The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-08

place where had left the Alcade with Bob
the latter lay, bleeding from six wounds, only
a few PAGES from the spot where he had help
me up the breastwork. The bodies of two
dead Mexicans served him for pillow. The
Alcade was kneeling down by his side, gazing
sadly and earnestly into the face of the dying
man.
Poor Bob was dying: but it was no longer
the death of the despairing murderer. The
expression Of his features were calm and COM
posed, and his ewes were raised TO heaven
with look of hope and supplication.
| stopped down and asked him how he felt
himself, but he made no answer and evident
ly did not recollect me. After minute or
two he said:
"How goes it with the fghtl" he asked in
broken voice.
1--WE have conquered, Bob. The enemy
killed and taken. Not man escaped
He then paused little, and then spoke
again:
"Have done my dutyl May 1 hope to
be forgiven!"
The AIcade answered him in an agitated
voice:
ale who forgave the sinner on the cress,
will doubtless be merciful to you, Bob. His
holy book ays:-There is more Joy over one
sinner that repenteth than over ninety and
nine just men. Be of good cheer, Bob the
Almighty will surely be mereiful unto you"
THANK We, squire" gasped Bob, you are
true friend, a friend in life and death. Well,
and happy smile stole over his features. "I've
prayed for it long enough. Thank God ithas
come at last,''
10 81
expression of countenance. There was a
frame, Bob was dead.
The Alcade remained kneeling for short
time by the side of the corpse his lips NOV
ing in prayer. At last he rose to his feet.
"God desireth not the death of a sinner, but
rather that he may return from his wickedness
and live" S; id he in a low and solemn tone
Is had these words in my thoughts four years
ago, when cut him down from the branch of
the Patriarch"
-Four years ago." cried I. "Then you
cut him down, and were in tine to save him,
Was it him who yesterday brought US news
of the vicinity of the foe %
at was much more than that he has DONE"
replied the Alcade no longer trying 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, lived,
fought and spied fer us, without honor, re-
ward, hope or consolation-without single
hour of tranquility, or a wish for aught ex-
cepi death. All this to serve Texas aud his
countrymen. Who shall say this man was
not true patriot God will surely be mer-
ciful to his SOUL" said the Alcade, after 4
pause.
a. trust he WILL" answered deeply af-
fected.
We were interrupted at this moment by
messenger from Gen. Houston, to whom we
Immediately FASTENED. 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 the 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 a very critical one. A
mong our men were some thirty or forty most
desperate charac tiers who began handling
their knives and casting looks OH the prison.
ers, the meaning of which was impossible to
mistake. Selecting some of our trustiest
men, we stationed them as guard over the
captives, and thus assured the safety Of the
latter, began questioning them as to what had
become of their General.
They had none of them seen Santa Anna
since the commencement OF the fight, and 1t
was clear that he must have made his escape
while we were getting over the breast works.
He could not now be very far off, and we at
once took measures TO find him. hundred
men were sent off with the prisoners to Har-
rishurg, and hundred others, capiially noun
ted on horses found ia the Mexican camp,
started to sconr the country in search of the
fugitive chief. / accompanied the latter de-
tachment.
We had been twelve hours in the saddle,
and had began TO despair of finding the game
we were in quest of, and were thinking of
abandoning the chase, when at distance of
about even 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 the 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 wash
ed the dirt from his face we found him to be
a man of about forty years of age, with blue
eyes, of mild and crafty expresson mar
row, high forehead; long thin nose, rather
heshy at the tip, projecting upperly, and long
chin. These features tailed too exactly with
the description we had had of the Mexican
President, for us to doubt that our prisoner
was Santa Anna himself.
The only thing that tended to shake this
conviction, was the extraordinary palroonry
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 reiterted
assurances and promises were insufficient to
convince him of being in perfect safety, or to
induce him to adopt demeanor more consis- |
tent with his dignity and station.
The events which succeeded this fortunate |
capture, are 200 well known to require more
than brief recapitulation. The same even
ing truce was agreed upon between Houston
and Santa Anna, the latter sending orders TO
his different generals to retire from San An
tonia de Bazaar, and other places in the drec-
ton of the Mexican frontier. These orders
yaIueless as en- anating from prisoner, most
live Il ol,