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PAPERS OF Mm.IBEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
No. 1652 [188-?, X. DE BRAY, HOUS'l'ON? TEXAS] "DEFEAT OF PERRY'S PARTY"' 4 Defeat of Perry's Party Colonel Martinez, Governor of Texas, having been informed that a party of Americans were hovering about La Bahia, left Bexar, with all his available troops (on the 16th of June 1817), to meet the enemy. On the 18th, he received intelligence that the Americans had shown themselves before the Presidio of La Bahia, and summoned the place to surrender. Martinez, on reaching La Bahia, was apprized that the enemy were only 44 men strong. He, then, sent them a flag of truce, to summon them to lay down their arms, on which condition their lives would be spared, otherwise, they should be attacked and put to the sword. Lieutenant La Flor, who was in command of an advanced party, sent word to ' Col. Martinez that he had overtaken the enemy at a place called ''Los dos Corrales" where they had taken position on a height known as "del Perdido," and that Colonel Perry, and Major Gordon, his second in command, had answered to the summons made them, that "they would die rather than surrender." Col. Martinez ordered the enemy's position to be surrounded during the night, and to commence the attack at day break, taking prisoners those only who should lay down arms. However, the enemy took the advance, opened their fire against the center, during the night; probably with an intention of forcing through a passage. Twice the l\Iexiran line was broken, and was being driven off, when they received a timely re-enforcement. Then the contest grew fiercer; the enemy were repelled and driven back against a creek, where 26 of their men were killed. and 14 taken prisoners, amonst whom 12 were wounded, each man being pierced with at least three or four bullets. Colonel Perry and Major Gordon remained amongst the dead; the first after having been wounded, shot himself dead with his pistol. Gordon attempted an es- cape on his horse, but he was sabered down and killed by Ensign Fernando Rodriguez. The Mexican lost 1 corporal and, 3 privates and one citizen of La Bahia, killed, Two lieutenants, one corporal, one drummer, 5 privates and several -.!!len of the Mi_litia of La Bahia were wounded. Of the 44 men who composed the enemy's force, 4 only were missing, having, either perished in the creek and been swept off by the stream, or made good their escape. The following property was found on the battle field, to wit: 27 muskets, most of them unserviceable, having been broken. by the men so soon as they were prevented by their wounds from using them any more, 4 escopets 12 bayonets, 11 cartridge boxes, one ,broken pistol, and two sabers; and also, 12 horses in bad condition and 2 mules. "A. D.R.
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