True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1837-03-22
BROWN, THE TEXAN PRISONER.
E.,b IQ17

To the Ed tor of Tie Tl7se .4me1can:
Sir--During my slot s"luurn IN this place,
have had the high qualification of becoming init
matelY acquainted with Mr. Reuhcu R Brown, one
of The Texan prisoners who escaped from Muta-
moras in December last, and of hearing from LIS
own lips n recital of some Of the perils he has en-
eoun,ered. The plea IRE | received was grea'F
enhanced by the unaffected modesty with winch
this young gentleman made his communications 10
me. He is by nenns rumpe'er OF his own
fame. Ga the contrary, l dare assert that ynu
might associate with him month without re-
ceiving from him any intlmntl"n OF ii heFoisn
he has evinced in battle, or the fortitnde with
which he has endured the most bitter calamis1es.
The facts have obtained from him We're elected
only Ivy MY direct enquiries; and, though he rea-
div gave me, ia the m st polite manner, any IN
for nation asked, yet | doubt whether he would
have done 81, had he known thai intended t'
to make publication. l think, however, that a
minute acc ,unt Of the pcriis he experienced in the
| C use of liberty, ought 10 be given. Ii VIII We
| nothing more than justice To bimselt; II Will De
| int rag TO yorr readers, aud il may be SER
vicabe to Texas, by exciting others TO cspouse
C suse which has already given rise to desds OF va
| er worthy Of the hest days ri Sparta. have n'et
Nth several gentlemen in this country who kre"
| M in the United States, and their accounts
o y strengihen my admiration of his cfatae'er
l He was born and raised near Columbus, Georgia
where his father still lives. He is represented It
| possess not cnlv superior courage and tor'ltude
!, liic sports all efforts of manly strength or acl'
II ws he is said TO have few equals, aud perhaps M
suprriors.
When the small party of Texans under John
son, were defeated at San Patncio by the over
WIDENING numbers of the enemy. (Which even
took place the 28th February, 1860 MIR Bf"wl
was about 80 miles from that place, Recommending
he country along the Rio Grnnte. He was II
company with DR. Grant aud bis party OF 20 men
The whole party, % in all, advanced towards Sar
,Ilf, tlt,Iy'
ters of the 28th, ant WITHOUT any knowledge thn
the enemy were in the,r ncighborhood. Inc Mex
leans, however, hearing of their approach, wer
placed in Amhusca e eight miles tram San fari
clio. When they came up, Brown and Grant, VIII
were riding short distance ahead OF the men
were suffered to PASS unmolested; hut as soon n
| the others reached the ambuscade, the enemy hfet
upon til, m. Brown and Grant Immediately whe oil
ed their horses, and there, surrounded by hundreds
this little band fought with desperation, dealing
death on all slies, and never ,hlnklng OF a rftrta
4ntil IS of their number wrrt massacred IT.
remaining Two, one the suhiect of this episiIe aH'
the other the commander OF tho parry, attempted
to escape; bu; they were sush numbers as mad
i, hopeless effnrt. The gallant Doctor soon tci'
the Mexican utfl GERS running their s"p ores eHsl
through his dead hody; and now the nndauntr
Brown was left alone He had no other weapon
than his gun and pistols, and with these he kI !e
eight or nine: but it was lnconrenlent, as he ha
TO load while riding. He told me that if he en
his fight. AT length he gained possession OF
lance, which he took from one of the eneay att
an arduous struggle, in whch he received from III
Mexican severe wound in the arm. Sh / at :
+. shot was fired a, him, Uut they touched him no,
thrust after thrus; was made at him with ihei
D lances, but he parted them all; and wo TO the te
merity OF that Mcxcan who dared TO come int
close quarters with him. He threw his pistol |
the face of one who riding near him, and h
thinks it kil!ad him, for his head seemed 10 b
split open by the force with which ii was drive.
Others he Knocked off their horses with the but
of his gun. Despair, IN shor, seemed TO have Q
ven him myth more than ordinary, (tor he ha
s naturally Hrrculcnn powers.) He expected ever
moment to die, and he was determined Stay :;
many OF them possible during the few moment
< he survived.
The Mexcans, finding every effort to kill c
capture him unsuccessful, adopted plan to TAX
him, whieh, common as it may lie with them, car
O not but excite smile with the American rfadc
n This plan was, throw over him the famous rop
TIVE larriette, Il do no, know whether spell il CO
rsctly,) which you aware they handle with Il
. tonishing dcxtrtily in the chase. With thes
!" ropes they al length secured the intrepid Brown
o but the mercess towards continued, even attt
he was tied, 10 annoy him with their iancts, an
would probably have butchered him, had not n
> Off Ger como up and ordered them to spare his t
:, Ito he continued.