likewise at its di8posal. When these men left their fortifications, they carried with them nine pieces of artillery, about one lhousand riilcs, and plenty of ammunition. With a little more than three hundred men, infantry and cavalry, 1 overtook them al the Plain of Pcrdido. J drove them out of a fine live oak thiek~t which they defended by a lively cannonade, and attacked them in 8pile of lhe superiority of their force, equipment, and arlillery-l myself being entirely deprived of the latter. The engagement was holly contested; and, because of circumstances which I shall explain lo Your Excellency in detail whenever opportunity offers, il was dangerous for us. But the valor of our army was brillianlly displayed in the engagement. When the light of day failed, J gathered my force in columns but remained facing the enemy, less than two hundred paces distant. Thus we spent the night, and the following clay, yesterday, as soon as two six-pounders I had ordered from Goliad arrived, I placed my battery one hundred and sixty paces from the enemy. J prepared for a new attack; but the enemy, who had strengthened his position during the nighl by digging a reclangular lrench, being already intimidated by lhe inlrepidily of our soldiers, surrendered at discretion lhe moment we renewed our fire as shown by the enclosed document rclalive to the proposals made by the enemy officers and the reply I gave them. My terms having been accepted, they are all in my power with their arms and a large supply of munitions. In spite of the fatigue of lhe troops, J marched immediately with lwo pieces of artillery to this place Lo keep the enemy from reenforcing it to obstruct our crossing of the river. The movement was very opportune, for I met a party of about eighty men of the enemy already here. They fled the moment I ordered a charge upon them, just as l was entering the town. The party took refuge in the thick woods along the river and made good its escape, but another party of twenty which was coming to this place fell into my hands. I took seven of them prisoners, the rest, together with their officer and his aide, ha,,ing been killed in the skirmish. Early tomorrow morning l shall occupy a private port on the La Baca lake which is frcquented by the enemy. As I have been assured that the food supplies are kepl there, and that a ship was seen in the port of La Baca day before yesterday, 1 may find some troops at that place.
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