The Arkansas banner., 1845-01-29

time by the side of the corpse, hiss
 ting in prayer. At last he rose to his fes>.
 sGod lcsirelh not the death of the sinner. but rather that he may turn from his wick edness and Iive.n said he. in low and so- lemn tone. ssI had those words in my mouth four years ago, when cut him down from the branch of the Patriarch.o
 s'Four years ago." cried s'Then YOU cut him down, and were in time to save him! Was 1t he who yesterday brought us news of the vicinity of the foe p
 s'lt 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 wretch- ed existence, weary of the world and des- pissed of all men. For four years he has served us, lived, fought and spied for US, without honor, reward, hope or consolation without single hour of tranquility, or sa 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 mercilul to his soal,n said the Alcade, after pause.
 .sl trust he wil,n answered l, deeply ~af- fected
 hC Ntit iiltIIupltu dt tllia iUOiilcHl p} messenger from General Houston, to whom we immediately hastened. All was uproar and confusion. Santa Anna could not be found among the prisoners.
 This was terrible disappointment, for the capture of the Mexican President had been our principal object, and the victory we had gained was comparatively unimportant If he escaped. Indeed, tie hope of putting an end to the war by his capture, had more than any thing encouraged and stimulated us to the unequal conflict.
 The moment was very critical one.- Ar ong our men were some thirty or forty most desperate characters, who began hand- ling their knives and casting looks on the prisoners, the meaning of which was impos- slbe to mistake. Selecting some of our trustiest men, we stationed them as guard over the captives, and having thus assured the safety of the latter, began questioning them as 10 what had become of their Gene ral
 They had none of them seen Santa Anna since the commencement of the fight, and It was clear that he had made his escape while we were getting over the breastworks. He could not be very far off, and VIC al once took measures to find him. A hundred men were sent with the prisoners to Harrisburg, and hundred others captally mounted on horses found in the Mexican camp, started to SCOUT the country in search of the fugitive chlef.-- l accompanied the latter detachment
 We had been twelve hours in the saddle and had ridden neatly a hundred miles of ground. We began 10 despair of finding the game we were in quest of, and were think ing of abandoning the chase, when at tue dis tance of about seven miles from the camp one of our most experienced hunters disco vered the print of small and delicate boot upon some soft ground leading 10 q marsh. Following this trail, it al last led as 10 man sunk up to his waist in the swamp, and SO covered with mud and filth as to be quite un- recognizable. We drew him from his hiding place, half dead with cold and terror, and ha- ving washed the dirt from his face, we found him to be man ofabout forty years of age, with blue eyes, Of a mild but crafty express sion; narrow, high forehead; long, thin nose, rather neshy at the tip, projecting up- perly, and long chin. These features tallied too exactly with lhe description we had had of the Mexican President, for us to doubt that our prisoner was Santa Anna himself.
 The only thing that Ut all tended 10 shake this conviction, was the extraordinary poll troonery 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 assurances and promises were insufficient to convince him of his be- ing Ill perfect safety, or to induce hm to adopt demeanor more consistent with his dignity and high staiion.
 The events which succeeded this fortunate capture, are too well known to require more than very brief recapitulation. The same evening truce was agreed upon between Houston and Santa Anna, the latter sending orders to his different Generals to retire on San Antonio de Bexar, and other places n the direction of the Mexican frontier. These orders, valueless as emanating from priso- ner, most of the Generals were cowardly enough to obey, an obedience for which they were afterwards brought to trial by the Mex ican Congress. In few days two-tllir,ss of Texas was in our possession.
 The news of these successes brought crowds of volunteers 10 our standard. in three weeks we had aii army of several thou- sand men, with which we advanced against the Mexicans. There was no more fighting however, for our antagonists had had enough, and had allowed themselves to be driven from one position to another, till, in months time, there was not one left in the country.
 The struggle was over, and Texas was free
 young physician, asking permission of lady to kiss her, she replied, 'sNo sir; never like to haave doctor's 6iH thrust in my face"
 s.The only fountain in the wilderness of life,whsre man drinks of water totally unmixed r,;,b h;ttarnees is that which oushes for him