479·
PAPERS OF l\fIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LA)[AR
overwhelm his enemy by the foi;ce of numbers,-in a furious and des- perate charge. He came with the rush of a torrent, but striking against a pillar of adamant, his army shivered to pieces he, like the waves of the ocean that roll against the rocks and are broken, retired with pre- cipitation from the conflict. The defeated and dispirited Herrere, collecting his scattered troops, drew off a short distance from the town, where he remained about ten clays, apparently in a state of indiscession as to what course he ought to persue. Not able to cope with his adversary, and yet unwilling to fly, he at length dispatched an express to Bexar for additional recruits; but before these could be raised many of his men alarmed at the terror of the Americans arms, fled his encampment, whilst others, attracted by its lustre or desirous of its protection enlisted under the banner of the patriots. In this deplorable situation, with nearly one half of his army either killed or disabled, and a large portion of the remainder deserting his standard, he was compelled to raise the siege and transfer the war from La Bihia to Bexar. Fearful of observation and persuit,. he broke up his encampment at night and hurried forward with a rapid march; but not eluding as he had hoped the vigilance of his adversary, Captain Holmes, who had been ordered to watch his movements, fol- lowed in his rear with fifty mounted men, and at t~e dawn of day succeeded in cutting off his entire baggage (which was packed on mules) and brought it to the garrison without molestation.- Thus was a strong and well disciplined army of the Royalists; commanded by a brave and experienced officer, completely routed and destroyed by a small band of patriots, whose numbers ranged from three hundred and fifty to four hundred. In this memorable conflict, the loss on the- royal side, as well as could be gathered from the deserters, was about four hundred killed and more than that number wounded; :whilst that of the patriots was only two killed and 30 wounded.
No. 2812. HISTORY OF l\IEXICO. LAMAR
[Richmond? Texas, 185- ?l
CHAPTER 1st COLONIAL GOVERNMENT AND POLICY OF SPAIN
The atrocities committed by the Spaniards in their foreign Con- quests, and the subsequent tirany and injustice of the Government established over the conquered countries have seldom found a parallel in the annals of civilized nations. Such has been their preeminence- in this respect, that the name of Spaniard, has almost become synony-- mous with cruelty and crime. It would be difficult, indeed, for humall!. . ingenuity to devise a system of government more despotic in its char- acter, and intensely selfish and oppressive in all its detailes than that which Old Spain imposed upon her American Colonies, and in- forced with unrelenting rapacity and severity for more than three hun- dred y~ars.- , • . Mexico was governed, as all the Spanish colonies were, by a Viceroy;, rnYested With powers as absolute and unlimited as the Sovereign he• represented. What the King could do in Spain, the Viceroy could ilo. within the limits of hi,; own jurisdiction, without being responsible for
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