New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-07-27
THE PRISONERS or EsCARN.CIoN.
Deeply Interesting Narrative OF the Capture,
Adventures, suferings, etc. OF Majors Gaines
and bOriaBd's party in Mexico.-C opciaded

90
Luis They had not gone far before they Gen
u Anna on bis way 10 Aqua Nuevs attack Gen Tay
Tor. The General was 10 4 large and sho1y carriage
drawn by six besuiul mules, aud escorted uy baita
lOu Of hussaTs DOst syenddy uniformed and mounted
AZ the prisoners passed his carriage stopped the
hussars drew up and at The request OF Anna Ms
6aura was introduced % biIn. The Why Mexican Wa
al smiles and c0urty grace lie expressed bic regret
10 Ind the Major and HE party 10 their unfortunate
alton but promised them the most kindly treatment sud
hoped that they would be- exchanged aud would be
able to rrjOn their friends The manners Of the Mex
Generals certainly yery lne and yrepOssessiug
but tbs prisoners would have been better satisfied with
some more substantial proof Of his kindly dhPosition-
The cOurat between the prisoners end he magnificent
ret,uue Oi Ssnts Anna formed picture Which would
have taxed the highest powers Of Martin Or David
The ilLcsd, ragged unarmed prisoners With their sts
Wst frames aud bold and manly cOunte nances' without
shoes mats, and many without coats bat wrapped "a
their blankets Indian iashOD, stood with erect aud
swed front before The arrsy Of the elegantly sccourei
and welarmed busssrs, mounted on choice steeds with
their long spears and heavy ssbres. Indeed there
of those proud bat unfortunate representatives
OF the Aog0-Amorcsn race who would not have given
all his prospects In life 10 have had chsHce with ns
unerrng rifle and deadly bowiekue against the serried
ranks of these bedizsned and bewhskered hussars-
But this interview terminsted, and Anna
aud his reunue resumed their journey and proceeded
onward with great rapidly.
The prisoners passed for several days large bodies Of
Mexican sOdiery who seemed 10 DO pushing on toward
the Sierra Mare with great rapidly. They were ia
me condition. well equipped and supplied Win all the
necessary supplies. As they passed the prisoners many
OF he soldiers would insult them by gestures indicating
that their thrOats be cut ina. they 10
b. hung up! The only reply our boys made 10 these
cowsrdly jeers was very significant cyratory move
ment of their right thumb sppcd q the apex OF their
nasal appendsge, and hint that Old lack would give
them dose which would make them laugh the
other side OF their faces At night the prsOners would
encamp with some Of the divisions Of the Mexican ar
my and from the soldiers they learned what santa
Annss designs. He had Intercepted they said letters
OF Cen Scott showing that Gen. TaylOrs army was re-
IN fev troops.
the whole valley OF the Rio Grsnde was without an sde
quate force TO protect IT, santa Apna had determined
20 push snnihilse Taylor, recspture Sauo Monte
reg, Camsrgo and the whole valley Of the Rio Orande
possess himself of the immense supplies OF our army
then push 10 Corpus Christi and thence proceed 10
the valley OF the Mississippi and lay waste Toe whole vast
country Certainly this design was worthy OF tue Ma
pOeOn Of the West Ii was very wrong IN Old Jack 70
interfere with such magnificent scheme lie should
have allowed the Mexicans 10 come over here when we
could have caught them all alive and put them 10 some
more useful and profitable undertaking than hehung
Americans. Clearing our swamps would Do much
easier and beneficial employment for Mexicans than
fighting such battles those Of Buena Vista and Cerro
GOrdO.
such however were the confident expectations Of
the Mexicans of the officers, those OF Intelligence
and information, well rs Of the common soldiers No
wonder with such hopes that they marched so rapidly
and bore patiently the many trials and sunerings 70
which they subjected in this unparalleled march.
In the rear OF the Mexican army the prisoners met
Capt Riley, with his company Of deserters from the
American army. He had already eighty or ninety me0,
who constituted the main artillery force OF the army
aud said be picking up more every day. llc made
great effort 10 persuade Of the prisoners to Join
him, promising them as much land and money as thcy
wanted and declaring that 1t impossible Tor Gen.
