TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
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of :Mexico. Don Jose Bernardo Gutierrez, a native of Bebilla of Tamau lipas fled to the United States immediately after the patriot heroes were imprisoned in Acatita de Bajan near Monclova in ihe year 1811. Gutierrez went to Washington and other parts of the United States. Finally he collected together in the State of Louisiana about four hundred and fifty American volunteers with whom he entered Texas in the month of October, 1812. He succeeded in capturing without op position Nacogdoches, the military post of the Trinity, and subse quently took possession of La Bahia del Espiritu now called Goliad. The military Governor of Texas, Don Manuel de Salcedo, and the Gov ernor of Nuern Leon, Don Simon de Herrera, left Bexar with about two thousand soldiers and laid eiege to La Bahia about the 15th of No,'ember, that same year of 1812. General Gutierrez, assisted by McGee, Kemper and Ross resisted the siege for the space of three months. Tired at last of their inanition, they sallied forth from the walls of Goliad with their meagre force composed of American volun teers and a few Mexicans. After a short conflict, sustaining but little loss themselves, they returned to the fort, leaving upon the field about two hundred of the enemy dead and wounded. After twenty-seven hand to hand encounters, which had transpired during the siege, Sal-• cedo and Herrera fell hack upon San Antonio. The siege was aban doned the latter part of March. Gutierrez, Kemper and the others, encouraged at their hasty retreat, followed in pursuit. Salcedo had scarcely reached San Antonio with his army, ere he was compelled to abandon it by the order of Don Simon Hierra, who had met the Patriot army (if it deserve that name) consisting of nine hundred men under Gutierrez on the Salado, at a point called Rosillo. The two forces encountered here in th(;' latter part of the month of March. The conflict was a bloodv one. Herrera lost in killed and wounded four hundred, while G11tierrez had only five killed and fourteen wounded. The Royalist Army now fled in terror to San Antonio, which Salcedo and Herrera fortified with the intention of resisting Gutier rez. The fatter having collected the spoils of the battle field and buried their dead, followed on to the Mission of Conception, which is situated about two miles Southeast of the City. Here he assumed temporary quarters. On the second day thereafter, in their route towards San Antonio. the Patriot armv was formed in double column on the Labor called de Abajo, at present the !side of the residence of Messrs. Callghan and Gilbeau and Dr. Devine. From these memor able precincts Bernardo Gutierrez demanded an unconditional surren der of the town from the two Governors, Salredo and Herrera. This summons was made on the 13th dav of l\farrh, 1813. On the 31st about noon, these commanders advanced towards Gutierrez and his vic torious army. They proceeded on foot, accompanied by their staff and other offirers of rank. Brief, however, was the conference. The van quished only asked a i,iaranty of their li,,es. The reply of Gutier rez was eva;:ive, but conveyed an intimation that their request would he complied with. These Spanish rhieftains then surrendered at dis cret;on and bv such cowardice sealefl their fate. Having- delivered up their swords, they were secured between fileR of soldiers. Gutier rez now crossed to the Eastern bank of thi> riYer, while his prisoners marched in front of the army to the sound of martial music. They
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