them another round when the exclamations; dont shoot! dont; shoot was heard in their rear which proved to be a doctor by the name of Smithers who had been a surgeon for the Mexican garrison al Bexar (an American) coming with a positive assertion that Coln Castinado would not fight that he was not told to fight but the lillle band could not believe that after having read his orders but he as Mexicans generally expected to keep them off unlill he could receive a reenforcement which afterwards understood to be on the march al that Lime after having secreted the Men theColn & Lieut Coln l\'loore & Wallace aggreable to a request of Coln Castinado met him half way and after a few moments conversation and not agreeing upon the particular point Coln Moore & Wallace said to him there is the cannon-(Pointing to it about 2 hundred yards) Come and Take it to which he said I will not surrender at discretion nor fight then Coins Moore & Wallace observed them [sic] that they would open a fire on them immediately which was done as soon as each party could reach their proper stations and the first round of [steel?] that was thrown at them the heads of the horses-and no doubt without great reluctance took up a flighty March for St Antonio De Bexar with the Hussas; of Americans vibrating in their ears, the same day they marched to Gonales and here remained untill the force was increased to about 350 men & Officers & having Elected Genl Austin as Comd in Chief & other necessary officers took up the line of march in.3 days for Bexar & marched without seeing a sign of a Mexican untiU within 27 miles of this place ther [sic] Spies were obsrved by ours Capt Martin who commanded the Gonzales company was killed in the Alimo with the balance of the Heroes of that Municipality 35 or 40 in number
(Thomas J. Rusk]
[Endorsed:] Genl Rusk's Statement-War
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