The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-05
NUMBER Dc.

doubtless be merciful 10 you, Bob. His holy
book says; 'There is more joy in heaven over
one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and
nine Just men, Be of good cheer, Bob! the
Almighty will surely be merciful TO you i"
Thank ye, Squire" gasped Bob, 'you're a
true friend, a friend in life and in death. Well
it's come at last" said he, while a resigned and
a happy smile stole over hts features. sI've
prayed for ii long enough. Thank God, it has
come at last !"
lie gazed up at the Alcade with a kindly exc
preston Of countenance. There was a slight
shuddering movement of bis whole frame-Bob
was dead.
The Alcade remained k~neeling for a short
time by the side of the corpse, his lips moving
in prayer. AT last he rose TO bis feet.
"God desireth not the death of a sinner, but
rather that he may turn from his wickedness
and live" said he in a low and solemn tone.
a had those words in my mouth four years ago,
when | cut him low from the branch of the
Patriarch;
"Four years ago." cried l. "Then you cut
him down, and were in time TO save him! Was
it he who yesterday brought us news of the Vie
entity Of the foe?"
at was, and much more than that he has
done" replied the Alcade, no longer striving to
conceal the tears that fell from his eyes. "For
four years he has dragged on his wretched exis-
%tence, weary Of the world and despised of all
men. For four years he has served US, lived,
fought and spied for us, without honor, reward,
hope or consolation-without a single hour of
tranquility, or a wish for aught except death.
All this to serve Texas and his countrymen.
Who shall say this man was not a true patriot?-
God will surely be merciful to his SOUL" said
the Alcade, after a pause.
81 trust he will" answered /, deeply afec-
ted.
We were interrupted at this moment by a mes
sage from General Houston, TO whom we imme-
diately fastened. All was uproar and confusion.
Santa Anna could not be found among the prls-
oners.
This was a terrible disappointment, for the
capture of the Mexican President had been our
principal object, and the victory we had gained
was comparatively unimporlant if he escaped.
indeed, the hope of putting an end TO the war
by his capture, had more than any thing encou-
ragged and stimulated US TO the unequal con-
fjct.
The moment was a very critical enc. Among
Our men were some thirty Or forty most despe-
rate chal0cteIs, who began handling their knives
and casting looks on The prisoners, the meaning
Of which 1t was impossible TO mistake. Select.
ing some CT OUT trustiestmen, we stationed them
as Il guard over the c2ptjyos, and, having thus
insHIed the safely OF The latter, began question:
ing them as TO what had become of their Gen
cTal.
They had none Of them seen Santa Anna
since the commencement Of he fight, and il
was clear that he must aayC made his escapc
while We were getting over The b~reastworks
He could not now be very far off, and we at
once took measures 10 fad him. A hundred
men we're sent off with the prisoners to Harris
burg, and a hundred Others, capitaily mounted
on horses found i'll tie Mexican camp, started to
scour the country in search Of the fugitive chief.
| accompanied the latter detachment.
We had been twelve hours in the saddle and
had ridden nearly nearly a bundled miles of
ground. We began TO despair of finding the
game we were in quest of, and were thinking of
abandoning the chase, when at the distance of
about seven miles from the camp, one of our
most experienced hunters discovered the print
Of a small and delicate boot upon some soft
ground leading to q marsh. Following this trail,
it at last led US To- man sunk up to his waist in
the swamp, and so covered with mud and filth as
to be quite unacceptable. We drew him from
his hiding place, half dead with cold and terror,
and having washed the dirt from his face, we
found himto be a man Of aboutAQ years of age;
with blue eyes, Of a mild buterafty expression;
a narrow, high forehead; long, thin nose, rather
aeshy at the tip, projecting upperly, and long
chin. These features tailed too exactly with the
description we had of the Mexican President,
for us to doubt that our prisoner was Santa Anna
himself.
The only thing that at all tended to shake this
conviction, was the extraordinary poltroonery of
our new captive. He threw himself on his knees
and begged us, in the name of God and all the
saints to spare his life. Our reiterated assuran-
ces and promises were insufficient 10 convince
him of his being in perfect safety, or TO induce
him TO adopt a demeanor more consistent with
his dignity and high station.
The events which succeed this fortunate cap
ture, are too well known to require more than a
brief recapitulaion. The same evening a truce
was agreed upon between Houston and Santa
Anna, the latter sending orders to his different
generals to retire on San Antonio dc Bexar, and
other places in the direction of the Mexican
frontier, These orders, ~valueless as emanatina
from a prisoner, most of the generals we're cow.
ardly or weak enough 10 obey, an obedience for
which they were afterwards brought to trial by
the Mexican Congress. In a few days two
thirds Of Texas was in our possession.
The news of this success brought crowds of
g volunteers TO our standard. In three weeks we
had an army of several thousand men, with which
Y we advanced against the Mexicans. There was
d no more fighting, however, for our antagonists
d had had enough, and allowed themselves TO be
e driven from one position TO another, till in a
: months time, there was not one left in the coun-
try.
e The struggle was over and Texas was free!