149
PAPEHS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPAHTE LAMAR
fresh, some five or six of the men went out to Kill the Cow; the cow . ran towards the Church which Herera was occupying w_ith one thou- sand men. The impetuous pursuers of the cow followed until they arrived near enough to the Church to receive a heavy fire from the enemy; the garrison perceiving the danger of this small party, some. 150 sallied out to their rescue. As soon as this was done, Solcedo, ordered his entire force out and prepared for a general fight. The Americans now came out of the fort and stationed themselves at sev- eral points to meet the enemy. Solcedo, advanced into town, having his ground disputed by every inch, his numbers, however, appeared to be too overwhelming to be driven back. By hard fighting his progress was checked and delayed but not stopped- he gradually advanced upon the fort. In this manner the battle, which commenced about 2 oclk in the afternoon and lasted until 7 or 8 oclk, when the Ameri- cans were forced to retire into the fort. The enemy also retired to their respective quarters, after having fired one dwelling and robbed many houses.- In this fight the loss on the part of the Americans was 13 or 14 wounded and some few killed.- The battle was not renued the next day. This allowed the Ameri- cans time to make a few further preparations for the next fight.- Solcedo had derived great advantage from the irregularity of the streets. and the houses; Bernardo, accordingly, ordered the hacels [jacals] in the vecinity of the fort to be demolished. They . were torn dow [ n] and an open plaise formed ; with the exception of one stone building, near another which had' been & was still occupied by the enemy's outpost. This was left; and at night the Americans planted a piece of Artillery in it, and converted it into a fortifica- tion.- Thus were the two outposts of the enemy in close juxtiposi- tion- Soon after the fight, a mexican named Delgado deserted, the enemy's ranks & came over to the Americans. He had been employed as one of the men in the outpost, and therefore knew the localities; under his piloting the Americans, occupying the stone building men- tioned, attacked their neighbors and succeeded in making several cap- tures, and putting the balance to flight, about 2 or 3 hundred.- About this time a courrier was recd at night bearing a letter from Ross; the despatch bore no very glad tidings; he spoke of a distant hope of raising aditional men; but it was doubtful; and it was evi- dent that they could not reach Labihia, (if raised) in time to succor.- The enemy upwards of 3000 strong were all mounted, each having from two to three horses or mules, altho' they acted some times as infantry as occasions required. A strong detachment was sent out every day to gather grass for their cavayard. These parties would frequently circle around the fort by way of observations; and on one occasion the Americans resolved to catch them. This foraging party had to pass by a long, dense brush fense. 'rhe Americans 100 hid themselves behind the same as to be unperceived; and as the enemy came along, a hot fire was opened upon them; several were killed and some prisoners taken, among whom was Corporal Tomas Examia; who joined with the Americans, was promoted, and remained faithful.- The out post which had been broken up by the Americans, was not
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