Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-03-07
AMERICAN PRISONERS IN MENICo.

AMfshlGAN 1hlOONE.hS IN hFsAito
NARRATIVE or Ma. FRANsLIN CoMps TN
PRISONERS,
The expedition after about ten weeks march, hrnngf
a country infested by Indians, arrived al the Pao Du
70, where beng staitencd for food and having pre-
yionsy their guides in advance, was determine
10 dispatch about third Of the armed force and two Of
the commissioners 10 procure provisions and prepare III,
way the of the expedition into the province
OF Santa fo The impression AT the time that tn,
expedition had reached within 90 miles of Santa Tc. n
Consequence OF which belief the advanced division took
with them on. three days ratlons. tpi Cook aud DR.
Drenham the commissioners accompanying the al
vance, and Capt. sutton commanded the armed escort.
ihe remainder NJ The forces left the Palo Duo
undei the command Of Gen. Mcleod. surrounded by 4
number OF u Indians. who continually harass
Ing them and who had actually killed five OF them the
day upfn walci, the division sci out upon It's march.
The advanced force sool learned that the expedition
had made fearful mistake ia surprising Pala Duro 10
be within - miles of Santa Re. The distance MAS
nearly so miles, and consequent The Tatiors pro
viaed for the tnuIs exhausted before they
rlished hird II The rad Ia Santa Il. The division
then rearied 10 every eNpolcut escape staHatlop
They first sussird upon such Of the horses had bro
ken down, and Wild berries which VIE OCCASIONAL,
met with IN the prarrs. When these failed.
they were compelled 10 live upon snates horned aes
anI other reptiles which a3ounicd IN the palries aud
which constituted their principal and for time. Their
only food, Alter marching IN tins iot two weeks
or lhereah5us. the division arrived at t.anas. From
tins place, Van Ness, Lewis Howard and Fitzgerald
accompanied bN MI hfhlall were sent Oh 10 santa
10 hold an Interview with the Governor 10 explain the
pacific objects Of the expedition obtained Tor the
iroos and permit In bring the merchandise taken by
the traders within the province
Two ~ three hours after these gentlemen lelt the
camp at 6allinas note received from Capt Lewis
10 the effect that the country hn that they
would pTareed on their journey 10 Santa fr They
were, however. scizcd shortly afterwards. fas Capt
Lewis stately baund and taken be shut but that
their HE spared through the lntcrcessan uf q
Mexican officer, who took them 10 meet Governor
Armlo. In the rioan while the Governor had dcs
patched force OF several hundred intercept tho
Texans The commander OF these troops held several
interviews with the Commissioners. aud ondeayored to
get the Texans to lay down their by assuring
them OF the friendly disposition Of the Governor and tc
inhabitants. This the TEXANS would not do. III,
Mexican officer undertook take care OF the lev remain
Ing horses OF the Texans, and supply the with food
IN order 10 aay all apprehensons Of any hostile purpose
HIS next step was to cross the Ganas with his mer
with the ayowed object oi camping the forces to
gether as further proof of friendship This he did bu
as he drew near the Texan camp the disposition of h
lines left little doubt Of his boligoront intentions Tn,
Texans were Immediately got under arms. About th
time also another party crossed the river and forming
junction with the first bansed every lingering doubt I,
lie objects OF the MeAlcans and engagement was ot
the eve oil taking place when Capt Lewis aud the ph
CIV and confidential secretary Of the Governor made hc
appearance.
When Lewis and the Governors nephew came up ;
parley was hal between thcm and the TeNans III,
troops upon both SIDES maintaining their battle array
oapt Lewis represented tho Governor willing 10 II.
ceive the Texans on condition tina, they would la,
down their arms IN conformity with law of NIex,cn
which made IL necessary for armed force entering thu
province Ia give up their weapons before reaching Sa,
Miguel lie represented hnsefand the neph9w an,
secretary OF the Governor empowered To STIMULATE f.,
the surrender Of the implements of wal and To negoliat,
Tor the safe conduct Of the troops the frot tier aft,
they had complied with this stipulation The Goyerno
had empowered them 10 bind the authorities to label Tho
property OF each individual supply food for their l1arcl
home, and return to every his property Ties. re-
pres nations were confirmed BY the nephew aud SEC
rotary OF Governor ArmJo, well as by Mexican of
hcers, number of whom had joined in the parlcy
The Commissioners hestatng to confde in these re-
presentations. Capt. Lewis informed him that the Gov
ernor wtha well appointed troop of 5000 men, wa,
within IL hours march and if the Texans gained III,
battle they would soon be engaged with more formi
dabie ioe The Commissioners not yet satisfied Capt
Lewis pledged his honor to the truth of all these s,ie
Inents swearing upon his Masonic fith Cloth beno
Masons) 10 every word of it,
ouch being The circumstances of the division with
out food Jaded and by faiiening marches
IN 'front.' oil force OF some hundred men and eNsctno
the arrival Of 900 MORE and being esneciallv nr5on7
by the Texan government to avoid hostlltles if IN,
people were opposed TO Them and appraised Of tn,
capture Of the gentlemen dispatched TO Santa Fe and
MOI speeding Lewis 10 be traitor the TEXANS laid
down their upon the terms Of surrender p,,r,soI
Food was then furnished the troops and they v.r
treated with some lenlency until the next day. when IN,
'overnoTarrlved with about 500 men, force sufcen
bound SIX and eight together with hair ropes and thono,
o "a" hide and put in filthy sheep fold, surrounded b,
aiaige armed guard. The Mexican officers then excl
'eo ie feons to tie highest degree of yhrenzy by thu
accounts they gave Of the Texans and were prevent
eo from being slaughtered by being hudded together il
sinaii yard enclosed by mud wall and defended h,
the regular troops In this place we were kent all nigb
yng III heaps one upon another, and suffering the mos
Intense agony from the cosenss Of the confinement and
the pressure Of the ropes with which we were pnd and
fn hearing of the disputes in the council called by tbe
governor TO deliberate upon destiny which decided
ABOUT DAY break by single rote that we should moi be
shot but marched off to Mexico NV "
sunrise we had to take up our march for the city o(
MANGO about 2, 600 miles dstant-the soldiers ,iI;na
.naI we were going to the mines Bound six and
egh' ogethef we were forced travel the three fin,
o:ys about thirty miles each without ;,od and even de-
MED the privilege of drinking when we were wadioy
me small streams. through which we were marched =
we were stripped of hat. Shoes blankets and Coats
nc Governor himself took from me my blanket and
ana,o Robe cursing and striking the prisoners and "a
">' la'in''' betaHse Gas VIC beard) his wish 10