of the 28th of Octr., each one maintaining the position & performing the duties assigned him, the re ult of which was that in a moment every house in town was searched, 2 Americans captured & also one Spaniard called Juan Sota who resided there with his family, & one Indian killed, who committed himself in an attempt to disarm a soldier, but after being exorted & prayed for by Chaplain Br. D. Jose Antonio Valdes, he was pre- vailed upon to ask for Bapti~m which was given him with the name "Note probably inserted by translator.
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