PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE Luun
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Col. Fannin, (tlien at Rcffugeo) stating that he, had received Orders from Houston to decamp for Goliad, and there remain for further orders. On the reception of Fa11ni11s letter we ahandoned the idea of an expe- dition to l\Jatamoras; hut learning about that time, that there was an extensive cavaard of Horses, about forty miles from )latamoras, guarded by ahout an hundred Mexicans; the whole of us forthwith took up the line of march to get them if practicable; but the guard hncl got wind of us, and returned to the City. After getting about sernnty five miles from San Patricio nearly half of our llorses ga,·e out, consequently Col Johnson with about thirty others were compelled to remain; Col Grant, and Mnjr. l\Iorris, proceeded, with about the saIJ1e number; of which I was one. On our return finding the Raneheros in possession of a quantity of fine Hor~es, and anxious to dispose of them, we purchased about an hundred excellent ones for the most of which we paid the Ca~h, and for those that we did not, we gaYe certificates which was perfectly_ satisfactory to the owners. We then returned to the place where we had left Col Johnson, and were reunited On that night we anticipated an attack from the Indians, our Camp being literally sur- rounded with them, and the wood resounding with their yells until nearly day-when they disappeared. On the following morning while we were making preparations to return to San Patricio, and from thence join Fannin at Goliad with the Horses, a Ranchero came to our Camp and informed us of of [ sic l a large quantity of Horses, about sixty miles up the Rio Grande, and said if we would go after them he would act as a guide for us. Col Grant and ?lfajr Morris, with about twenty six men concluded to go and get them. Here we parted again from Col Johnson, who, wit.h about thirty four others were to remain at San Patricio until our return. We proceeded to the place i::poken of by the ?l!exic:an, with him for our guide, but found the distance to be near an hundred miles. On our arrival, we were in formed IJ\' the Ranchero's that there had been about thirtv Mex- ican soldiers in that vicinity for the purpose of protecting them against Indians, but had left, on hearing of our approach. We there obtained upwards of an hundred Hor::es in the same way that we did the others. We there learned that the lower division of the )Iexican army was con- centrating at ~Iatamoras, and would march in the Course of two week~ for Texas. After remaining there ·three day::;, we departed for San Patricio with the Horses, 11nd after traYiling four days arrived at the "Hancho Persaniaith'' twenty miles from San Putricio; the dav being far advanced, we concluded to remain there until the following n1orning. We were there informed that Col Johnson was still at San Patricio in wait for us. We were treated with kindness and hospitality at this Place but after I became a prisoner I understood thnt it was all feigne1l for while entertaining us in the most friendly mnner tlwy hacl l:'Ccretlv sent to the l\[exican General then ut S1111 partricin informing him we were there. The J'ollowi11g morni11g we stnrted for Sun Pnrtrieio and had proceeded 011[~- twelYe ;niles whe71 we were intere:epted by Gen'} Urea with about five hundred mounted men who had acting upon the inteli- gence recein•cl from the rnn r chero] had placed hinu,elf iu ambush to await our c·oming.- Grant Placedon & myself were two or three hun- dred yards in advance of our company when all at once we saw the enemy chargeing upon us from e,·ery direct.ion. Wheeling around we
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