The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume IV, part 1

P APEBS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAP.ARTE LAM.AR

249

the Tonks, resolved to expell them without delay, and assembling for that purpose they marched towards Ross's house where the Indians . were. Ross was apprised of public sentiment, and had been informed of the approach of the people and was determined to resist them. The people meditated no mischief against him, altho they greatly censured his course, but designed to operate alone on the Indians - when they had arrived near his house and was passing before his door on their way to the Tonks camp, Col. Ross hailed them, saying ''halt, you have gone far ~nough" - The people apprised of his determination to re- sist them, and seeing him armed for the combat, dismounted. Ross presented his gun, as they dismounted, and snapped it at them. Sev- eral guns were instantly discharged at him, .and he fell dead. It was said he was killed by John Rabb's ball. John H Moore was the leader of the party, and wa!.l connected to Ross by marriage, both having mar- ried sisters, the Miss Cummings. The Tonk left that neighborhood, and have been wending [sic] about ever since - They have been use- ful to the whites by acting as spies to our expeditions against other tribes. They have never been hostile to the whites.

No. 2440 [184-f], THE FEDERALIST WAR 48

6th. Jan. 1838. Battle of Matamoras, Euleric Mendez commanded the Federal forces. Conde commaded the Centrals - Zapata second in cominand, in charge of right wing - battle very warm, and Fed- eralists forced to retreat with heavy loss, on the route to San Fer- . nandez the retreating army met. Canalizo on his way to take com- mand at Matamoras, they attacked him, and entirely routed him, tak- ing many prisoners, arms ammunitions and money. Upon arriving at San Fernandez, Zapata was detached with a large force to Crnillas, and thence to Linares where he joined the main body his expedition was very successful - at Linares Gen Lemos joined and took the command of the Federal Armies - he proceeded to Monterey leaving Sapato to follow - Gen Ampedia enc[ou]ntered Lemos without a fight an arrangement was entered into, by which Ampudia was allowed to enter Monterey, and carry from there a large conducta of specie. Lemos moved for Monclova. Zapato in charge of the Rear, not bein~ satisfied with the arrangementR with Ampudia refused to go on with Lemos, and returned towards the Rio Grande. He encountered Am- pudia near Rhinosa and g-ave battle, in which Sapato was successful, taking many prisoners, mules, &c but not the money. soon after he re- ceived letters from Canales and Lemos, representing their cause as prospering and convincing him that his suspicions as to foul nlay with Ampudia, were unfounded he therefore moved, and joined Lemos at' Monclova - after some time spent in inglorious ease, and in conse- quence of the disagreements among the Leaders, Sapato became dis- gusted, and again quit the army und marched with his division to Marin. he was attacked at this place by Canalizo with a lar!?e force, and surprised and routed loosing many of his men and barely escap- ing himself, his loss was so serious and the co_urse of centralism, in the

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