PAPERS OF ·MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR 147 tonio road; they were all captured '& taken to Bexar by Solcedo's force which was then marching on Labahia; where they arrived un- expectedly to McGee, he not hearing_ anything from his spies, whose capture he was ignorant of- Some slight skirmishing took place; but of no great consequence- it so happened, however, that the first shot from the American Cannon, took off a :Mexican's head, which spread some alarm in their ranks.- Solcedo, however captured many of the American's horses- Solcedo encamped on the Bexar road, within cannon shot of the Fort. Simon Herrera encamped in t,he Mission; and on the south side, Domingas encamped-· thus they surrounded the Americans & kept them close in the fort.- The second day, a slight skirmish ensued; in which one American was lost; American's commenced repairing the fort; mounted their cannon on new bastions which they made. - \Vhen the guard, (which had been sent on the Sanantonio road and were captured), was sent out, another small party under McFarlan (a foreigner) to the nueces, where he encountered and Captured a Mexican Sargent & 25 men; on his return to Labahia, he found to his surprize the place surrounded by the Enemy, and greatly embarrassed him as to how he should get into the fort with his Captiv€s- Under the shades of night however he got in with his prisoners- the pris- oners, seeing the small force of the Americans, refused to joind .the Revolutionary party, although they express their wishes for the cause. they were kept in Confinemt.- There being no corn in the fort to feed the horses, it was neces- sary to graze them daily on the out skirts of the town- Galvan was entrusted with this business- he was bought up by Solcedo; and the traitor, with the small party with him, went over to the enemy taking with them 200 horses & mules; leaving but very few horses with the Americans- This event was followed by the desertion of a Spaniard named Don Bernardo, Citizen of the town who went over to the enemy, leaving buried in the ground, a large sum of mony, 3 to 5 thousand dollars- which he thought was secure- the Americans, however, found out where it was buried- obtained it, and distributed it among the soldiers- The loss of their horses; the refusal of the people of the town to bring further provisions to them in the fort; the general apprehen- sion that prevailed with the inhabitants generally in Labahia, tended greatly to dispirit the Americans. They were only About 250 or 300 Americans and some 50 or 60 Mexicans; and the enemy encom- pasing the fort was 3000 strong.- Under these circumstances, a con- sultation was held, and it was determined to propose some negociation with the Enemy; a white flag was accordingly sent to Solcedo, ask- ing an interview with him. The interview was granted; and took place between his encampmt and the fort. McGee with his aiddecamp Murry & few others went out & met Solcedo with his staff.- Solcedo demanded that the Americans should deliver up their arms and also the Mexicans in their ranks; and depart the country, taking with them only one gun to every five men. The terms were indignantly re- pelled; and when McGee returned to the fort, every American resolved to die before they would compromise on such disgraceful terms.-
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