Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-18

anu " the leXlhuS Ralneu Ine DdlNei
they would soon be engaged with a more
Formidable foe The commissioners yet
mol satisfied, Capt. Lewis pledged his
honor TO the truth Of oil these state
ments, swearing upon his Masonic faith
(both being Masons) TO every word Of
it.
Such being the circumstances Of the
division, without food, jaded and worn
out by latigUing marches, in front Of a
force Of some hundred men and expect
ing the arrival of 5000 more, and being
especially ordered by The Texjan Gov
ernmenl 10 avoid hosliiles if the peo.
pie were opposed 10 them, and not ap-
priced Of the capture Of the gentlemen
despatched to Santa Fe, and not suspect.
ing Lewis to be traitor, the Texans
laid down their arms upon the terms Of
surrender proposed Food was then
furnished the troops, and they we're
treated with some eniency until the
next day, when the Governor arrived
with about 1000 men, a force sufficient
to make HIM secure in his barbarily
We were seized and bound six and eight
together, with hair ropes and thongs of
rawhide, and put in filthy sheep(oId,
surrounded by large armed guard -
The Mexican officers thep excited the
Poems TO the highest degree of phrenzy,
by the accounts they gave Of the Tex.
ians, and we were prevented from being
slaughtered by beng huddIcd together
in a small yard ncosed by mud wall,
and defended by the regular troops -
In this place we were kept all night,
lying in heaps, one upon another, and
suffering the most intense agony from
the cIuseness Of the confinement. and the
pressure of the ropes with which we
were bound, aud in full hearing Of the
disputes in the council called by the
Governor to deliberate upon our desti-
ny, which decided about duybreak by a
single Uote, that we should not be shot
but marched of TO Mexico,
At sunrise we had to take up our
march for the city Of Mexico, abou
1000 miles distant; the soldiers telling
US that we were going 10 the mines. -
Bound six and eight together, we were
forced to travel the three first days
about thirty miles each, without food,
and even denied the privilege OF drink
ING when we were wadns the small
streams, through which we were
marched We were stripped Of hats
shoes, blankets, and coats. The Gov
ernor himself took from me my bIankel
and buffalo robe, cursjng and striking
the prisoners, and raving like a mad
man, because (as we hcard) his wish to
have US shot was overruled in council
was obliged to give my shirt, in the
extremity Of my distress, Tor loaf OF
bread, g. swapped a tolerab)y good pair
Of pantaIoons for ragged pair upon re
ceiving a moulhlu or two TO eat in the
exchange. When We arrived At the
Rio del Norte, had parted with every
thing but my tatlered trousers, vest, and
suspenders, every thing else having
been disposed Of for bread or robbed
from me BY the soldiers. Nor were the
other prisoners in better condition
The weather was then cold, and We
we're nigh perishing in our nokedness.
After q few days march, it was IounG
mpraclcOble for US to get on with any
speed, bound together in such numbers
We were then tied two together, anc
, to each pair there was rope tied abou
the waist, neck, or arms, and fastened
TO the pommeI Of the saddle of the
horses on which the guard was mounted
The soldiers would occasionally pu'
their horses in a galIop to torture those
fastened to them, and whenever any o
us fell down or Jagged behind, we welc
dragged upon the ground and bealor
with thongs, sticks, or whatever elst
was at hand.
The principal, indeed almost all, the
food we received during the route, wa
furnished US by the women, who woulc
, follow US in large numbers for miles
r weeping at the crueties 10 which w
were subjected. They would not be al
lowed, some times, the discharge o
, their offices of charity-the soldier
beating them of and reviIirg them will
obscene and abusive language. w
were marched, at times, all night an
all day, blinded by sand and porche'
with thirst, ill our tongues were 81
swollen as almust to be incapable o
speaking.
In this manner we were hurried Of
TO the city of Mexico, which we reached
towards The close Of December, But
must here pause TO do justice TO one o
, the captains Of the Mexican army. VIII,
,, had charge of US for about five days o
the Journey, who treated us with kind
ness, and furnished us with money ou
of his own pocket. He respected US a
prisoners of war, and lIament that
cannot recall his name. He was tht
only officer who seemed TO regard us a
II II a