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

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TEXAS STATE LIB.RARY

made an attack on the Fort and a general engagement took place, a very warm fireing was kept up on each side of the Fort Col. Samuel Kemper & his aide de camp Major Wm Murry manifested during the whole en- gagement undaunted courage, chivalry, industry and persaverance. A desperate assault was made by a large party of the enimy on the party stationed at Picket No. 3 under command of Captain Gomley our force then occupying the log was thirty six men The enimy succeeded in driving Capt. Gomley from the log house with four men wounded, sev~ eral of the enirny was killed and wounded in the charge. Capt. Gomley formed his men immediately and made a resolute charge on the enimy who then occupied the log house and drove them from their position with great slaughter, and not one of our men was even wounded in this charge. The enimy then reinforced and ·made a second. successful charge of the log house after a few moments. close and desperate fighting driving Capt. Gomley but a short d,istance back without any loss on our side. The loss of the enimy was very great - Capt. Gomly with a small reinforcement again formed his men and made a second charge on the log house and after a short & very close engagement routed them with great slaughter and again ,ook possession of the log house, when the enimy received the second reinforcement & made a third successful attack on Capt. Gomley driving him only a short distance, Gomley again rallied his men and made a severe and desperate charge on the log house & drove the enemy from their posi- tion & following up the rout drove them in great confusion into the ravene near where sixty six men surrendered to him after sustaining great loss. At this point the warmest & most severe part of the en- gagement took place, our men 1:1ta.tioned here having been repulsid from and retook the log house, notwithstanding not one man was killed & only four men were wounded in the whole engagement at this point. The engagement continued six hours. The enimy :finding themselves too warmly opposed after fighting the above mentioned time drew off and took possession of the same positions the previously occupied - our loss in this engagement was two men killed and thirty wounded, From the most correct information received from deserters that came to us after the engagement, the loss of the enimy was supposed to be three hundred to four hundred men killed and a much larger number wounded. our officers and men fought during the whole en- gagement like a brave and gallant band of heroes determined to con- quer or die. great praise is due to our Commander Col. Samuel Kemper and his aid de camp Major Wm. Murry for their brave and gal- lant conduct on this occasion. The enimy remained incamped ten days during which time their men were constantly deserting in larg-e bodie11 to our army, which circumstances induced them to raise the seige, and· they decamped for Bexar in the night. A detachment of mounted men fifty in number under command of Capt. Holmes was immediately ordered out to pursue the enimy and keep them under observation, The~· observed the enimy making a rapid march towards Bexar when they fell in rear of their army and cut off their baggag-e which was packed ~n mules and brought it i,iafely to the Fort without molestation, The enimy still continuing their march. During- this time we were rein- forced bv fiftv Americans smil thirtv two Cochatte Indians under com- mand of Capt. Gaines, And on the twenty fifth day of march we

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