, 1843-06-24
Mexico discov-

' 'iiis toWn was unpIolecieu diiu
crowded with goods, and improving her
apparent peace at home, secretly de-
Spatched a body of 700 soldiers, includ-
ins ECO of the -Agaton robbers, TO cap
lure and plulder the place. Their ad-
vance was not discovered Till it was too
late 10 procure assistance, and they APP
preached The place with two pieces Of
artillery. The Texian force was too
small to sustain an attack, and according
ly a retreat was ordered on the 9Th Of
March, 1912, the Mexicans entering on
The west as orr force retired. San An
tonic then became a scene of desolation.
II was Unfortunately ~plundered. But
The enemy only kept the town two days.
Finding that force was on the march 10
attack them, they retreated SO precipi
lately that their horses were not unsad-
died for sixty hours.
Most of the traders having suffered
greatly by this foray, San Antonio was
not again supplied with merchandise.
Congress did not assemble till the follow
ing December, and in the meantime the
President manifested no disposition 10
prepare for defence, but seemed inclin-
ed 10 trust 10 fate; and the consequence
was, that in September a second party
Of Che enemy, 1900 stong, headed by
Gen. Adrian VOL, advanced upon San
Antonio, in like manner, and again cap
tured ii, together with the officers of the
court. They remained six days, but
were fought by 80 TEXANS on the 18Th,
and they sustained 4 clear loss Of 500
killed while ours was only AZ. They
rctrcatcd with rapidity IS miles, and
were again overtaken by US on the Ar
royo Honda, where 4 sharp contest en-
sued Ter : few minutes, and victory was
snatchcd from us BY nightGall only. In
Ger cover cf the night they continued
their disorderly retreat, but were COM
PEELED to abandon sixty wagons and a
large amount ~ofPrOperty.
;. Ia October, 4 body oi 100 Texan
|, volunteers made 4 descent upon the
, Mexican frontier and captured the
towns Of Loredo and Guerrero. Al,
Ter having travelled so miles and re-
manned ABOUT twenty days in thai
, country, the army divided into two
4 parlies--the one returning home uI.-
! der tie commanding olfcer--ihe 9th
er sill travelling down the Rio
: Grande 70 the town Of Mler. This
e., party WAS about 500 stroag, and com.
. m4nded by CD. Fisher. The Latte
! at Mier resulted, (as you already
Know in tie capture Of tie gallant
lizzie hand. 10y precisely nine times
thcir own number; tut not until ;
desperate strugg'e of nineteen hours
) ia Which they killed coo Of the enc
nv and wounded many. This WAS
On the o5,h Of December. & is the las
ma ement between the two coun
: tires. Bot bear IN mind that tins wa:
in NcricO. not in Texas. And nov
o let me say a few words about Tie dI
/ vision Of this brave little army o
g 200. 1t would require a volume t.
explain every ihinl connected Viii
6 ,hc expedition and some other move
N mcn,s OF president Houston last year
+ He forced upon tie volunteers a com
IA mander who was entirely subseTvl
ent 10 his W IL. and who was who'll,
ID unfit for tie station; and 1t was hi
E dastardlv conduct which separate.
III Us. and which now places some q
" nv brave countrymen in the dun
u Ccons Of Mexico. Having been i
!. tie expedition throughout, | am pre-
= pred to speak from facts; and | ie'
:; no hesitation in saying, tina, had III
~ peoples man Gen. Edward Brerie
nc son. the presen, vice president.) con
IL manded that army, that the contes
between Mexico and Texas woul
n, have been closed and i permanen
"a reace or is equivalent would hav
cd been effected. Bat from the two i'
rays into Tex,s and.ti:c unsuccessi'
yc termination Of our attack on A.exlc'
an many persons, who do not undc
, ~ f.,r tb4t TrytS