262
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Anna marches against the City with a considerable force, sends five hundred men against a weak garrison and remains behind with the reserves ready to enter as soon as the attack insures safety. The gar- rison sustains the conflict despite their inferiority until assistance reaches them, and Santa Anna enters the City when the danger has passed. This :\Ir. Zavala dignifies with the epithet of a terrible lesson to the Spaniards, and considers it a great glory for the nlexican arms. We consider it a battle turned table rather than a victory. But aside from this, we confess that Farfulla's situation was not a very pleasant one when Barradas made his appearance with his entire force on the river bank, and had the battle been renewed at that time the conse- quences would have been very lamentable for Santa Anna. His defeat and destruction were inevitable. And how did he escape from the ruin which threatened him? Barradas appeared at the entrance to the city. One of Santa Anna's assistants notified him of this fact and had a bolt of lightning fallen at his feet it would not have frightened and confused him as much. But Colonel Landero, who accompanied him, encouraged him by exclaiming with all the presence of mind of a val- iant officer: "There is no danger. If General Barradas has any honor, he cannot interrupt the surrender that we are making." Recovering somewhat Santa Anna sent Barradas the information that the laws of war compelled him to respect the treaty which was being made at that moment. Santa Anna requested an interview with Barradas which was granted, and the parties met without delay. Farfulla's situation changed immediately. It had been only a mo- ment since Salomon was asking quarter of Santa Anna, but now the latter was having to ask it of him. In the requested interview Bar- radas proposed that they enter into negotiations at once. They ar- ranged the terms of surrender, taking it for granted that Santa Anna would surrender without renewing the fight. Farfulla declared tl}at he was willing to yield to circumstances and make the surrender which he could not evade, but he said that that moment was not the most propitious for so grave and important a subject and asked that he be allowed to cross the river and go to his headquarters declaring that he would meet Barradas the following day in the middle of the river, each in his own boat, and that he would then confirm their negotia- tions. Not suspecting Santa Anna's treachery and deceit, Barradas accepted him at his word and agreed to his desires, permitting him to return to Pueblo Viejo. In truth, he did not oppose any of his requests, and the man of strategy, calling out his troops from the houses in which they had hidden, left with flying flags in sight of 3,000 Spaniards, who, indignant at the stupidity and imbecility of their commander, manifested the displeasure which they felt at his not having made prisoners of Santa Anna and his troops. Secure in his quarters the dissembler sent a messenger to Barradas on .the folc lowing day informing him that he had received communications from the Government that same night prohibiting him from entering into negotiations of any description with the Spaniards, and at the same time commanding him to fight them until he destroyed them or made them surrender at discretion. It is difficult to state whether Barradas was more surprised at his own foolishness or at Santa Anna's threat.
Powered by FlippingBook