run they fired 12 or 15 guns at me, but without effect: they pursued me to the swamp, but J escaped them. I kept in the swamp all day: that night I heard the drum beating at Victoria. Next morning I went near enough lo sec the Mexican cavalry; l then returned to the s,vamp and kept il all day, that night went out and made my way up the river until I reached a crossing place, and here I overtook three men that had made their escape from the enemy in the swamp at the same time I did, but whom I had not seen before since we retreated and scatlercd in the swamp: their names were Andrews, l\ 1 loses and Tresvant. We here got some meal from a house which had been left by the enemy. We re• mained here all night, and next day made our way through the woods towards the Colorado river, and that 11ighl got lo a place where the Mexican army had camped a night or two before: here we remained all night, and next morning we reached the river and crossed it on a bale of cotton which we found on the hank, and about two miles above where the enemy were crossing al the same time. We lay in the swamp that day-at night we heard the drum, but supposing it was the enemy, would not go to it. Next morning Moses and myself ventured to go in sight of the camp to see who they were, and soon discovered they were Mexicans; we relrealcd, and in a short distance saw six horsemen charging towards us; we discovered they were Americans and did not run-they came up, and much to our relief, we found they were spies from General Houston's camp; their names were Cawmack and Johnson, from Tennessee, Shipman and Lapham, of Texas, and two others that I did not know. They were astonished to see us at that place, and when I say we were glad to see them, I but feebly express the feelings of my heart. I was then wi lhout hat or shoes, and only a few rags for clothing. While we were here narrating our adventure, and waiting for one of the company who we had got to go hack a short distance after Andrews, we were attacked and fired upon by a small scouting party of Mexicans, but at such a distance as to do us no injury; bu l upon their seeing thafwe had got among some l'rees and were prepared to give them a fire, they retreated and left. We then left that place, and the spies carried us to General Houston's army, where we arrived, l think, on the 2d day of April, our appearance being such as to excite the sympathy of every soldier-and on meeting some gentlemen who had known us in this country, the noble tear of compassion was seen to trickle freely on
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