Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-03-25

J
ol the statement, and might 10 cut and
count lhs Aex'caa troops
A Mexican officer Of equal rank was
sen, ia as hostage, whsreppon Msjor
Gaines Gid 60 out and sails6sd himself
OF The overwhelming number Of The Mex.
lean army. Gen Miaon promised that il
they surrendered they SHOULD be treated
spd respected as prisoners OF war. There
@as Mexican guide ~ph Mailer Games
who had been forced to guide tbe patty.
Captain Henry, who was Met pIisoCer,
also was known e. many OF ths Mex.
cans, all OF whom enieIisIned she great.
es, hostility againsi the Texanss aud the
Mier pnsousrs especially. General Nj
non vas informed OF these facts and
pledged his honor that Captain Henry
should be treaied as prisoner 81 ssT and
should not be hori, and thai The Mexican
guide should have q lair Trial When re
guessed 10 pa, these gnsrsnlies 10 writ.
log Le said thai q was uRns ce issTy, that
the word Of sMexie4r general vas Rorlh
thousand signatures.
General Mfncn having repeatedly made
lhese assurances and seeming disposed
TO acl literally with them. and oui hlile
band Of eighty men seeing themselves
surrounded and ouiHuabersd more than
thirty 10 oae, and thai ibeIs was no
chance OF escape. capiiusiei CD these
ltefns. and surrendered as prisoners Of
%sf.
In five minutes after The party snrren
fdsred asd gave up their arms. ihs Mexi.
can guide was shot down among Them.
thus CITING marked evidence Of lhe
confdeAce 10 he placed in the nlighied
word Of Mexican general. ThisrooF
fellows fate was a hdri one. re bad beeG
competed 10 60 out as guide with Maj
Gaines party. as ore could mol be pro
cured otherwise a! The time Of Their de.
partufe.
/ The whole party remained al Eacarna-
cion that day Tie mex, morning lhs
18th, The prisoners we're started, undef .
guard OF two hundred men. for San Luis
Potosi. Major Gsines aud Borland were
permitted 10 retain their horses and arms;
the res, Of the prisoners were stnpped Of
Goth. Captain Clay au.i Danley, and The
ltoiher commissioned officers. were fur
nlshed with musiaag poaies iheremain
der marched on foot.
The treatment of the Mexican guide
induced Captain Henrylo believe thathe
might tbaTe The same fate. He had no
confidence Hhaleyeri3 Tie word Of Gsu.i
Minon.
By some accident, during the evening
be iound himself on Major Gsines's mare
one OF the best blooded nags 10 Kentucky
and the majors pistols sill remaining ~
The holsters. The prisoners had become
considerably scattered near sunset, and
Capt. Henry set himself basilS 10 work
TO make them keep close together. To
do this be rode back, within ten hles Of
the rear Of the line, when discovering
a small interval in line Of the Mexican
guard. he suddenly put spurs 10 the mare
and daTled through The lines. The guard
Immediately wheeled in pursuit. but
their ponies were no match Tor Ken
lucky blood horse, and before gun
could We ls,rly levelled at him be had
darted out Of reach. He had three ran
chos TO pass, As he passed these be
found that the Mexicans 10 pursuit gave
notice 10 The Tancheros, who followed him
with fresh horses; still be- outslripped
them all. After passing the last raooho
he had pulled up his mare, 10 rest her,
when single Mexican came up. suppos-
ing him to be unarmed- He waited un-
lil be came within thirty steps, when.
cooking The majors duelllLg pistol, be
Tired and the Mexican rolled eff. In a
wise permitted hin TO approach still near.
ef when he wheeled and shot him down.
Here loaded his pistol. and after going
some distance. another started up from
behind some bushes near The road. and
rode al him he shot al him. with what
success be cooid not tell. but he was not
pursued by that Mexican any farther r..
When be came near Encstnscien. be
found the camp had been alarmed. as he
sapposes. by some one who had passed
Lin ahen he had lett the road Diverg
ing from a straight course. he CLOSED Sc
veTal roads and esaded number OF par,
lies who were 10 pursuit Of him, AT
length be came 10 plain wteFe here
vas no place 10 hide. The r5oon was
shining. and be could see large number
Oi men In pursuit
Putting spurs 10 bis now jsded mare
be made Tor q mountain valley. and fol
loving i; 10 the east. he 81 length eIoded
his puIsueTs. He travelled up The ysftey
forty miles. as be supposed. hoping iotind
an outlettowards Pslomos; but III tbs be
vas disappointed. He was unable TO
inJ waller for himself or his tamished
mare. and the next morning alter
bis escape. the noble animal expired,
more from the want Of wafer than from
fatigue.
Capt. Henry now bad to take il on fool.
He wandered about all day. trying 10 find
path across the mountain. Ia The eve
cling be found some water 10 qaench bis
thirst. He then determined 10 re,rsce
bis steps down The valley, marching with
ont water or Iood During The 26h. eth.
snd 26,h. be walked along ihrough ihe
chsPpsrsl and pfickly pears, wilho1tfsod
Or water. frequently seeing parties Of n s1-
,qans. whom he had 10 avoid On the
a9th be killed rat with . club. part Of
which be ale. and put the balance 10 lis
pocket ior.anolher meal.
On the night Of The 2elh be reached
The road and followed il until 40 hour az
ter Sunrise. when be discovered psriysof
horsemen approaching. MOI knoUibg
whether they were friends d enemies.
ha conraalal k,rms,lf .<..,:l 49,, - !. !.