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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Mexico, where the officers having them in charge, heard that a force of 400 men were assembled for the purpose of rescuing the prisoners; whereupon they returned to San Louis, where they were kept a year imprisoned when they were released. · Canalis was within hearing of the Guns whilst Zapata was fight- ing, and might have come to his relief, it being on[ly] one mile and half off. Instead, of doing this, however, he made no move until late in the evening after the capture of Zapata. He then came but came with a small party only; and after discharging a few shots of artillery at the town, he then retired until the next day, when Arriste, arriv- ing with his whole force, marched upon Canalis; who after a feeble resistence was put to flight, his whole army being dispersed, and him- self escaping at the head of a remnant of his force, leaving behind about 30 carese Indians killed who had borne the brunt of the action, and some 5 or 6 }Iexicans. (This the narator has heard, but knows nothing personally being in prison at the time of the battle) He heard also that some Americans had fallen in the fight.- When Zapa[ta] retired from the Orevefia ranch oposite Guerrero, the President Cardenas fled up the country- Came to Laredo, and went thence to a water-hole called Los Soucis between the Riogrande & the Nueces, nearly mid way.- FURTHER MA'TTER FROM OLD GONZALES. He says that whilst they were at Victoria, a trafic took place between l\falino and Ariste- Correspondence was carried oil between them, which }Ialino concealed-and here he says was the foundation of the Treason which was carried out at Saltillio; that is to sell the Ameri- cans, betray the cause and join the Centralists.- He, Gonzales, to- gether with many others suspected the treason of Malino at Victoria, but having no positive evidence of it, they listened to his solemn pro- testations and would sometimes almost conclude that they had greatly wronged him. His conduct, however, in defiance of his assurances, became daily more inexplicable, so that when they had advanced some short distance on the San Louis road, greatly against the feelings of the whole command he, Gonzales was not satisfied with matters as they were being conducted, and regarding the cause as hourly becom- ing more hopeless, he was determined to proceed no further; but would withdraw his force, and go down to Campeachy and aid the people of Yucatan in their struggle for liberty.- The reassurances of J\falino half way allayed his suspicions against him, and he concluded that he would still continue in the Federal service if the Operations should be confined this side of the mountains. It was accordingly agreed that they should moYe against Saltillio; and here at Saltillio it was that 1\Ialino after the necessary preliminaries with the Commandant 1\Ion- tolla, threw off his disguise and deserted to the enemy, thereby doing only what, he had in all probability agreed with Ariste to do at San Loui&------ There is no doubt of the fact that he agreed with Ariste to sell the Federals at San Louis; but failing to get them there he con- sumated .the bargain at Saltillio.- Whilst Malino was marching to Saltillio, Canalis was retreating be- fore Ariste to the Riogrande-or rather they were both ~arching to-
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