TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
270
breaking ·of day, he and his companions 5 or 6 in number, rose, and reconnoitered the streets. They found no one stirring except the Priest; who enquired of Thompson what he was in search of. Thompson told him it was none of his business; but that he was in search of the enemy. Then· said the Priest you will not find any, for the have all departed. Thompson did not believe him and told him that his life should pay for the lie if he spoke falsely. The Priest replied that the enemy escaped during the night, and that no one was in the quartel except the dead and wounded. Thompson & 5 or six others cautiously ap- proached and kincking [sic] open the door of the quartel found the truth of what the Priest had said- The enemy had fled, and the preparations of their departure, was the cause of the noise & confusion heard in the quartel during the night.- The question now arose as to what course should be pursued by the Americans. They had had no leader, and an attempt was made to chose a commander-but it failed. Thompson, however, was the most active and prominent actor.- It was determd to reenforce themselves if possible and pursue the enemy. Thompson and six others, (to wit Geo. W. Jones, Robt. Foot, Jas. Turner, Elisha Clapp & two others whose names are not remem- bered) wen[t] in pursuit of the enemy; and overtook him 7 miles this side of the Angalina and fired upon the rear guard. This caused Pedres to halt and-form for action; and gave time for the Americans to come up who were behind. Thompson ·after his fire upon the rear guard, retreated to meet the coming Americans. They were, however, to his surprise only 60 strong, and the enemy were between 6 and 7 hundred strong.- What should be done?- It was proposed that they would leave the road and push for the Angalina and occupy that crossing before the enemy could reach it- It was impossible to fight in open field; and their only hope of doing any thing was to cross the river and make their stand on the west bank, and there await the enemy. This they did. They entered the woods, pushed rapidly for the river, and succeded in reaching it with- out the knowledge of the enemy. They struck the river below the road, and at a very bad crossing-; so that in their attempt to get over it. only 19 succeeded; the balance of party, retired and never rejoined them. These 19 who crossed, hastened to crossing above on the road and waited Pedres. They hid themselves in such a manner, very near the foard, as not to be seen. In a short time a mexican woman came & seated herself on the opposite bank. This shewed that Pedres was near. Presently three Horsemen rode down the bank, looked up and down the river and seeing no signs of the Americans let their horses drink. In this position the ambushed Americans fired upon them, and killed the three.- Pedres now formed for battle. He came in platoons closely formed to the river. The Americans fired upon them, and made the foremost give way; another platoon advanced and the same ensued-this continued until 4 rounrls, when Pedres halted and retreated. It was now nearly night and the Americans concluded to fall below to the habitation of a l\frs. Lightle's where they get some- thing to eat and expected to meet the balance of their party who had not crossed the river. On their way to l\frs. Lightle's, one of the
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