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PAPERS OF lVIIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
nature very dispiriting. One of them was the withdrawal of Col. Perry which we have previously related; and the other was, the cap- ture of the flotilla at the mouth of the Santander. These were real misfortunes. The desertion of Perry and his fifty followers at that particular crisis, was indeed a serious loss; and the destruction of the vessels was no less so, in asmuch as it prevented Major Bradburn from going to Neworleans after a reinforcement for the garrison, which he was preparing to do. These unexpected reverses, however, were borne with the greatest composure. They produced no change in the plans of our indomitable hero. He still believed it practicable, by hard fight- ing, to win his way into the interior, and to return in time to succor the garrison ; and clinging to this forlorne hope, he paraded his men and commenced the daring march. The force of l\Iina numbered about three hundred; and was composed, perhaps, of the most heterogeneous materials that were ever collected in one body of the same size. Be- sides the Americans, who outnumbered the balance of the foreigners, there were bold representatives of almost every nation of Europe, and all of them speaking their respective languages without understanding much of any other. There was the Frenchman and the Spaniard, the German and the Englishman, the Creole and the Guachupin; and last though not least the immortal Paddy-for where was there ever a fight in which Pat did not take a part. And all these were more or less divided and estranged by complexion, habits, prejudices, religion and national antiphathies; and may have been in all probability during their chequered carreers, arrayed against each other in deadly strife. It would seem almost impossible that a mas so incoherent and dis- cordant could be held together. There was every thing to engender jealousy, hatred, strife and disunion; and scarcely a single natural tie, or bond of sympathy to hold them in unity and harmony. And yet they did cling to each other, even unto death. Their gallant and ac- complished leader had the happy faculty of inspiring them with his own lofty sentiments of honor, chivalry and devotion; and very soon after the commencement of their perilous march, they become consoli- dated and cemented by common dangers, sufferings and victories, until at length there was in that little army, but one heart, and that heart throbbed alone with the high resolve-to conquer or to die. The points which they were aiming to reach, were the Provinces of Guadalajara and Vallodalad, where the Patriots held possession of three forts, Sombrero, Los Remedios and J auxillo, and where the in- famous Padre 'forr·es, commander in Chief, had established something which he called a Congress, holding its sessions at J auxillo; but in order to arrive at those points, thev would have to surmount very formidable obstacles-they would [have J to traverse hot and barren plains-suffer greatly with thirst and hunger-make forced marches by day and by night, and at every step, to be exposed to the attacks of superior numbers.-- These things were inevitable; yet nothing dis- pirited by the terrific difficulties of the emprise, they bid adieu to Soto la l\farina, on the 24th of l\'Iay, a little more than one month from the date of their arrival there. In order to avoid Arredondo, who was directly in their path, they diverged from the main route and pursued a devious march through unfrequented ways; it being the true policy of this Spartan band, not to have their numbers thinned by unneces-
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