position the enemy gave way except about 60 men round the ~anon and protected by a breast work of corn sacks, sail barrels ol me_al and boxes of canister shot. they fell by the bayonet and sword 111 one mangled heap from thal ti"me until they reached the bi~~au. it was nothing buL a slaughter, they at first attem ptcd to swim the Bieau but they were surrounded by our men and they shot every one that attempted to swim the bieau as soon as he took the waler, and them that remained they killed as fast as they could load and shoot them until the~• surrendered. the enemy lost time between 620 and 700 killed dead on the field and in the Bieau, 410 prisoners among whom is Gen. Santa Anna H. I. M. [S.] E. L. F. his private secretary and the next in command to Santa Anna Gent Savala. 10 of his field officers was killed dead at the head of them is Gen. Coss. There is more than half our prisoners wounded. Our loss was 4 men killed dead and 23 wounded, 3 have since died and there is one more that will die in two days at most. the balance will all get well. Gen. Huston when he ordered the charge, went in front of his men. he was shot through the ankle between the bone and the heel string and his horse killed. To see the number, the position and the termination and the time in which it was· done, (time 18 minutes) it at once shews that the hand of Providence was with us. I shall be in Kentucky early in the fall. Kiss William for me and tell him pappy will be there in the fall and stay with him always and that he must be a good boy. Santa Anna promises if they will spare his life and his men he will guarantee Texas free as far as they claim in the Declaration of lndpendence. Couriers start in the morning to order all the Mexican troops in Texas to faU back on San Antonio and Gonzalez until prelimanaries are settled and one after the president of Texas to come to our camp and treat with the tyrant and his fate and that of Texas sealed. Huston says that every man that was in the battle shall have 2 leagues of land The boat is going to start and I must stop. I will write again in a few days. I remain your affectionate brother, W. C. Swearingen
36
Powered by FlippingBook