12
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
perhaps the ball. that wounded me on this leg may have been discharged from thy gun!' After the barbarities on the Trinity, Elisando returned to San An tonio with the widows and orphans of thos.e who had been so piteously massacred. Those lovely ladies, enriched with exquisite forms and sparkling black eyes, tethered together, were compelled to traverse the whole distance on foot. 'fhey were forced to cross the waters of the San Antonio at the spot now tenanted by the luxurious bathing prem ises of Mr. Hall. Where now in voluptuous ease the ladies of San Antonio lave their graceful persons, the ill-treated of their sex of a previous day were driven to moisten their delicate and care-worn limbs. Who would have predicted to the famous spies of Gen'! Gutierrez, Culas Botas Negras and Tyamontes whom Arredondo caused to be shot at San Antonio, and their decapitated heads, enclosed in an iron grate to be elevated upon a high pole, - who would have predicted to those two patriot spies that where their decaying heads were once elevated on the Military Plaza as objects of terror and disgust, now proudly floats, after the lapse of thirty-three years, the flag of freedom, an emblem of dread to tyrants - a flag that the world respects? In 1822, after the achievement of Mexican Independence, Governor Trespalacios, on 'crossing the Medina on his way to Bexar, saw with emotion a field covered with human bones. He caused them to be col lected together and buried with military honors. I distinctly recollect the tablet with its inscription that he placed upon a large oak that towered above this memorable battle field:
"Here lie the Braves who, imitating The immortal example of Leonidas, Sacrificed their fortunes and lives, Contending against tyrants.
Such is the imperfect but truthful history of the events of that epoch. San Antonio continued in quiet submission to the King of Spain after the entry of Arredondo. This Chiefta_in at once confis cated and sold all property belonging to the Patriots, styled Rebels, who never recovered back any portion of the same, even after the establish ment of Mexican Independence in 1821. The noble citizens of Bexar ·sacrificed their lives and fortunes and performed prodigies of valor in 1813 for their country's cause. They transmitted to their descendants but a single legacy, the indifference and ingratitude of the embecile gov ernment of the Mexican Republic. From that government and their fellow-citizens they received neither indemnification nor rewards, or even sentiments of respect. Their only boon and recompense was a sav age coldness, an absolute ohliYion of the virtnes and heroism of their benefactors. No wonder then, that, with similar germs of discontent, the men of Texas, whoi,c eastern bounds are fanned by the breezes emanating from a Repnhlican nnd grateful nation, should have desireu a new order of things. Thus sprung into existence Texas Independence
which severed us foreYer from an inapt :::ro,·crnmcnt. Perhaps at a future time I may pursue this snbject.
Powered by FlippingBook