The First Republic of Te:ias
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Herrera believe that they had been misled by the inhabitants of Texas into thinking that they wanted to be independent. A commission was, therefore, sent with a white flag to the Spanish commanders to negotiate terms. Salcedo and Herrera discussed the pro- posal with due attention to all formalities. No satisfactory agreement was reached. Governor Salcedo refused to grant pardon and protection to the civilians in the area controlled by the so-called republican govern- ment. The negotiations appear to have been carried on without the knowl- edge of Gutierrez and his followers. Perhaps it is to this incident that Gutierrez refers in his "Memorial to the Mexican Congress," written years later, wherein he called _fylag:ee "a vile traitoC: for having tried to deliver him to Salcedo in return for - fifteen thousand pesos and a colonelcy in the Royalist ranks." The siege continued and, as winter set in, the prolonged and indecisive struggle, marked by frequent skirmishes, began to tell on the besieged. Magee took sick. By the end of January he was delirious with fever. The delay in the return of Captain Ross, who had been sent to Natchitoches to bring back recruits and Indian allies, no doubt contributed to the despond- ency of the young and ambitious commander, whose strength was now rapidly ebbing. An order for retreat was given. The officers packed and were ready to start the homeward march when the order was rescinded. +- Captain Samuel Kemper, it was agreed, was to succeed in command of the 'i\merfcan contingent in the event of Magee's death. On February 6 Augustus Magee, who had sat his mount so bravely and who was so sure of the future, died. He did not, as Gutierrez later charged, commit suicide by taking poison. st - - - Retreat to San Antonio. The tide changed again shortly after the death of Magee. Having secured important information from traitors, Gutierrez, now in command, decided to attack the Royalists in an effort to break the siege. Captain Miguel Menchaca, who had joined the rebel forces and knew the country well, was sent before dawn with seventy men to raid the main camp of the enemy and, if possible, draw Salcedo into a general engagement. Fog covered the approach of the raiding In- surgents. When the fog lifted, the Royalists charged the small band, which retreated according to plan. A general battle ensued. Salcedo and Herrera succeeded in forcing the Insurgents to seek refuge within the 2lGutierrez, "Memorial," Lamar Pa-jers, I, 12. st Gutierrez, "Memorial," in o-j. cu.; Harris G. Warren, Tl,• Sword Was T"6ir Pass-jort, 43-45.
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