Taylor 10 resist Santa Annas army, which was thirty
thousand strong and that the whole spoil Of the valley
Of the Rio drande would be divided among the troops
II unnecessary say that the traitors proposals were
received by gallant volunteers with scorn and con
tempt The prisoners much gratihed 10 hear some
time siterward in the Carcel 81 Jago that Capt toys
m MI 10
turned to the City OF Mexico. This twenty, together
with other American deseriers, who had escaped from
army at 1ampico and Vera Cruz. became disor
DERBY and unruy in their habits that they were ordered
out of the city, aud their way were attacked by
large Mexican force, and all put 10 the sword
On the rst OF March the prisoners arrived within nine
miles of the City OF Me-oo when tha Colonel IN com
msnd OF the guard received orders to retain them al the
place where he then until the revolution wbi'n
was then raging in the city had sbsted But the reVou
ton continuing longer than was expected lhe psOn,S
were marched into the y ON the night ol the on srGh
aud lodged in the secure oil san ia
20 Here they found themselves in the society oil all me
principal indicators and conyicts OF Mexico and aOre
rascay filthy and yisnOus set were never qelore con
grcgaied. Their impairment and disgusting behavior
soon rendered 1t necessary that our boys should give
them a little discplining. Several OF them were wen
logged by the Americans and quite ieud sprung up IN
consequence which reaching the ears Of the gooh ma
tured pobeied old Governor, he came down one morn
ing after one of the between the convcs and TIE
Americans and proceeded very deliberately win many
grunts much perspirsOn and lace fui oil wisdom ana
sagaCtY to draw chalk line across the moor OF the prs
on assigning the Americans one side aud the convicts
the other And he completed this sage and ingenious
scheme for presesying the peace the Joly od iel1"
chuckled very heartily over his wisdom ana leit inc
pri son with a very couiented and sell satisfied AIR
The revolution in the City still continued. There was
most terrific din OF cannon aud small arms drums
beating buges blowing. cavalry charging &C Inc
prisoners thovght from the cOmmouon apparent among
The people and from The immense consumption oi gun
powder that seemed TO be going that very erce ana
destructive battle raging In the CITY Great was
| their astonshment To hear from an Englshmen, who
visited them that II all sound and Jury slgniiyng
nothing that the revolutionary parties kept two or
three miles spsr snd hred their guns at random down
the streets. No persons were Injured but those VINO
happened 10 pass along the streets The hlile boys
| would watch the cannon balls as they went booming
along up the streets and when they were spent and o..
gan roll slowly, would run snd PICK them up and sen
| them TO the opposite psrty
! City The parties would rise early in the morning aud
while II cool and pleasant would IRE away Al eaen
other very comfortably retiring for their coffee and
lunch In the heat OF the day they would suspend op'
ersons altogether but at dark they would begin tue
battle with great ierocy, and hight the whole night long
Proposals were made by both OF the parties 10 our
prisoners to release them II they would night on their
side The MeNicans bad heard o the sklA OF our rhe'
men, and they believed thst wss only necessary Tor the
prisoners Join either party 10 secuTes success III the
strife then going In the city. But our boys prefer ca
looking on like the old woman IN the night between heI
husband and the bear not caring copper which whipped
In the midst OF the revolution the hrst news Ot the
hattle of Buens Vista reached the city. There was
great ringing Of bells and much rejoicing on account OF
The joyful tdngs Bad news travels fact ana tue prs
opers were soon informed by MeXcsns OF the total rout
and capture OF Gen Tsylors whole army the death OF
Gen Butler aud several Of most distinguished ON
cers Although but little disposed 10 rely IN Mexican
stores there such air OF probability about thls
report that the prisoners were forced to give II some
crcdence and were overwhelmed win grief ana inot'
dcsuon by the disastrous result But soon oiheI sos
were circulated conflicting statements were gwen 81
tending to throw doubt upon the story OF Ssnta Anna
splendid triumph At last the hurried dispatch Of Tue
Mexican General received and the notes OF reJolc
ing in the city subsded most percepuoy copy o thi'
dispatch was thrown down by means OF t"ne stflus
from the loom where the officers were eonhned 10 Tue
main courtyard where the men were. and was eager y
and oyousy perased by them. II was evident that l'sn
santa Anna had sustained decided repulse, and the
prisoners could restrain their eXutstOn but gave
felef la three loud cheers which startled toe inmates
Of the prison. and brought the Governor down upon
| them in the greatest terror and perturbation.
On the next day however the spirits OF the MeSicans
were soewhs, restored by the arrival OF the trophies
of the battle of Augosturs The three little cannon OF
Lent O'Brien one OF which, by-theby had been cap
tured from the MeScans by the Texans and the coor'
OF the Indiana regiments together with Anew markers
were brought into the city In triumphs car ana were
| ia nv he