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TEX.AS STATE LIBRARY
cans; and bloody and horrible were their retaliations on each other the which will form an episode in the history of Texas.- ' In the fall of 1829-probably in October-whilst the above party was where I have mentioned, they discovered a party of Mexicans advanc- ing; they formed for battle-when the leader of the Mexican force, advanced under a white flag and stated that his object was friendly and not hostile. T_his was Carabahal, accompanied by Canalis, Canalis however, being the €hie£;- The Mexicans were the Revolutionist ,vho were then contending for Federalism, their designs being to establis [h l an Independent Govt. from the Mountains to the Riogrande. They made known their views and solicited the aid of the Cow Boys, who without hesitation united with them in the enterprise and enlisted under the Federal Banner.- A call was now made to the Wester [n] people of Texas generally, to join in the war, the object being, as the Mexicans held out, the union of the Northern States of Mexico, to Texas as one large Indepent. Govt- Carnes commanded the Cow Boys 30 or 40 strong Was the chief and leader of them both in stealing eattle as well as in the Federal war. Zapata was along with Canalis and Carabahal at the time they met the cow-boys & formed an allyance with them.- Under the general invitation, other Texan recruits came, among whom were Capt. Merrel, Capt. Price, Capt. Palmer (worthless man) and Jourdan, Jourdan being at the time a Captain in the Regular army of Texas-he was wounded at the expulsion of the Cherokees, and on recovering, he resigned & joined Canalis.- These all met near the Riogrande, opposite Guerrero where they organized and chose Ross as their leader. There were about 140 Americans probably 400 l\Iexicans- About 40 Americans under ------- and an equal number of Mexicans marched upon Guerrero, the Garrison there be_ing known to be very small-whilst the main body of the force crossed the Rio- grande below and struck the road leading from Guerero to l\Iier. The party detailed to capture Guerrero, met with 011osition; very slight however- The Regulars in the garrison fired upon them; their shot was returned, and after a slight skirmish, the town was taken, with a loss of 20 soldiers killed on the part of the Enemy; and none on the side of the Federalists.- The Americans with the Federalists now, moved for l\fier, and joined the main force who was waiting for them on the road. The force now united pushed for l\iier, Canalis the Commander in Chief; Ross Col. of the Americans- Genl. Parbone, was in Mier, at the head of 700 men Regulars-• He evacuated the place as the Federalists approached; He was pur- sued and was overbtken in about 12 miles; He formed on an eminence for battle; the Americans clismounted, · hitched their horses and fell in a ravine (a very small one) below-the )fexicans did not come up-they paraded some distance off, out of the reach of cannon- Zapata did all he could to lead them up but they refused obedience.- Parbone, perceiving that he would not be attacked by the main force of his enemies, turned upon the Americans in the ravine, and with 4 pieces of Artillery played upon for four hours, until he was satisfied, by the silence on the part of the Americans, that he had slain them
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