131
PAPERS OF MIRA.BEAU BuONAPARTE LAMAR
try; some of Ariste's cavalry came to Guerrero &C- From the Coast Zapata came to Laredo and on to Rio Grande- From Riogrande Zapata went to the Haciendo, Warlupe 5 leagues off; thence to Anava, thence to Morelos, where he was taken prisoner. Canalis was at San fernando-only 1 or 2 miles from Morelos. Zapata had .but 20 men; the force which he had below, having gradually fallen off, and left him before his arrival at Laredo- He got to Morelos with hardly 20 men, and no American with him- (Canalis had 25 Americans with Mm--) When Zapata reached l\Iotelos, in the evening, he remained in town that night; and early in the morning saddled up to go into San Fernanao, to join Canalis- The principle citizens of the town now assembled around him with unusual demonstrations and expressed their surprise at his leaving them so soon- that he was amongst his friends who would be glad to serve him; and after offering him every hos- pitality, proposed to kill a beef for his men. He yielded to their kindness, and ordered his men to dismount, saying that he would spend the day in l\Iorelos. His horses were given to the care of those who had invited him to remain; and by them were immediately de- livered up to some Soldiers, who until then had not made their ap- pearance and whose being there, Zapata knew nothing of. He was tarrying with a family who resided in a large white house at the corner of the Square; and it was here the citizens met and invited him to accept the hospitality of the place. They had, however, scarcely got fully in possession of the horses, before he was fired upon by these very men; they missed him, and shots were immediately followed up from 3 other quarters by the Soldiers 100 or 200, who were secreted there. Zapata's men seeing this ran to him, and joined him in the house where he had stopped. They had stopped in another house, 15 or 20 paces off. Here they defended themselves for three hours, loos- ing 4 men killed inside, and 3 outside the house. They fought until the very last cartridge was expended. Zapata, now came forward and surrendered. About this time Ariste arrived in town with 1800 men.- Zapata and his men were tied, and kept prisoners until the next day. Ariste then had an interview with Zapata; what passed between them, he does not kno,v, personally, not being present; but it was generally reported in town and understood that he had proposed to pardon Zapata, if he would join the Centralists- Zapata refused- Ariste then promised him his life if he would lay down his arms and co- operate no further with the Federalists. Zapata, still refused, and claimed to be treated as a prisoner of war; Ariste told him that he, Zapata, must either abandon his cause or die- Zapata, then told him to shoot him; for he would never lay down his arms as long as he was at liberty.- . He was shot accordingly- The narator (Jesus Barrera,) was at the time one of the prisoners taken with Zapata, and was confined when he heard the· guns fire, that killed his leader. In three days there after the prisoners taken with Zapata, were started in chains under a strong guard for Vera Cruz-going to ~fonterey, then to Sal- tillio, and then back again to l\Ionterey, thence back to Saltillio, and then on to San Louis; and from San Louis Caretta near the city of
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