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O"r Cat/,qlic Heritage in Texas
back with a document that read: "Don Jose Bernardo Gutierrez, Com- mander in Chief of the Mexican Republican Anny of the North, andj2Qn.. * Samuel Kemper, Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of the American volun- - ·-teers in this army, to the Governor and Commander of the forces in San Antonio." Time would not permit, the document read, the discussion of the terms requested. The only way to prevent capture of the city by force of arms would be unconditional surrender. The one assurance that could be given the vanquished was that all considerations permitted by the laws of war would be observed. They warned the Soanish commanders that no more envoys would be received. The Governor and the members of the Council of San Antonio would have to come in a body to surrender the city. In the meantime the victorious troops would establish their head- quarters in the Alamo. On April 2 the Governor and the City Council came out in a body to admit defeat and tum over to the victors the capital of the coveted Pro- vince of Texas. All officers were made prisoners. The soldiers were given the choice of joining the Republican Army or remaining prisoners of war. A considerable amount of ammunition, supplies, arms, and other equipment fell into the hands of the victor. Political prisoners were re- leased. A guard of honor advanced the flag of the first Republic of Texas to the center of Military Plaza. 29 The worst fears of Governor Salcedo and Colonel Herrera were shortly realized. They did not cringe before misfortune. Serenely they awaited their doom. They knew only too well they could expect no mercy from the unreasoning mob now in power. A mock trial was held on April 3, 1813. Manuel Salcedo and Simon Herrera were charged with having bribed Ignacio Elizondo to betray Hidalgo and the leaders of the Revolution, and later of having lured Captain Jose Menchaca to San Antonio, causing him to be shot as a traitor and having his head cut off and put on a pike at the entrance to the Alamo. Sentence of death was pronounced against the two gallant commanders and fifteen of their officers.JO Fate of Herr,ra and Salcedo. 19 The night before the formal surrender, Colonel K~per and Major Ross-pro- moted at the battle of Rosillo-together with other officers of the Amerian vol- unteers, it seems, went Into the city and actually dined with Salcedo and Herrera, while Gutierrez and the Mexican patriots waited impatiently in their headquarters at the Alamo. For the reply to the terms of capitulation, see Nacogdoc/1es Archives, XVU, 114; also Shaler to Monroe, June 12, 1813, SlaJe De,Par/,nent Records; Lamar Papers, l, 280; Garza, o;. ,;,., 48; Serrano to 'Bustamante, Laredo, April 6, 1813, Hutoria, 0,Peraciones d, Guerra, .Arredondo, III, 247-248, A.G. M. HThe account of the trial, based on a statement made by Captain Gaines twenty•
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