99
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAM.AR
& Coss binding himself to go on parol of honor to take the 400 con- victs across the Rio Grande the Balance permited to go with their Genl. Remain or go where they pleas arms amunitions & inventoryes & and delivered to our commissioners on the 13. all private property de- livered to its proper owners genl Coss to leave with the convicts in 6 days to take with him one 4 pounder and some small arms to protect themSelves Genl Berlison to fournish him with beef at the customarly price we were then dismissed and each captain ordered to take the vote of his company on the Ratification of the Cappitulation the Return was made in a few minutes with a small majority for it wich caused some new troubles while we that voted for it was contented it was now signed by the 2 generals this being confirmed on both sides we was quite Rejoiced that Texas as desirable a country as ever faced the [illegible] now clear of enimys we now had a splendid Spa.n- ish fandango a greatale more mite be said but as I did not expect to publish the battle I cannot detail all the particulars I Served in the Second division under Capt Edwards him and his leutinent Carter merit great praise for their bravery to much cannot be said in favor of the unfortunate :Milam who managed with great judgement to him Texas owes her Independence and the praise of the greatest victory that now exists on the Page of history we had 6 Kild and 25 wounded while from all the information I could gether the mexicans lost near 300 Kild and wounded bis signal for a charge was a horn blown and a large bell Roung for a Retreat. from his situation with his glasses he was constantly in possession of a full knowledge of our Situation HENRY B DANCE Genl Austin sent a communication with Genl Coss before the attack & got for reply if he sent another flag he would fire on it we were Rebels & he wld treat us as such & he observed all things wld be ready for us. C the Lieutenant that deserted and came to us informed us that Gen! Coss being told that the Texians had been diging in the field in advance of their camps is it posible the Rebels are coming up out of hell after us the dich .was to try the 12 pounder on the posts f ?l ·we frequent]~, amoused our selves by crouding on a canal wall to in- duce the Mexicans to shoot cannon balls at us falling down at the smoke of the flash then springing up after them as they bounded over the field. it would be in vain to attempt to discribe the dificulties we had to encounter traveling uninhabited camps through swamps, swimming rivers- living 3 or 4 days on Venison and bufaloe the <listress situation of our Camps Dangers and Sufferings almost unln1own in civalized life those that Remained and took Sanantonio were generaly men that owned no land in the Country the offices, being closed for some time we were left almost without the means of subsistence to cnrry on the defence. on being askecl why by some of the great men of the country who was leaving previous to the attack if I was going I ob8erve<l it would stimulate the enimy and Ruin the cotmtrrl~-- He i;ai<l if you Remain ·here you will he slaughtNecl or droYe of in cfo:grnee to ~vhieh I Replyd I will not lie more dii-:gracccl than thnn fsicl tho~c thnt leave before me, if you will publish this you will obli~c rneny that wish to se a full expo8ee the writer has an e1n-entory of the arm8 &c taken and other official cloemnents which you can have hy calling 011 him through
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