PAPERS OF MIRABEAU Bt:ONAPARTE L.UL\lt 233 without waiting to reload, and put them to flight with pistols before the mexicans could remount. He took possession of their horses and .mounting them, pursued the flying foe; who having now lost their com- mander & dispossessed of their horses, surrendered; 32 in number with 8 dead on the field, to Hay's 13 men. The Texans lost none; one or two wounded - Thus ended this brilliant affair - The Texans were no less generous than brave - the l\Iexicans were greatly alarmd - but was much surprised & well & relieved when they were generously set at liberty, - Being now on good terms with Capt. Hays, they wished to see the Americans shoot. They were surprised at our skilJ which soon explaind to them our supmacy over them. In July 1840 -- After the above brilliant affair the Mexicarr Govt. anxious to put down & destroy this company of Spies, sent Genl. Basques with 450 troops He crossed the Leona, & came within 80 miles of San Antonio, where he formd an encampmt- Deemig it imprudent to proceed further he despatched a man in the character of a trader to Bexar for the purpose of luring Capt. Hays into a difficulty - This pretended Trader came to Hays at Bex.ar and told the captain, that he was about to leave for the Rio Grande with goods but was affraid of being robed on the "'ay by the notorious Agatone whom he had reason to believe was lying in wait for him. Hays made immediately preparations to go in search of these robbers with 40 men ; But before leaving the city, however, a young Mexican came to him and expressed his sus- picions that this Trader was nothing more than a spy; & h_e endeaved to dissuade Hays from proceeding. The young man perceiving how- ever that the Capt. WllS detcrmnd to · go, went to the pretended trader & told him that he had nothing to fear that Hays would soon be joined by one hundred men from Gonzales, which would enable him · to extend to all the protection he sought - This was little more than the trader desired, and pushing off in great haste to give tidings to Basques, he was followed close behind by Hays with his forty men. Hays came upon Basques a little sooner than he had expected; but being too badly mounted to hope to escape by flight he determined upon the bold expedient of charging the enemy; which he immediately did with. such vigor m; to put the whole force of Rasqnes to flight: whose fears had already bem awakened by the intelligence which his spy had brought him. HayR dogged him in his steps nearly to the Riogrande, Basques still thinking that he was pursued by a hundred & forty men - Basques was greatly mortified when the facts became known to him, and would ref'ent anv allm,ion to the affail_' bv his frincls - The neople of Bexar, not knowing the situation of Hays, until after his departure was greatly disturbed for his safetv - but was much rejoiced on hii:; return - The young man who· had express his fears to Havs had hitherto alwav~ accompanied him in his exnedi- tions; but on the nre~cnt ini::tance rcfo~('d to go. After this, nothin~ futher waR done with the 1[exirans. The companv was disbanded. So also was Cantain Price'f' - Capt. Price W(>nt out two or three times found no enemy: his men were engae-ed for three months - their time expired, before the Capt. could achieve much, altho he was a brave man - In the spring of 1841 - the Indians becoming verv troublesome
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