105,
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
Canalis escaped with a remnant of his army & went into Texas for present safety and for further aid. The President, after these disasters fled to Texas- Thus was the cause broken up, and their resources entirely distroyed. Snell broke & run for life-he was pursued and overtaken by a mexi- can who knew him at San Antonio & was his friend- His friend secreted him. Ariste ordered the town to be searched-the women took him & hid him under some canes When Canalis was thus routed, Ariste, still having Zapata a pris- oner, in cold blood, deliberately cut off his head & sent it to Guerrero, to be stuck up in the presence of his family, and over the door of their house- He supposed that this was the close of the war, and was re- solved to make the last act, like that of a regular drama, the most bloody & horrible- The foregoing history embraces the period from the fall of 1839-to the early part of 1840, embracing about 5 months- WE NOW OPEN UPON A SECO~D EXPEDITION Canalis after his defeat at Sanfernando, escaped with a part of his army into Texas- He, in company with other Chiefs, visits the President of Texas-Seeks aid from the President. The president allows him to recruit men, but forms no alliance with him, having no confidence in the ability of the Federalists to effect their objects, or to maintain their independence- He had no faith in their intelligence and none in their virtue- Their leaders too, in his estimation were not wisely chosen, being cowardly and treacherous. Besides, which was chief reason for not openly aiding them he would not declare for independence & demanded the Nueces as the boundary- Canalis, Carabahal, Malino went from Austin to Galvezton for the pur- pose of procuring supplies for another expedition. Here they received considerable aid; purchasing whatever they could obtain upon credit, whether it was useful to their purposes or not. They did not confine their purchases to munitions of war and military supplies, but bought women's dresses, parasols and every other thing that they could get.- They succeeded in procuring a steamboat, which they afterwards lost- brought their goods and supplies to San Patricio, on the Nueces, where their new army was assembled. The army encreased prety rapidly- and every thing looked flourishing and all believed that much would be achieved. Merchants followed to vend goods to the soldiers- There were congregated about 300 Mexican Soldiers, 80 Indians, and about 140 Americans, who increased afterwards.- These Indians were from :Mexico-they live about Renoso-they are called Oareses-cane Indians- The Centralists, hearing that they were about to join the Federalists in 1839, made prisoners of them and confined them at Matamoras. They lay in jail there some time, when their chief proposed to the Commandt. of the town to let his men come out and take exercise, which their health required. The commandant consented; and the Indians were brought out naked. They propose a favorite game of kicking the Ball. Bets were made for and against their kicking the Ball from l\fontery to Rinoso a dis-
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