Our Catholic H critagc in T cxas
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arriving to reenforce them. A council of officers was held that night. It was decided to abandon the camp and start the homeward march early in the morning. Many were the deeds of daring and of valor performed that day and numerous were the wounds received by the officers. Colonel Parrilla had his horse killed under him. Undaunted, he captured a fleeing steed and returned to the charge. Twice his cuirass was shot and one bullet pierced his left arm before he retired dejected from the field. Captain Manuel Rodriguez, from Presidio of San Juan Bautista, near present Eagle Pass, had a bullet hole in his coat, but fortunately escaped without personal harm. Captain Elias de la Garza Falcon was shot nine times, but the bullets went through his clothes without wounding him. Captain Angel de Oyarzan, from San Luis Potosi, who led the center in the charge, had his horse shot from under him, but escaped bodily harm. Lieutenant Ildefonso de la Garza also had his horse shot. Lieutenant Agustin de Luna was not so fortunate. A bullet struck him in the breast, but did not kill him. Lieutenant Santiago Moneo seems to have been the most fortunate, considering his narrow escapes. One bullet knocked the leather shield from his hand, another left him hatless, a third hit the large pommel of his saddle, and a fourth whizzed through the lapel of his coat. The Spaniards lost fifty-two men, two cannon, and numerous horses. The Indians, it was estimated, had lost about one hundred men. Fortunately for Parrilla, they did not press their advantage on the following day, but permitted the Spaniards to retire in peace. 34 The retum to San Lttis de las Amarillas on t/1.e San Saba. In the council held the night of October 6, the officers urged the abandonment of the campaign. They remonstrated that the troops were completely discouraged by the determined resistance of the natives and their effective use of firearms. The result was that many had deserted during the battle ancl that many more were even then running away. The Apache allies, fearful of what might happen to them if they fell into the hands of their enraged enemies, had fled in a body. A new attack might result in the loss of the one hundred forty-nine prisoners taken on October 2. Furthermore there were many men wounded in the camp. A second defeat by the natives would endanger their lives. Another reason why the expedition should start home as soon as possible was the approach of winter. Bad weather would make the retreat extremely difficult. The
U'ftstimonio, Octobtr 7, 1759. A. G. !., A11die11cia de J-lh:ico, 92-6-22 (Dunn Tran~cripts, 1759-1761 ), pp. 208-228.
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