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PAPERS OF ·MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
side of the river. He was on his march, however, overtaken by Juan Malino, brother in law of Canalis, with orders for Jordan to advance into the Country so far as China for the purpose of getting horses. This act of cowardice and perfidy in sending 90 Americans into the heart of the Country which it would require the energies of the whole army to conquer, was only in consonance with the cowardice and treachery of Canalis throughout the whole enterprise- Jordan hower [sic] went, although the most of his men remonstrated against his ad- vancing into the heart of the e[ne]my's co[u]ntry, unless the whole americans could be along- They believed that it was a trick of Canalis' to push them forward regardless of their fate, if not a premeditated act of treachery. The Mexicans which Canalis had ordered to accompany Jordan the Americans had no Confidence in. It was Lopez- He had been tried and failed at Laredo. Jordan however, prevailed on his men to proceed- which they did, accompanied by Lopez and Malino with 100 Ml;)xicans. On reaching China they found no horses. Malino, made Jordan believe that they had been run off at their approach, and could be found in a town close by. With such like prevarication [ ?], Jordan was lured on from one place to another. On his march he stopped at a small town where he was told by the people that on the next day he would be likely to have a fight as there was a colonel close by who was taking up some arms to Monterey- Sure enough in the morning, the spies which had been sent to look out, returned with tidings that the Col. was near in the Chaparel. Jordan advanced upon him. His men, (the Cols Mexicans) grounded their arms immediately, ,and surrendered without making any resistance. 300 muskets together with large quantity of Cartriges were captured- The Col. was made prisoner-his men joined the Americans, and all marched ns one body in the Federal cause- The day after capturing these men and arms, we reached a small clirty town or ranch at the foot of the mountains, where we found a number of good horses and supplying ourselves with what we needed (about 90) Here we tarried two days & one night. The Americans being now well mounted, was desirous of returning, not being will- ing to proceed further without hearing something from Canalis & the main army. Malino, however, urged, that if they would go to Victory (about 60 miles off) they should there be paid off. Antonio Parez, a man well known in Santontio Texas and not a coward, urged Jordan not to listen to the lies of Malino who had so often lied to him and who would finally lead him into trouble; but to return . at once with him, and take horses enough to remunerate himself- Jordan however, heeded not Parez; who now abandoned the enter- prize, stole a large Cavayard of horses, and left for Texas Jordan went to Victory. He travelled all night and reached there late in the morning- The Governor of the place fled to the mountains with all his men except his Quartermaster, who met Jordan and made a formal [surrender] of the place to him and all the military stores- 14 The H[Note in document:] The flight of the Governor from Victoria, whicl1 was three hours before Jordan arrived, was accelerated by a mexican, Martinez, who represented the Americans as perfect cannibals & devils, and advised the Governor to take time by the fore-lock, and fly whilst he might- This Martines,
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