The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-06
SEcoEp DAY, July IL.

SEcoNp DAY, July IL.
Two witnesses were examined. Their evidence
was brief, and not very important
The testimony for the prosecution being closed
Captain w, J. Hardee, second Dragons, recalled
as a witness for the defence
Question by accused Did you not hear me give
instructions to the squadron TO remain on the alert
during the rest at night, and to hold their brides
ready 10 mount or move, in of alarm
Witness. did on the night Of the gath.
Question bu accused. When informed that the
my was within mile and half of us, ut the rancho,
where the guide left me, did or not order the
mand to sling and load their carbInes, examine the
printing of their pistols; and to take off and strap
their great-coats to be ready for action the enemy
was neaT2
Witnsss do not recollect that he did. The order
may have been given, however, without my know
ing III
Question BY accused, Had the squadron kept at the
distance of "a quarter Of a mile from the advance
guard, would il have entered the field at alp
Witness. think the enemy must have come upon
before the squadron entered the field according to
the usual rate Of travel
Question by accused Did you hear any order for
the squadron advance after it halted at the bars'
Witness ] did not. Had such an order been given,
would not have heard 1t, being at such distance
from the head Of the column.
Question BY accused How was engaged from the
time you saw me in the field up the time of order
ing the charge!
Witness. Whea first saw Captain Thornton, he
was between the bars and the houses. supposed
he was taking measures to pursue and capture the
Mexicans, who had fed from the houses. After
my arrival at the houses, he seemed to be anxious
y occupied in finding some one with whom to COM
municate. An old man was brought TO him, and
he was buslly engaged in questioning him, when
the cry of alarm was given.
Question by accused, About what hour was il
when the squadron entered the field where j, was
captured?
Witness. may not be able to come within one
two hours of the time. think it may have been
between and 10 Of the clock a. m.
Question by accused Was the loss of my squadron,
IN your opinion owing to its entrance into the field,
or must 1t necessarily have been cut oil IN any at
tempt to return to camp?
Vines. From the nature of the country through
which we passed, and information | subsequently
derived from Mexican officers, of which there could
be no doubt, the squadron would, in my opinion,
have been entirely cut to pieces, if it had not gone
into the field
Question BY accused Did you or not hear the Mex
lean officers say, whilst in Matamoros, your
way thither, after the capture of the squadron tina
they had known of our movement, and had already
gained our rear, before we reached the ields
Witness. After our capture heard more
Mexican officers say that their spies knew of our
departure the moment we left camp; that they had
spies upon during whole route; that Gen. Tor
reon received information of our departure before
o'clock that night that they had persons on the road
to point out our way One Of these persons, who
particularly offcious, left when guide did; he
afterwards recognised in uniform at capture;
and that when we entered into the field, they had
500 cavalry, besides Indians in our rear.
Question by accused In view of the darkness of
the night, and the difficulties Of the road might not
the rear of any command have been easily gained
by an enemy well acquainted with the country
without the possibility of my knowing il
Witness. | do not consider it necessary for the
night, to have done SO; they could have done it in
daytime
Question by accused. Was it or not your inn
preston that our guide had betrayed us'
Witness. 1t was not
The witness retired.
Second Lieut.. Z. X. Kane, Cd dragons, recalled
witness for the defence
Question By accused Did you hear any instruc-
tons to the squadron at the time of hating for rest
| on the night Of the 24tha ESQ., stnte the precau-
tons took to preveDta surprise.
Witness heard the commander of the squadron
give instructions to Sergeant Smith, thnk--the Sc
Nor sergeant fthe squadron-to place sentinel at
each end of the road--some hundred Yards at each
end of the road from the yard where we halted He al
directed that the men should hold their horses by
the bride, which order | repeated to them my
| self.
Question by accused When informed that the en-
envy was within mile and half of us, at the ram
cho, where the guide left me- did mot order my COM
mand to sling and load their carbInes, examine the
printing Of their stos, and take off and strap their
great-coats, to be ready for action, as the enemy
near
Witnts Heidi.
Question by accused. Before reaching the bars Of
the field, do you or not remember my ordering It..
Mason, with the advance guard, to reconnoi,re the
field and the river banks, and my instructions to
him, together with the position of the squadron at
| the timer
Witness At the time that Lieut. Mason was
placed in command of the advance guard, when it
had been increased to ten men, and non-commis-
stoned officer, he ordered to keep about quar-
| ter Of mile in advance ofthe squadron; if he came
up with the enemy, or any portion Of them, to fire
upon them, and retire Immediately. After we coun-
termarched to the lower end Of the held-down the
river-the squadron was halted in the road at the
point 3d." which suppose is about 200 yards
| from the river. Captain Thornton and the advance
gnard went to the rverto the point where tho fence
intersected it, for the purpose Of recommending,
supposed. do not recolect any other instructions
than those | have stated.
Question by accused. What we're my particu-
lar instructions to you, when informed you Of my
belief that we should have to cut way back to
camp
Witness His instructions were, to keep ss near
| that he would break his way through the enemy,
and was to follow him to prevent the opening he
might make from being closed, whether he fell or
! not,
Question BY accused Was at the head of my
squadron, exercising the immediate command there
of, at any time after it had closed on the advance
guard at the bars, and previous to the time of giving
the order TO Charger