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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
They were, however, reduced to great want. Their provisions were exhausted; and it was necessary to adopt some energetic plan to pro- cure supplies. All the corn that could weH be had in town was gath- ered and brought into the fort; but still they had no beef; and there was none to be had in the place. In this extremity, an obscure Mex- ican, dark as an indian, but little known or noticed in the ranks, at length proposed that he might be allowed to take a small party with him and bring in beef from the country. The desertion & trea- son of Galvan, made the Americans suspicious, and they were afl'raid to trust him alone; he, however, went (started at night) accompanied by some Americans-and after the elapse of a few days returned with 50 beeves, which he succeeded in getting into the fort. The beef was dried & preserved. Thus they had to live on beef & bread alone.- The Mexican's name was Savias, a brave man, who for this exploit so timely, was made a Captain, and proved to be a trusty man & good officer, & was true & brave to the last.- The Americans, altho' resolved not to submit to the terms proposed by Solcedo, still felt u [n] able to meet 3000 men; and was greatly embarrassed as to what course they should pursue.- Sam!. Devanport, a wealthy man of Nacogdoches, had furnished the expedition with considerable supplies, and had accompanied them to Labahia. He held no Command, yet being a good friend to the Cause, and also a worthy and sensible man, he exercised considerable influence. Becoming disheartened at the great straights to which they were all reduced, he asked permission to leave the fort and to return home; it was granted him, and he departed at night with a few mexi- cans, and made his way safe to Nacogdoches- His departure contrib- uted greatly to depress further the spirits of the Americans; one or two soon after deserted; and one went over to the enemy.- About this time Ross was sent to the U S for reinforcements.- So soon as the terms of Solcedo were rejected by the Americans, Solcedo determ[ine]d to assault the fort; but having brought no Cannon with him, he delayed the attack until he sent to Sanantonio & brought 7 or 8 pieces of 8 pounders brass- So soon as they ar- rived, he fired into the fort; but done no great damage- about the same time he was reinforced by 500 Cavalry (under a Spaniard named Ogarte) which had been from the interior- This induced the Ameri- cans to make a second attempt at reconciliation; which, however, was insultingly resisted by Solcedo, who now felt confident of his victims.- He still demanded the delivery of Bernardo. The Americans seeing no alternative but a desperate struggle, re- solved to sell their lives at as high a rate as possible. They com- menced preparing to meet the enemy. The Cannon was fitted up in a better condition; chains, slugs & shot were made for them; and a lance was forged and sharpened for every man; for they were all armed with rifles, having no bayonets or other weapons of war except their guns. Slight skirmishing still continued every day between the parties, whilst these preperations were going on. At length a general action was brought on by the following accident. A white cow came strolling along, and as the American's provisions were not very plenty or very
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