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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
had previously occupied with a determination to reduce the garrison by intercepting its supplies. A strong patrol:.was .accordingly estab- lished in the town, whilst the fort was narrowly watched by the three divisions of the army. The vigilance of the enemy was superior to his courage; and he was more successful in cutting off supplies th11n in cutting off his foes. All communication between the town and the fort was now effectually destroyed, and a further introduction of pro- visions seemed impossible. But the policy of Herrere was misapplied. He hoped to accomplish by starvation, what he could not achieve by his arms without reflecting that a body of men with whom he could not cope in open battle, wou1d hardly be willing to perish to death with food before them and weapons in their hands. Nevertheless, this non- intercourse system caused the garrison to suffer greatly. They suffered in various ways; by hunger, sickness and desertion. Their small stock of provisions was nearly exhausted, and had to be dealt out sparingly; many of the men were unable to do duty; captain Galvin deserted to the enemy, taking with him the entire caballa which had been confided to his care, and the citizens of the town who had hitherto been their friends, becoming alarmed at the aspect of affairs, proclaimed in favor of the Royal cause. Under these circumstances, it was apparent that the Americans had to rely upon their valor for their future supplies and snatch provisions from the enemy by hard fighting. They had literally to live by the sword; and it was not long before this new com- missary of subsistence was called to the discharge of its duties. On the 18th of December, one of the soldiers of the garrison killed a cow that had strayed between the fort and the lines of the enemy. To secure this beef was an object of some consequence to the Americans; and the enemy deeming it of equal importance to their policy that they should not get it, a contest arose between them, which soon lead to a general engagement_, in which the whole force and energies of both parties were called into play. The action commenced at One Oclk in the afternoon, and continued till the close of day; and although the Royalists out numbered the patriots five to one, they were doo;med to the same disasters which attended them in their previous conflicts-- they were forced to fly the field with considerable loss without doing much damage to their antagonists. The loss on the part of the garrison was three wound and one killed-captain Taylor's slave, a faithful servant and a gallant soldier, who continued fighting after he had received his mortal wound, and died exhorting the patriots never to surrender. He had been in all the fights, and had distinguished him- self in all. This cheering victory was soon succeeded by a bold exploit, well cone ceived and skilfully executed, and which had the happy effect of re- laxing the vigilence of the enemy's police. It was ascertained that the patrole established in the town travelled every night a certain road which had the bank of the river on one side and a brush fence on the other. Their strength being known to be about an hun<lred, an equal number of Americans placed themselves, on New-Year's eve behind this fence which screened them from view, and waited the comini of the enemy. About the dawn of morning they made their appearance, and as they were marching through the narrow lane, a well-concerted and simultaneous fire from the ambuscade, killed every man of them, with
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