Apr 21 1836 to June 3 1836 - PTR, Vol. 6

me, I coldly and frankly told him, Genl. W. was in our camp a prisenor, I continued saying-that, that, was, a subject, which, I would suLsequently, develop, satisfactorily to himself I hen re- marked he presumed it necessary for hin1 lo observe the strictness of military, generally practised usually on such occasions, he flattered himself of an immediate suspension of arms, he also presumed, my, knowledge of his N[ ] and the construction of the fort, no farther questions ,~re, then asked, but with his,- invitation, we followed, his steps, directed towards his quarte( r J s, with conformity with an arrangement, with old deaf Smith, l saluted as I passed, the line believing my introduction one of safely, old deaf Smith. showed. himself on the Eastern horizon three miles from town, having driven just in sight-a thousand of fifteen hundred Callie, in this simple act, he showed himself a military reward, for nothing can bare the same resemblance to that of armed infantry, as a large herd, of cattle, on the horrizon their horns strikingly exemplifying, them at a shoulder he and his other companions D riding briskly to and fro, soon succeeded in clri,,ing the cattly-under the hill, The Mexican army I supposed 5000 in number had displayed column to the right and left, as we approached-following their General they came to a present-a few hundred yards through their columns and we found ourselves safely landed at the threshold of the commander, we were, asked to light, at the same time the General remarked that it was, not al all improbable we should loose our horses, such-sometimes in the inavoidable case here, as the Indians are excei;sively troublesome (I howeve[ r] found that this pisillanse orriginaled more amongst -them selves, than, amongst .the vagrant Indians,) Their men, were deserting cliurnaJly, consequently stoled horses to make their retrea"l-Filisola-s"lated, should the misfortune, occur, that we should have such a number of his best horses, as, we might loose, our cavalry, then was delivered to the servant, our hagage carefully laid in one corner of the house, we were asked to wash, which we did, Chocolate, a favourate beverage was then .set on the table, our hunger was soon relieved, a variety of new dishes was placed before us-at first I was rather tenacious of participation, until I saw their own offic[e] rs, copiously supplying their own almost insatiable appetites at least half a dozen diffirenl kinds of spirits, and wines, were uncorked before us of which I participated quite freely, more so than is usual. I felt much the inebrial ing effects produced which gave firmness & confidence to what I might say l was by Fclisola introduced to most of the commanding officers. The most Gcnlecle and courtious of their military was Genl. Tolsa, lhe forther of

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