Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-05


the accounts they COVE of the Texans, and we were
prevented from being slaughtered by being huddled
together in small yad enclosed by mud wall, and
defended by the regular troops In this place we
were kept all night, lying in heaps, one upon ano-
ther and suffering the most intense agony from the
closeness of the confinement and pressure of the
ropes with which bound, and in full hear.
iug ofthe disputes in The council called by the Gov.
ernot to deliberate upon destiny, which deci.
ded about day-break by single uOfe that we
should no, be shot but marched off for Mexico.
AT sunrise we had to take up our march for
the city of Mexico, about 1000 miles distant
the soldiers telling us that were going to 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 drinking when we were wading the
small Streams, through which we marched
We were stripped of hats, shoes, blankets and !
coats. The Governor himself took fiom me my
blanket aLd buffalo robe, cursing and striking the |
prisoners and raving like madman, because (as
we heard) his wish 10 have US shot had been over
ruled in council. was obliged to give my shirt,
in the extremity of my distress, for loaf of bread,
and swopped toerably good pair of pantaloons
for ragged pair upon receiving mou,hiul or two
to ca, in the exchange. When we arrived at the
Rio del Norte, Ind parted with every thing but
my tattered trousers, vest and suspendeIs, every
thing else having been disposed OF for bread or
robbed from me by the soldiers. Nor the
other prisoners in a better condition. The weather
was then cold and we were nigh perishing in
nakcdness.
! "Aner few days march it was found imprac.
tcablc for Us TO get on with any speed, bound to-
eether in such numbers. We then tied two
together, and to each pair there a rope tied
about the waist, neck or arms, and fastened to the
pummel of the saddle of the horses on which the
/ guard was mounted. The soldiers would
sionally pu, their horses in gaop to torture those
fastened to them and whenever any Of US fell
down or Jagged behind, we were dragged upon the
ground and beaten with thongs, sticks, whatever
else was at hand.
1.-The pin cpol, indeed almost all the food We re-
ceived during the route furnished by the wo
men, who would follow US in large numbers for
miles, weeping at the rut''es 10 "HICn We WIZ
subjected. They would no, he allowed sometimes
the discharge of their offices of chari,y-the SOL
diers beating them off and ieviling them with OBJ
scene and abusive language. We were marched,
at times, all nigh, and all day. blinded 10y sand and
parched with thirst, ill our tongues were so swol-
len as almost to be incapable of speaking.
"In this manner we were hurried on TO the city Of
Mexico which we reached toward the close OF De-
cembcr. Blu, mus, here pause, to do justice to
one Of the captains of the Mexican army, who had
charge of US for about five days OF the journey,
( who treated us with kindness, aud furnished US
with money out of his pocket. lie respected
us os prisoners of war, and lamrnt that cannot
recollect his name. He was the only officer who
seemed to regard US as human beings during the
whole of our long march. The foreigners also in
| chihuahua and Zacatecas, raised a contribution
for US, which gave us a temporary relief
"Aiter we were taken prisoners, we learned tina:
Rowland, Roserbery and Baker the guides we
took with US from Texas, and who had been sent
on bofoe the division left the Palo Duro, had been
taken and shot-as well as an American merchant,
they were taken mp, upon the information OF one
Brignule, deserler flom the Expedition. OF these
Transactions hover, can only speak from hearsiy.
A number of outrages were reported to have been
perpe,rated upon American czens-no doubt cor
rectly reported,
"When We arrived at Mexico We were GOV.
cred with filth and vermin. We there met an OF.
A & An. ka hain al ,;,lk l.
We were lodged in the Convent Santiago, about
t"o miles from the palaces; confined in room
over the cemetery, and the eilluvia from the dead
bodies beneath vas offensive in the extreme"
Mr.. Combs proceeds to complain Of tglec, and
indifference the part of our minister, Mr. Ellis,
(now superseded y of the prisoners being kept in
the public square on their arrival at Mexico for the
qualification of the rabble aud then marched back
to their prison, because Santa Ana asleep and
no one dared awake him that tie prisonere were
chained and compelled to work in the streets,
though he Combs was exempted as sick until
About three weeks after reached Mexico,
two of the prisoners made their escape. This in
censcd Santa Ana 10 such degree, that he ordered
he whole of US, the lame and sick included, TO lie
chaintd aud made to work with the rest ! tcaS
myseiC takcH out Of bed and chained soM heary
iOg cham about my GncieS and made 10 WOrk ia
, he streets. This, too, after had been demanded
as a citizen of the United States by our Minister,
Mr. Ellis; IlUas kept IN chains about hoO ,ceekS,
and i'll as was, compelled to sleep and work in
them, having thereby nearly lost my hearing,