The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-04-28
BROWN THE TEXIAN PRISONER.
bRAL0kiA, eAas,
February -. lSs7.

n. a.,
one Of the Texan prisoners who escaped from
Maiamoras, Mexico IN December last aud OF hay.
ing from has lips 4 recital of some OF the peris
he encountered. The pleasure received was great.
Is enhanced BY the unaffected nodesty with which
this young gentleman made his communication 70
me, lie is by no means a trumpe,er OF his own
fame. On the contrary, | dare assert that you
nigh, associate with him month without receiy
Ing from him any intimation Of the heroiSm be
Eas evneed in battle, or the iortitude with Which
he has endured the most bitter caIamities. Tie
facts have obtained from him were ELECTED only
by my direct inquiries; and though he readily
gave me, In the most polite manner, any inornis.
ton asked, vet doubt whether lac would have
done so had he known that | intended to make
publication. think, however, that minute aC-
count OF the perlls he experienced in the cause OF
liberty ought to be given. II will be nothing more
than justice 10 himself; II will be interesting 10
your readers, and II may be seryicable To Tsxas
by exciting others 10 espouse a cause which has
already given rise TO deeds Of valor worthy OF the
bes; DAYS OF Sparta.
have met with several gentlemen in this coun.
try who knew Mr. b. in the United States, and
their account only strengthen my admiration Of
bis character. He was born and raised near Co
lumbus. Georgia. where his father still resides
He is represented as rot only possessing superior
cuura ,e and ioftilude, but uncommon physical
powers, and to all athletic sports all Efforts Of
manly strength OF activity, he is said 10 have ieW
equals, and perhaps superiors.
When the small party of Texans under John.
son was defeated at San Patriclo, (which event &C.
CURED on the 2eih February, 1856 Mr. Brown
was abou, - miles from that place, accommodating
the country along the Rio Grande. tie was IN
f,,tY, N - 4 Il, 4
six men The whole party, twsn,y-eigh, in all.
advanced towards san Palriclo, without knowing
ans thing OF the disasters OF the 2Sih or that To,
enemy were 10 the nsighborhood. The Me1ieaus,
however, hearing OF their approach, we're placed
~ ambuscade eight miles from SIN Patcio.-
When they came up, Crown and Grant. no were
riding short distance ahead OF the men, we're
Suffered 10 pass unmo!csttd; but as soon a. the
others reached the ambuscade, The enemy fred
upon them. Brown aud Grant immediately
wheeled their horses, and there surrounded b,
hundreds, this little band fought with desperation,
never thluNlHg OF retreat unul % o., their NUN.
Der was massacrcd The remaiuIng two, one the
subject OF this epsile and the other the command.
eF OF The party, attempted TO escape but they
were surrounded hy such numbers as n ade II
hopeless effort Tue gaian, Doctor soon tell. Ii,
Mexican officers Running their swords even thru'
ms dead body, ard noH the undduuird Brown
vas left alone. lie had no other weapons Than
his gun and pistols, and with these he kllled eight
O. nlne-bnt II was great Inconvenience thai he
had to load while riding. Tie told me that II b,
had ouly had sword, he could have sil.ed fits
or sixty IN ms fight A length he gained posses
sion Of lance, which he took from one OF The enc
my aiier an arduous struggle, 10 which b. receiy
ed from the Mexican a severe wound IN the arm.
Saot after shot Fred al him. but they touched
INN not, thrust after thrust was made al him aIth
their lances but he parred them aIl aud no 10
the t-merii, O. that MEXICAN who dared 10 come
iaio close quarters with him. ilc threw IN, pI,
tol ~ the face Of one VINO vas riding near him
and he thinks It killed him, for b, head seemed
10 be split open BY the force with which II VAS
driven Others he knocked Of their horses lth
me butt o. his gun. Despair, 10 short, secmtd 10
nave given han strength e-rn more than ordinary.
tie expected every moment TO die. and b. was d..
termned to slay as many Of them as pos, sbI. dur.
ing the " mOmeats ae survived.
The N Sicans, finding every effort 10 kill or
capture him unsuccessful, adopted plan to lake
hin, which, common as Il may b. with them, can.
not hot excite smile slth the American reader
as ptan was, TO throw oyer him the iamou, rogc,
the Hri4t, which you are aware thcy handle wuh
ropes they at length secured tire intrepid Brown.
but tie merclIgss towards continued. even ATE,
be sas tied, IN annoy htm with thar iances. and
would probably have butehered him had no, an
officer come up and ordered them to spare his lis.
He was taken to Me,amoras. and among oth,,
hard-bips, he was ofJered to sweep the streets u
the CITY. When be took the broom IN his hand.
he had a violent struggle Win hi. faen4s.-
Alter long elaboration with himself be deter
mined, With great reluctance 10 submit 10 the IN
dignity.
There were twelve or fifteen TEXANS. in all at +
Nasamoras. With two Of these b. the name Nc
Neaiy Nh Brown concerted a plan Of escape. To
effect her purpose, they employed as a guide an
Ing ii'mnan, IlFng IN the city % ~ horn they paid
d handsome sum. TINS Engshman at their ~.
pense, procured our good horses, and made all 9TH
y preparations; and The four, armed each xitb
gun and pistols, sailed from the CITY while the
guard ~as asleep, OF the night Of the 9Th Of D.
eember. Thus Hr. Brown was, after CAPTIVITY
Of nearly ten months, again Oh, Of their hspds
though not without some fears Of being sgain
taken.
/" avoid the guards stationed aionp the beaten
rack, they kept ~ the RIO Grandc. without e,,,..
sing. Ala tosn $50 miles from Ma,amorss. the
Ioide wished u call on one or two trusty acouaIu
aH~cs' I"sF passed ms tom m The night the
prisoners nurryta2 nn aud the guides oyertakirg
'hem short distances b. .ord the town. Thirtg
hiles above this place, they deternined to eros.
'he nvet. Here they were aycrtaken BIZ rider.
Who lad been despatched By their friend, Al The
io"n thel had passed through, informing them
that 20J heHicans had arrived al the town IN
pursui, 81 them, and were making inquire. re-.
spec'I"g tie Eaghshman. The poor fapitiyes
perceived me dreadful necessity of crossing with
out at'ay, bat they almost despared Of cfF,ctipg
IL lbe current Ma strong the wind blowing
fssh' the waves higi and there was 90 boat. True.
'"e'e va, canoe on the opposite bank, bot, it
s1elheH NE certain death 10 attempt 10 swim to